culture
is life. Where creativity lives. See what happens when we hand the mic to the young talent in our local neighbourhood.

A We Are Holyrood project

April 2025

In May half-term 2025, a new film project for We Are Holyrood brought together 17 young people on an inspiring journey, to create an original music video, Culture is Life. Across 30 sessions and more than 60 hours together, participants collaborated with four professional dance artists and creatives from SoCo Music Project.

The young people led the creative process from start to finish. They chose the genre and storyline, wrote the lyrics, recorded the track in a local studio, and starred in their own music video. The experience built confidence, developed creative skills, and focused on collaboration in a supportive environment.

The music video premiered at The Hub in front of friends and family, welcoming an audience of 134 attendees, with the film continuing to reach new viewers online.

The premiere was a joyful celebration, complete with a red carpet for the young stars and an enthusiastic crowd. The atmosphere was filled with pride and excitement as participants cheered themselves on screen and families sang along. The performance reflected the young people’s voices and the strength of the community around them.

Watch the music video below on YouTube

Welcome to the ball. Find out all about how we’re blending movement and heritage in a giant disco ball of joy.

The AUstentatious Ball

August 2025

On Saturday, 9 August 2025, The Austentatious Ball – a free, large-scale community dance event took over Guildhall Square in Southampton.

Working with Mayflower Studios, we created this immersive performance as a major highlight of the nationwide Austen 250 celebrations, marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth in Hampshire.

“Events like this are important as they offer non-judgemental and uniting spaces to explore things potentially outside of people’s comfort zone, and also invites people to connect in movement. It builds a sense of community and unity.”

Louise, on The Austentatious Ball

Our goal was to reimagine a traditional 18th-century Regency ball with a bold, contemporary twist. We rooted the performance in the real stories, diverse backgrounds and modern movement styles of today’s local residents, blending historical elegance with contemporary street culture. Spectators and participants (our guests) enjoyed an energetic atmosphere complete with live music, professional entertainment, and traditional dance cards that got everyone chatting and moving together.

In the lead-up to the ball, we worked with our guests both online and in person to learn the Grand Finale dance and become one united community. When the day arrived, we transformed Guildhall Square into a joyous, welcoming space, with a giant dancefloor at its heart.

Guests were guided through a series of dances which blended improvisation with choreography and encouraged new connections and playful creativity in pairs and groups.

Guests aged 11 to 75 turned up dressed to impress. No prior dance experience was required and we encouraged attendees to turn up in whatever they felt comfortable in, resulting in a brilliant mix of grand period attire, everyday clothes and tracksuits!

01

The % of participants who connected with someone new during the process

95%

02

The % of participants who said the event helped them feel more connected to their local community

75%

03

The % of participants who rarely or never took part in dance before the ball

40%

04

The % of participants who now want to take part in more dance activity

85%

“It has brought together so many people from different backgrounds, ethnicity and communities which we would otherwise never connect with in our busy lives.”

Jenny, on The Austentatious Ball

At its heart, The Austentatious Ball was about liberation, expression, and genuine connection. All played out on a giant, shared disco ball of joy!

The Austentatious Ball will be appearing at festivals in 2026/27 as The Ostentatious Ball

We look forward to seeing you there!

Let’s Go behind the scenes with our dance artists to see how we’re inspiring the next generation of male dancers in schools today

A Q&A With our Dance facilitators

February 2026

Q. What happens when you first start a workshop?

A. Most of the boys walk in, look at what we’re doing and say, “Wow, I’m never going to be able to do that.” Our first job is to remove that doubt. We guide them to the end goal, give them the tools, and let them play until they find it and feel confident with it.

Q. How do you get them invested in the work?

A. It’s important that they see themselves reflected in what they’re making and that they feel invested in the creative process.

We hand over the creative keys from minute one, and try to remove any sense of right and wrong – which they’re used to in other classes. It’s interesting for them because in other classes, they might not get opportunities to express themselves or their ideas, but here they have complete creative freedom.

For a lot of boys, it can be one of the only spaces they have to actually speak their mind without being judged.

