A Place to Dance is a captivating new performance work shaped by rhythm, dialogue and an innate desire to celebrate our shared experiences. Brazilian choreographer Poliana Lima and British flamenco dance artist Yinka Esi Graves draw on their multiple cultural heritages and distinct artistic languages. Together, they create an encounter that places the body – and what it can conjure, at the centre of a force capable of transforming space, connection and community.
Dissolving the boundaries between audience and performer, participation and observation, the work unfolds in-the-round with a tour de force of collaborators. Graves and Lima invite audiences to inhabit the same shared environment, where watching becomes an act of presence and dancing an invitation to belong. Through rhythm, movement and sound, they build a living choreography in which space continuously evolves.
Framed by opening and closing music sets from DJ Oumoukala, this immersive invitation becomes a celebration of the body in its collective dimension – communal, porous and thrillingly alive.
Watch trailer
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Poliana Lima
Choreographer, Dancer & Teacher
Poliana Lima (she/her)
Choreographer, Dancer & Teacher
Madrid (Spain) / São Paulo (Brazil)
Previous Dance Umbrella credits: Studio Sessions (2025, Sadler’s Wells East)
Poliana Lima is a choreographer, dancer and teacher. She studied sociology at UNICAMP (Brazil) and dance at various schools and grew up in a culture where dance is very present.
Poliana synthesises these paths in her body and takes them as the central object of her expression and research. Creatively, she explores the possibilities of creating poetics on stage that are capable of communicating with the audience in a simple and profound way.
Over the last 15 years, Poliana has created eight full-length works and six short works and dance projects. She has been an associate artist at Condeduque-Madrid (2018-20) and has received support from Teatros del Canal, CND – Pantin, Festival Dias da Dança – Porto, Aerowaves, among others.
In March 2026, Poliana had an expanded programme at the Mercat de les Flors, presenting her latest works.
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Yinka Esi Graves
Dance Maker & Flamenco Artist
Credit Adam Newby
Yinka Esi Graves (she/her)
Dance Maker & Flamenco Artist
Seville (Spain) / London (UK)
Previous Dance Umbrella credits: Studio Sessions (2025, Sadler’s Wells East); ShebeenDUB (2022, Bernie Grant Arts Centre); Out of the System (2017, Rich Mix)
Yinka Esi Graves is a British choreographer and dancer based in Spain. Her work explores the links between flamenco and other contemporary forms from a perspective situated in the Afro-diaspora, where the body is a discursive space. It ranges from stage pieces to live composition works, both as a solo artist and as a collaborator.
Graves’ first solo work, The Disappearing Act, premiered at the Nimes Flamenco Festival (2023) and has been programmed at international festivals such as El Grec, Tanz Im August, and the Avignon Festival, among others.
In early 2026, A Place to Dance, a collaboration with Poliana Lima, premiered. This year, Graves is beginning to develop her next stage project, which deals with the concepts of subversion and catharsis, with a premiere scheduled for 2027.
