Dig out your photo albums from the 1960s and 1970s

Dancing Through Time: from Pop to Punk in the City of Derby is an exciting new heritage project, made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which will explore the social clubs, dance clubs, dance movements and music scenes in Derby from the 1960s to the late 1970s.

In preparation for a series of FORMAT related exhibitions in 2024 and 2025 showcasing the project, Déda and QUAD are asking for help from the people of Derby and Derbyshire. They’re asking for those involved in the dance, clubs and music scene in Derby between 1960 and 1979 to submit any photos, memories and memorabilia they have of the venues, the people or anything that captures the overall feel of the scene. Were you there, or did you know someone who was?

The project hopes to bring these venues alive once again and allow people to share memories while making sure this period of social change in the city is never forgotten. Due to this, an online archive will also be created with the images and is due to be launch in mid 2024.

So, why this timescale? From post-war austerity to the dawn of the Swinging Sixties, the Summer of Love, political unrest, and the 3-day week of the 1970s, this time was unlike any other. And yet, against this backdrop of change the people of Derby, Derbyshire and the surrounding areas worked hard by day and enjoyed themselves by night in clubs and local venues such as the Locarno, Clouds (then Cleopatra’s) and the Ajanta cinema. That is something to be celebrated, and as are the venues that made it possible; so, the project was born.

QUAD and Déda are asking you to get involved in this project that will celebrate this unique social history of Derby places and people in this partnership project generously funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. There will be the chance to get involved through sharing days, dance workshops, social dancing events and more.

Peter Bonnell, QUAD Arts Programme Manager/ FORMAT Festival Director comments: “QUAD is excited to partner with Déda on this ambitious project that will involve a range of different communities in Derby via an important slice of the social and cultural heritage of the city. We are deeply grateful to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their generous support for this project.”

To get involved with the project, scan and share your images, memorabilia and stories via the online form, by emailing oceanf@derbyquad.co.uk or by following the @DancingThroughTimeDerby Instagram page and submitting your images using #IWasThereDerby. Updates on upcoming public events will be announced periodically via the QUAD and FORMAT newsletters, social media and websites to stay tuned and get ready to dance through time.