Q. What’s different between this and other school activities?

A. One of the big things is the environment we want to create – it’s physical but non-competitive.

I feel like this really benefits their trust and team building skills, which leads to taking more creative and technical risks, without fear.

We try to meet them where they are. A workshop could be first thing on a Monday morning, or after lunch on a Wednesday and that brings very different energy.

Some are there for different reasons, they might want to be creative, some just want to dance, some are there because of friends and some are there just because they’ve been told to.

We focus on harnessing the energy they bring into the room. Rather than fighting against it, we channel that natural momentum directly into creative tasks.

250 dancers. 12 schools. 1 stage. Experience the energy of Manmade – the event shifting how boys and young men across the Solent.

MANMADE

March 2026

With nearly 600 audience members across the two shows, the Mayflower Studios was full of energy, pride and proper community spirit, as families, friends and members of the public showed up to celebrate what happens when boys are given permission to move, express and connect.

Photos: Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, Castle Hill Primary School and Pulse boys dance group from Thornden School perform on the Mayflower stage.

“After three brilliant workshops and extra rehearsals at school, ten of our students headed to Mayflower Studios to perform in Manmade. We’re incredibly proud to have taken part for the second year running, continuing to support ZoieLogic’s mission to challenge the stigma surrounding boys in dance.”

— Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill

Photos: Redbridge Community School, Park Community School, Great Oaks School and FuzzyLogic on stage for Manmade 2026.

ManMade is all about breaking down expectations and building something better in their place. About creating space for boys to be themselves, take risks, support each other and to discover that strength can look like creativity, teamwork, vulnerability and openness.

From September 2025, our dance facilitators worked with the schools and the boys to co-create pieces that meant something to the performers. Their themes included pressure in sport – and the benefits of kindness, to kids getting lost in time, collective decision making and the challenges of algebra!

“Our parents loved the evening and loved seeing boys from all round Hampshire inspired to dance. Enjoyed seeing there children happy while working outside their comfort zone.”

— School teacher

Participants main motivation for taking part was:

To improve fitness

25%

To try something new

46%

To build confidence

42%

To meet new people

29%

To take part in more dance

16%

To develop dance skills

38%

Participants agreed with the following statements:

My fitness has improved

33%

I feel stronger

46%

My coordination has improved

42%

I feel more confident

46%

My creativity has grown

33%

I have improved my ability to work as a team

50%

Our youth company FuzzyLogic performed their new touring piece, “The Forgotten Spark” at Manmade 2026. way to show other boys what dance can offer, and how joining Fuzzy can help them take their skills to the next level.

Video: FuzzyLogic performing “The Forgotten Spark”

Photos: Anton Junior School, Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, Oasis Academy Sholing and Wildern School performing on stage at Manmade 2026.

“I love how we were all brought together, there are people in the this group I didn’t know before and now we feel like a team”

— Participant in Manmade

“I thought dance was boring but now I know it is fun”

— Participant in Manmade

Following ManMade 2026, teachers have spoken about the pride of watching students step outside their comfort zones, seeing the boys’ personalities come alive in rehearsal and on stage, and witnessing a level of professionalism rarely seen with first-time stage performers.

For participants, the impact goes way beyond one performance. 95% said they’d do it again and all performers said they’d recommend ManMade to their friends. 87% said ManMade strengthened their belief in dance as a tool for wellbeing and that is at the heart of ManMade – shifting mindsets, building belonging and showcasing that when boys move together, they move forward.

Theatre – but not as you know it. Discover how The Big Movement LIVE proved that the best seat in the house is a shared one.

The Big Movement Live

November 2025

“The Big Movement is testament to the power of community and connection”

— Dancer in The Big Movement LIVE

“With our The Big Movement programme, we want to bring men’s mental health into the spotlight in ways that are honest, visceral and connecting. If even one man left feeling less alone on Saturday night, we succeeded”

— Zoie Golding MBE, Artistic Director

Southampton’s Mayflower Studios became a vibrant hub of connection, inspiration and courage on Saturday 8 November as ZoieLogic Dance Theatre’s The Big Movement LIVE — a heartfelt and unflinching event centred on men’s mental health — took over the venue.