Gallery
Credit Miguel Angel Rosales
More from Poliana Lima & Yinka Esi Graves
7 Oct - 30 Nov 2026
DigitalIntermedia Producciones Gurumbé: Afro-Andalusian Memories
Documentary uncovering the African roots of flamenco, one of Spain’s iconic cultural traditions
7 Oct - 30 Nov 2026
DigitalPoliana Lima & Cultproyect Poliana Lima 15 años
The acclaimed artist explores questions of identity, belonging and visibility in this documentary
7 Oct - 30 Nov 2026
DigitalYinka Esi Graves & Miguel Ángel Rosales The Coast, The Forest & The Door
Short film trilogy where a performer interacts with landscapes shaped by colonial discourse
Presented by Dance Umbrella and The Place
Cast & Creative +
- Poliana Lima & Yinka Esi Graves
Direction, Creation & Dance - Juan Carlos Lérida
Artistic Accompaniment - Lucía Martínez
Percussion - Oumoukala
DJ - Quino Piñero
Sound Design - Cube.bz
Lighting & Space Design - Carmen 17 & Stéphanie Coudert
Costume Design - Cristina Bolívar
Technical Co-ordination - Andrés Dwyer
Lighting Technician - Miguel Ángel Rosales
Video and Photography - Cintia erre
Graphic Design - Cultproyect
Communication - Trans-Forma Producción Cultural, María González Vidal (Yinka Esi Graves Company), Asociación PCCVL, Isabella Lima (Poliana Lima Company)
Production
Credits +
Presented by Dance Umbrella and The Place
Dance Umbrella Festival 2026 presentation supported by Acción Cultural Española
Presentation at Dance Umbrella Festival supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust
Co-produced by Mercat de les Flors, Dance Umbrella Festival, Condeduque and the Community of Madrid
Supported by Teatro Central, Escena Patrimonio Festival, Graner Centre de creació de dansa i arts vives, Artistic Residencies Program of the Andalusian Agency for Cultural Institutions, Fuenlabrada 2025 Choreographic Technical Residencies Program of the Maria Pagés Foundation in collaboration with the Fuenlabrada City Council
Venue & Access +
Venue
Address
The Place
17 Duke’s Road
London WC1H 9PY
Public Transport
The nearest Tube stations to The Place are Euston (Victoria Line, Northern Line, London Overground and National Rail services) and King’s Cross St Pancras (Victoria Line, Northern Line (Bank branch), Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines, National Rail services and Eurostar).
The nearest bus stops to The Place are British Library (services 10, 205, 30, 390, 476, 59, 73, 91, N73, N91) and Upper Woburn Place (services 168, 59, 68, 91, N91).
The nearest Santander Cycle Hire docking stations are Endsleigh Gardens, Euston and Cartwright Gardens, Bloomsbury.
For journey planning and live travel updates, visit the Transport for London website.
Parking for bicycles, cars and motorcycles
There are bicycle racks outside The Place’s Flaxman Terrace entrance.
There are metered parking spaces in the roads around The Place (free after 6.30pm weekdays, 1.30pm Saturdays and on Sundays) and dedicated spaces for Blue Badge holders outside each entrance.
There is motorcycle parking on Duke’s Road.
Nearby car parks include Euston Station (Melton Street, off Euston Road, NW1 2EP) and St Pancras Station (Pancras Road NW1 2TB).
Access information
Access facilities in the theatre
Entry to the theatre is from the Duke’s Road entrance. In standard set up, the theatre has a range of seating options including four wheelchair spaces which are all are accessible via the lift. They also have step-free access both upstairs and at stage level. The theatre has a Sennheiser induction loop system with pre bookable head sets. These amplify the sound through ear pieces with volume control or neck bands, which transfer the amplified signal to your hearing aid when switched to the T position. If you have any other accessible seating requests please speak to a member of box office staff who will be able to advise you. You can also request a large print programme.
Seating: In the theatre, all seats have non-removeable armrests. The space between armrests is 43cm wide. Seat depth at its deepest is 46cm. At the narrowest point, legroom is 22cm, with better legroom on Row A and on aisle seats. We have four removeable access spaces for wheelchair users.
Assistant Dogs
Your assistant dog is welcome to join you in the auditorium; The Place will always let you know if they expect sounds or special effects that may cause your dog discomfort. If there are effects that may upset you dog or if they are not so keen on watching dance they may be left with staff in a quiet office.
Mobility Scooters
You are welcome to leave your scooter in the box office area for the duration of your visit as the lifts and wheelchair seating areas are not suitable for these vehicles.
Booking Tickets
Tickets can be booked in person, telephone (The Place are happy to receive and make calls via the text relay service) and through the website.
Wheelchair users can book themselves and a free companion in for performances by adding the promo code ACCESS to the bottom of the seating plan page and then selecting the wheelchair patron space and companion space marked with wheelchair and star icons.
Other Facilities
Accessible Toilets
There are accessible toilets on levels 1 and 4 of our theatre and can be reached via the lift.
Baby Changing Facilities
This can be found on Level 1 and Level 4, accessible via the lift.
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