Celebrate at Crawley Fusion Mela
Crawley Fusion Mela is a weekend of celebrations organised by Crawley Borough Council using public funding from Arts Council England.
The dance highlights begin on Saturday in County Mall where Creative Crawley presents Shree by Seeta Patel Dance in Unit 79/80 at 12.30pm and 3pm. Performed by Indu Panday, this powerful solo work draws on the Indian classical dance form Bharatanatyam and explores our connection to the Earth and nature.
Then at 1.30pm and 4pm, head to County Mall’s Atrium to enjoy Otempodiz by Ertza Dance, an exhilarating duet from artists with roots in Mozambique and Spain. Through movement, humour and athleticism, the performance explores time, relationships and human connection.
On Sunday, there will be performances programmed by Cohesion Plus and Crawley Borough Council, including internationally renowned 4X4 Kings of Bhangra alongside local favourites Niruththiyalayam School of Dance, Rhythmix Dance Squad and much more. Free to attend, in Memorial Gardens 12-6pm.
No booking is required — simply drop in and enjoy.
Sat 25 July, 12pm - 5pm, FREE, Unit 79/80 and Atrium, County Mall Shopping Centre
Sun 26 July, 12pm-6pm, FREE, Memorial Gardens
Alongside dance, the weekend will include a vibrant programme of FREE, world-class performances, art, live music, drop-in creative activities and joyful community celebration. Check out the full line up at the link below.
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Matthew Bourne's New Adventures Comes to Town
One of the highlights of the summer arrives on 3 and 4 August when Matthew Bourne's internationally celebrated company, New Adventures, brings its much-loved Doorstep Duets to Crawley.
These short, joyful performances have delighted audiences across the country and offer a rare chance to experience world-class dance in everyday spaces.
The Bench, choreographed by Glenn Graham is a free, 20-minute outdoor dance performance exploring shared histories, memory, and unexpected overlaps in the lives of three people as they cross paths at a park bench.
Mon 3 Aug
- Queensway, Crawley Town Centre, 12.30pm + 1.30pm, FREE, just turn up.
- Crawley Library, 3pm + 4pm, FREE (booking required) BOOK NOW
Tue 4 Aug
- Cherry Lane Adventure Playground*, 12pm + 1.15pm, FREE, just turn up.
- Broadfield Barton, 3.30pm + 4.30pm, FREE, just turn up.
Doorstep Duets by New Adventures will be presented on Tuesday 4th August as part of Play Days, coordinated by Everyone Active and Crawley Community Youth Service (CCYS). Show presented at Crawley Library with thanks to West Sussex Library Service.
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Stacked Wonky's 55, photo by Jesse Roth
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A Dance About Friendship Across Generations
The summer programme concludes on 11 August with 55 by innovative dance company Stacked Wonky.
Performed in Breezehurst Drive Playing Field in Bewbush, this moving and often humorous outdoor performance follows Ernie, aged 19, and Gerard, aged 74. With 55 years between them, the pair explore friendship, memory and connection as audiences follow the performance through the park.
Presented as part of Play Days by Everyone Active and Crawley Community Youth Service, it's a unique chance to experience dance in a completely different way.
Tue 11 Aug, 12.15pm + 1.15pm, FREE, Breezehurst Drive Playing Field, Bewbush
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Rotem Weissman's Prisma - Photo by C.Mehmet Vanli.
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The Playground Tour
Do you know a young person who attends Seymour Primary School, Broadfield Primary Academy, Waterfield Primary School, Northgate Primary School or Bewbush Primary Academy? If so, then next week they are in for a very special treat!
From 6–10 July, pupils at these schools will be treated to a special Playground Tour featuring two imaginative dance performances created especially for young audiences.
BUG, by acclaimed choreographer Lea Anderson, transforms performers into giant insects for a series of funny, energetic dances inspired by the movements of bees, ants and other creatures, accompanied by live music and sound effects.
Alongside it is PRISMA, created by German choreographer Rotem Weissman — a playful and imaginative dance performance inspired by the magical worlds found in children's books.
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Join Us This Summer
Creative Crawley believes great arts and culture should be available to everyone, which is why this programme takes place in spaces we use every day — from shopping centres and libraries to playgrounds and parks.
So whether you're looking for a family day out, a cultural adventure, or simply something different to brighten your summer, come along and discover the incredible dance happening across Crawley.
All events are FREE.
Ertza Dance is presented in partnership with Global Streets, with public funding from Arts Council England.
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From Our Friends
Check out these creative activities, events and opportunities happening across Crawley — even more ways to connect with everyday creativity close to home.
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New Writing South, with support from Arts Council England, is offering four grants of up to £3,000 each to Crawley writers, facilitators and/or community groups to run creative writing activities in the town.
Whatever your idea, as long as it involves creative writing activities that people can take part in, we’re inviting you to submit an application.
The deadline for applications is tomorrow, FRIDAY 3 JULY at 5pm.
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Age 14-19? Looking for a way to express your creativity? Join Theatre Centre at Crawley Library.
Theatre Centre is inviting young people from in and around Crawley to join in as young creators. Take part in theatre-based workshops with professional artists, explore the theatre-making process and your own creative ideas, develop performance skills, and meet new people. No previous experience is necessary. Come to as many sessions as you like!
When: 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th July.
Time: 4pm - 5:30pm
Where: Carline Haslett room, First floor, Crawley Library, RH10 6HG
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Women’s Poetry Workshop at Crawley Library
Academic, writer and creative practitioner Dr. Mona Manjot Dhaliwalbased is hosting a low cost poetry workshop at Crawley Library on Saturday August 1st from 11am-3pm.
Open to all women, the workshop will feature historical South Asian women's poetry and British women's poetry. It culminates in a free poetry festival at SOAS University that will feature some of the poets we have covered.
Tickets are £10/£5 concession including refreshments.
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Join the Crawley Pride Parade 2026
Pride is coming to Crawley on Saturday, 22nd August 2026. The parade leaves Memorial Gardens at 11 a.m and walks through town to Goffs Park.
Don’t miss your the chance for your organisation to be a part of this joyful celebration.
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Submit your portrait to instantly become part of A National Portrait displayed at the National Portrait Gallery.
You are invited to join artist Es Devlin's National Portrait for the National Portrait Gallery. You can participate by sending a photo via the link below where it will be transformed into an animated digital portrait, using an image generation model stylistically directed on Devlin’s previous charcoal and chalk drawings.
Anyone in the UK aged over 18 can participate and, if they choose to submit, their portrait will join an evolving collection portrait on display at the National Portrait Gallery until October 27th - offering the UK public a personal way to see themselves reflected on the walls of the nation's Portrait Gallery.
Each participant can also download a unique digital edition of their portrait, so get snapping!
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