The beautiful collision of fun, creativity and dance was designed to be a space in which men were valued, heard and seen, and in which the audience could experience the power of dance.

Act 1 saw the foyer and café transformed into an immersive theatre experience filled with poetry, creativity and performance, offering attendees a space to reflect, connect… and dance together!

The vibrant Act 2 performance by an all-male cast — many of whom had never danced or performed on stage before — was more than theatre, it was a call to arms. They lifted the roof off with their bravery and brilliance.

The headline statistics from The Big movement live

First steps on the dance floor

There were 29 performers, aged 14 to 64, and 93% identify as male. A third of them already engage in our regular male dance classes

Blame it on the boogie

80 brave audience members took on our dancing task and their smiles told a thousand stories

Bold and brave new work

It’s more than dance: ZoieLogic commissioned nine artists for the event, including writers, poets, dance artists and filmmakers

2025
to 2026

“What an amazing, beautiful, special, inspirational experience!”

A ZOIELOGIC
YEAR IN REVIEW

This year has been an incredible year of energy and experimentation, with our local community spaces transformed into vibrant hubs where creativity and genuine connection took centre stage.

We focused on making everyone feel at home, whether they were stepping onto a stage for the first time or just popping in to see what all the excitement was about, with the vast majority of people walking away with brand-new friendships and a much stronger sense of pride in their local community.

“I am having such a good time practicing for The Austentatious Ball! Thank you for this, it is bringing joy to my summer”

Louise, on The Austentatious Ball

“ManMade has strengthened my ability to reflect on meaningful dance experiences, while also building my confidence in supporting boys to engage in dance“

Emma Godsall, Redbridge Community School on Manmade

The transformation we’ve seen in our young participants has been a massive highlight of the year. Over the months, they’ve developed into confident leaders who aren’t afraid to share their own ideas or take total control of the creative process. It’s been about so much more than just learning dance moves; it’s been about giving them a platform to speak up on ideas that matter to them.

As we’ve celebrated 25 years of ZoieLogic, the momentum behind the organisation is stronger than ever. We’ve successfully opened doors for people who never previously thought the arts were for them, with a huge influx of newcomers joining the family and discovering an interest in using dance to express themselves.

“I feel very connected and lighter after taking part and feel like I have achieved something today. Thank you!”

Chris on The Big Movement

Moving forward, our trajectory is all about keeping that energy high, keeping things fun and continuing to prove that when people from all different walks of life create together, the entire community feels the benefit.

Thank you to everyone who made this year an epic year!

— The ZoieLogic Team

Meet Paige, a Holyrood resident with a unique perspective on how we’re strengthening the community, one step
at a time

This is an conversation between our photographer Dev Place, and Holyrood resident Page during We Are Holyrood’s The Hub 2025.

Dev: How did taking part in Gabriel’s workshop change the way you feel about being physically active?

Page: At first, I was hesitant, I peeked in thinking I might just go do some crafts instead. But I got gently encouraged to join, and though I was a bit startled at first, I took a seat and gave it a go.

What I learned was to forget those thoughts like “Can I do this?” or “Should I be nervous?” The group was welcoming, upbeat, and the focus was on doing things at your own pace and style.

Yes, we followed certain movements, but there was room to make it your own. That freedom made it feel more like expression than exercise.

Even with a swollen foot, I was still able to take part in a way that felt right for me. It was low pressure but still engaging — I felt positive, fluid, even a bit free.

Normally I’d be quite stiff and guarded, but the way the workshop included everyone, regardless of ability or experience, helped break that down. We partnered up, followed each other’s movements, and worked together. It made me feel part of something,  like I mattered.

Dev: Can you share a moment during the Hub this year when you felt a sense of achievement or pride?

Page: There have been so many moments. Just having the Hub here is incredible – we need more spaces like this. It’s not about ticking boxes, it’s about relaxing, talking, playing, and genuinely connecting.

One moment that really stood out was during the film screening. We were given lyrics to sing along, but I couldn’t even sing, I was so overwhelmed.

It was powerful, not just because of the words, but the energy and action behind them. Seeing children from all kinds of backgrounds and stages in life performing together – it was an infusion of culture that really made it so powerful to me, to be honest.

