Burlesque squad drape the Saree in solidarity with female empowerment in wellbeing 'fun' shop

“It’s not appropriation – when you wear the saree with the recognition and appreciation of how it empowered women to stand up for their rights – you too stand in solidarity”, Poppy Jaman OBE explained as she taught the dancers and audience to experiment with three different drapes.

What’s more “…the saree is designed to fit around YOU – you do not need to change to fit it," Poppy adds…and that is exactly the ethos of the CLICK Arts Foundation Burlesque Squad who hosted the event in collaboration with The Lewis Foundation.

“Burlesque promotes a space where everybody – every body, every size, every ability, every age is welcomed," said Dr Audrey Tang, Wellbeing Psychologist, Squad Instructor and Founder of CLICK.

“While the Squad support events with their performances (which can be family friendly too!) – we are, at heart, a community group where the support for each other goes beyond the classes – our ethos aligned so well with the Saree Na Sorry values we were excited to experience it.”

Poppy Jaman OBE, who runs the Fun Shops is a British Bangladeshi (and the co-founder of Mental Health First Aid England), and within the session she teaches the heritage of the saree, and then invites and instructs you to tie three different drapes.

“In dressing each other there is a deeper layer of connection,” Poppy adds, and that is certainly what the attendees experienced.

“I loved being dressed by someone,” Patsy Wright, CLICK Trustee said .“It made me feel really special – it’s not something that happens to you regularly.”

Suzanna and Dan Storey rocked the room with live music – Suzanna (known as Saphron Music), a Northamptonshire based musician whose recent single The Bone Collector is going viral and winning awards for the music video, wore her own saree voicing how empowered she felt embracing her mixed heritage.

The Burlesque squad then rounded off the event as they led the audience in a dance workshop – championing the uplifting synergy that dancing together brings – doing so in their sarees brought an extra layer of grace, power, and inclusivity. The event was also attended by Ms Northamptonshire Gemma Young who is representing the county at the UKs National Ms Pageant next year.

“In today’s society, competition, cliques and criticism (including self-criticism) comes far too easily” said Dr Audrey Tang, “Our wellbeing events, which are always collaborative with local groups or charities, are designed specifically to embody wellness and bring the energy of togetherness and connectivity. It’s important to us that we create spaces to feel safe, and good about ourselves and the Saree Na Sorry Funshop was - a perfect fit.”

CLICK Arts Foundation is currently working on their Charity Single in collaboration with the United African Association Northamptonshire Dancing Drums, which raises awareness of the work of Oxford Animal Sanctuary.

For more about CLICK Arts Foundation www.clickartsfoundation.org.uk

For more about the SareeNaSorry Funshops: https://www.re-balance.org/projects/sareenasorry-funshop