Community comes together for music, dance and cultural celebration at Barking Carnival

Stilts walkers roamed the crowd. Picture: Gurpreet Bhatia (Image: Archant)

The Barking Carnival featured an elaborate array of costumes and performances, and provided participants an opportunity to express their creativity.

The free, inclusive cultural event at the Barking Learning Centre offered several workshops including dance, carnival mask and headpiece making, creative thinking and emotional resilience, as well as steel pan, Samba, African and Tamboo Bamboo drumming.

Face painting, a range of culinary delights and a variety of stalls were also on offer for those in attendance.

The programme included moko jumbie, the Jordan Academy of Irish Dance, steel pan and samba drumming performances, CDC Dance, Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance, Konverse Dance Crews, Marsh Green Primary School samba band, Soca artist Triniboi Joocie, and carnival costume performances.

An array of colourful costumes added to the spectacle at Barking Carnival. Picture: Gurpreet Bhatia (Image: Archant)

Organised by Ukon, the event aimed to develop an understanding, experience and participation in carnival arts, and bring the community together in a fun way whilst providing an opportunity for everyone to take part.

Marsh Green Primary School joined in the fun. Picture: Gurpreet Bhatia (Image: Archant)

The event was a cultural celebration featuring music, dance and carnival costumes. Picture: Gurpreet Bhatia (Image: Archant)

Barking Carnival featured a variety of costume performances. Picture: Gurpreet Bhatia (Image: Archant)

Stilts walkers roamed the crowd. Picture: Gurpreet Bhatia (Image: Archant)

Elaborate carnival costumes were on display. Picture: Gurpreet Bhatia (Image: Archant)