Another moment was when I was having a walk in the morning and the local artist asked me if I wanted to write a note to a stranger. That simple act, writing something kind and hanging it on a tree – I thought, wow, that’s just amazing. It’s just communicating with someone that we’re probably connected to, but we don’t know.

I wrote: “If you conquer your mind, you conquer the world.” It reminded me that everything is in the mind, the result of every situation is dependent on how we absorb it. We could take it as a threat, we could take it as a challenge, we could take it as a positive, we could take it as a negative.

For me, it was just like, if you think you can do something, you can. Sometimes we forget the power of positivity, and a message like that can change someone’s entire day. It was really very lifting and empowering.

Dev: Why is it important that events like this happen at Holyrood?

Page: It’s essential, not just important. I grew up with youth clubs, scout groups, and community centres. Those spaces gave us belonging. Now, so many of them are disappearing, replaced with housing or lost altogether.

But this Hub isn’t just for kids,  it’s for everyone. When you see grandparents, parents, and children all taking part in the same activity, it reminds you of what community really means. Especially in an inner-city estate like this, which is so diverse and multicultural, these events bring colour and connection.

They offer a break from the stresses of life and bring people together in a way that feels natural and joyful. I hope it continues, because this is what community looks like — looking out for each other, sharing culture, and remembering that we’re not alone.

And in the end, culture is life.

Picture: Page (left) taking part in Gabriel Galvez’s workshop at The Hub 2025

An introduction from our new Chair of ZoieLogic, Ajay Parekh

For me, 2026 started with a unique opportunity. After a year serving as a Non-Executive Director, I was delighted to be asked if I would take up the Chair position for ZoieLogic.

Having sat through several board meetings, and attended a number of ZoieLogic events, during which I could see and hear the real differences the company makes in the lives of people of all ages, and especially young boys and men. I knew this was the role for me.

Zoie has created something that has magic in its DNA and which connects with adults and young people alike, and this is all run by a very small operational team surviving on a backbone of very strict funding core and project related funds, and from various arts and culture grants and NPO.

No doubt turning up to dance in Southampton’s Guildhall Square for the brilliant Austentatious Ball, celebrating 100 years of Jane Austen, and attending many of the social community projects across the year, helped to secure my trust in and respect for the whole ZoieLogic team, and fuelled my love of dancing and this sector.

I start the 2026-7 year with a few items on the agenda – the essence of the mission is about community, getting guys dancing, and mass participation. Alongside that, I look forward to supporting all the people, projects and participants in ZoieLogic’s orbit – a challenge into which I dive whole-heartedly.

— Ajay Parekh, Chair of ZoieLogic

Photo: Ajay Parekh, credit Matt Walker

From algebra to artistry!

Across two electric evenings on 18 and 19 March, we brought together over 250 boys and young men from 12 schools across the Solent region for ManMade 2026. Find out what happened below…

Start reading

Posted 2 April 2026

Pictures by Matt Walker and words by Siobhan Waterhouse

Stories

With nearly 600 audience members across the two shows, the Mayflower Studios was full of energy, pride and proper community spirit, as families, friends and members of the public showed up to celebrate what happens when boys are given permission to move, express and connect.

Photos: Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, Castle Hill Primary School and Pulse boys dance group from Thornden School perform on the Mayflower stage.

Photos: Redbridge Community School, Park Community School, Great Oaks School and FuzzyLogic on stage for Manmade 2026.

“After three brilliant workshops and extra rehearsals at school, ten of our students headed to Mayflower Studios to perform in Manmade. We’re incredibly proud to have taken part for the second year running, continuing to support ZoieLogic’s mission to challenge the stigma surrounding boys in dance.”

— Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill

ManMade is all about breaking down expectations and building something better in their place. About creating space for boys to be themselves, take risks, support each other and to discover that strength can look like creativity, teamwork, vulnerability and openness.

From September 2025, our dance facilitators worked with the schools and the boys to co-create pieces that meant something to the performers. Their themes included pressure in sport – and the benefits of kindness, to kids getting lost in time, collective decision making and the challenges of algebra!

