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LGBTQ+ | Workshop

Outlines Festival – Solstice Rising: A Morning of Somatic Movement & Dance Ritual

22 Jun 2025

11:00 - 12:30

Common Space

This event is part of Outlines, Bradford's LGBTQ+ Arts Festival, produced by Castles In The Sky and made possible with support from Equity Partnership and The Leap in partnership with Arts Council England, Creative People and Places, Bradford Council and Bradford UK City of Culture 2025.

Solstice Rising: A Morning of Somatic Movement & Dance Ritual
with Melanie Kalay (@mela_moves)

Step into the light of the Summer Solstice with a 90-minute class designed to awaken and connect to your body and celebrate the turning of the season.

We’ll begin with mindful, somatic movement to root into the body — inviting presence, breath, and gentle awareness. As the energy builds, you’ll be guided into a rhythm-based dance ritual — a chance to move freely, express fully, and celebrate your inner and outer radiance.

This is a space to honour where you are, embrace what’s stirring within, and meet the solstice with curiosity and care.

Expect:
→ A grounded arrival through breath and body
→ Slow, intuitive movement to awaken your energy
→ A guided ritual of expressive, liberatory dance
→ A closing to return you to stillness — centred, softened, and alive

No choreography. No performance. Just embodied presence and the power of the sun behind you.

About Melanie
Melanie Kalay (she/her) is a certified somatic movement teacher, dancer, and mindfulness facilitator, as well as a DJ and sound artist. Her work blends trauma-informed care with embodied movement, rhythm, and nervous system support — helping people reconnect to their bodies, their breath, and their own inner wisdom. Through sound and somatic’s, Melanie creates spaces that are both grounding and liberatory.

for more details on Melanie - www.melamoves.com

Please note after this session Common Space is hosting 2 screenings of No Pride In Genocide a series of 8 short films in collaboration with Queer Cinema for Palestine & Bradford Queer Film Festival. Tickets available here -

Access

Common Space is a step free venue with wheelchair access including a ramp to the stage.

There is a wheelchair accessible bathroom on the ground floor as well as baby changing facilities.

The ground floor also houses a quiet space and prayer room facilities. We use air purifiers in the space and mask wearing is supported although not compulsory.

All events at Outlines operate a nobody turned away for lack of funds policy. Either drop Castles In The Sky a message on Instagram or email us at hello@castlesinthesky.info if you need a free ticket, no questions asked.

Ticket Information

General Admission £5
General Admission - Low or Unwaged £3

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Venue Details

Common Space

1-3 John Street
BD1 3JT

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