“Our parents loved the evening and loved seeing boys from all round Hampshire inspired to dance. Enjoyed seeing there children happy while working outside their comfort zone.”

— School teacher

Participants main motivation for taking part was:

To improve fitness

25%

To try something new

46%

To build confidence

42%

To meet new people

29%

To take part in more dance

16%

To develop dance skills

38%

Participants agreed with the following statements:

My fitness has improved

33%

I feel stronger

46%

My coordination has improved

42%

I feel more confident

46%

My creativity has grown

33%

I have improved my ability to work as a team

50%

Our youth company FuzzyLogic performed their new touring piece, “The Forgotten Spark” at Manmade 2026. way to show other boys what dance can offer, and how joining Fuzzy can help them take their skills to the next level.

If you know any boys and young men who would like to experience what it’s like to be in our youth dance companies, they can sign up to our free taster session on Wednesday 15 April at Mayflower Studios.

Find out more

Video: FuzzyLogic performing “The Forgotten Spark”

Photos: Anton Junior School, Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, Oasis Academy Sholing and Wildern School performing on stage at Manmade 2026.

“I love how we were all brought together, there are people in the this group I didn’t know before and now we feel like a team”

— Participant in Manmade

“I thought dance was boring but now I know it is fun”

— Participant in Manmade

Following ManMade 2026, teachers have spoken about the pride of watching students step outside their comfort zones, seeing the boys’ personalities come alive in rehearsal and on stage, and witnessing a level of professionalism rarely seen with first-time stage performers.

For participants, the impact goes way beyond one performance. 95% said they’d do it again and all performers said they’d recommend ManMade to their friends. 87% said ManMade strengthened their belief in dance as a tool for wellbeing and that is at the heart of ManMade – shifting mindsets, building belonging and showcasing that when boys move together, they move forward.

Find out more about manmade

Find out more about our annual Manmade performance platform for boys and young men

Check out Manmade

Credits

Manmade by ZoieLogic is supported by Backstage Trust, in partnership with Mayflower. ZoieLogic Dance Theatre is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

With thanks to dance artists Abi Aveson, Alex Evens, Robyn Holder, Thom Jones, Ben Rosie, Reuben Spencer, Emily Thompson-Smith, Nat Watson and the ZoieLogic team for creating the performances with the participating schools.

In the studio for Manmade

In January 2026, we tagged along with ZoieLogic dance artists Ollie Webb and Robyn Holder to Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill to see how they were working together to create a performance for Manmade 2026.

Stories

Posted 19 March 2026

Pictures by Matt Walker and words by Ollie Webb

Q. What happens when you first start a workshop?

A. Most of the boys walk in, look at what we’re doing and say, “Wow, I’m never going to be able to do that.” Our first job is to remove that doubt. We guide them to the end goal, give them the tools, and let them play until they find it and feel confident with it.

Q. How do you get them invested in the work?

A. It’s important that they see themselves reflected in what they’re making and that they feel invested in the creative process.

We hand over the creative keys from minute one, and try to remove any sense of right and wrong – which they’re used to in other classes. It’s interesting for them because in other classes, they might not get opportunities to express themselves or their ideas, but here they have complete creative freedom.

For a lot of boys, it can be one of the only spaces they have to actually speak their mind without being judged.

Q. What’s different between this and other school activities?

A. One of the big things is the environment we want to create – it’s physical but non-competitive.

I feel like this really benefits their trust and team building skills, which leads to taking more creative and technical risks, without fear.

We try to meet them where they are. A workshop could be first thing on a Monday morning, or after lunch on a Wednesday and that brings very different energy.

Some are there for different reasons, they might want to be creative, some just want to dance, some are there because of friends and some are there just because they’ve been told to.

We focus on harnessing the energy they bring into the room. Rather than fighting against it, we channel that natural momentum directly into creative tasks.

Find out more about manmade

Find out more about our annual Manmade performance platform for boys and young men

Check out Manmade

Credits

Manmade by ZoieLogic is supported by Backstage Trust, in partnership with Mayflower. ZoieLogic Dance Theatre is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.