COMMUNITY STAGE LINE UP 2025
SATURDAY 7 JUNE
SOUNDWAVES 12.00
HIKMAT CHINESE DANCE GROUP 12.35
DEVON UKRAINIAN ASSOCIATION 13.10
ILARIA BELLY DANCE 13.35
NEWTOWN ROOTS BAND 14.15
COMMUNITY ZUMBA 14.55
FILIPINO COMMUNITY DANCE ASSOCIATION 15.35
KARINA GRACIA DANCE 16:15
EXETER COMMUNITY FOLK ORCHESTRA 17.00
TRIKKEBALLAKKE 17.40
MULTICULTURAL CHOIR 18.30
Soundwaves
Soundwaves, a charity supporting neurologically diverse people to explore and create music in a fun and social environment, celebrates its 20th anniversary with a performance of member-created music at this year’s Respect Festival.
Hikmat Devon Chinese Group
A Chinese Community Dance Group bringing the tradition of China to Exeter, dynamic and vibrant colourful with a unique touch of Chinese cultural flavour.
Devon Ukrainian Association
Thriving Ukrainian community in Devon performing their dance to amplify their voices through art.
Ilaria Belly Dance
Ilaria Belly Dance based in Exeter and Taunton will bring a mixture of classical and folkloric styles on the Respect Festival’s stage. They can’t wait to see you all and dance together!
Newtown Roots Band
A community band that makes a big joyous sound playing a variety of folk tunes from around the world with exciting arrangements, energy and fun. All acoustic instruments/all abilities/all ages play in this friendly group.
Community Zumba
A lively and welcoming Zumba Group will dance for an energetic session.
Filipino Community Association and Friends
Exeter’s vibrant and diverse Filipino community will showcase its rich cultural heritage. The event will feature the traditional Tinikling dance, talented singers, children’s dance performances, and the Sacred Heart Church Children Choir.
Karina Gracia Dance
Karina & students will perform flamenco dance, accompanied by live guitar from David Nash. Children from Karina’s dance clubs at two Devon primary schools will also be performing.
Exeter Community Folk Orchestra
Exeter Community Folk Orchestra will be playing toe tapping and beautiful melodies from the UK and beyond. They like to get together to make music, make friends and have some fun!
Trikkeballakke
Southern Italian folk music and dance band, bringing sounds from the regions of Italy where rhythm and rituals are still part of everyday life.
Multicultural Choir
This multicultural choir, composed of members from countries including Afghanistan, China, India, Hong Kong Turkey, Syria, and Ukraine is rapidly developing its musical cohesion, demonstrated by their increasing volume and vocal strength each week.
Sing and Sign Jukebox Choir
An all-age inclusive singing and Makaton signing choir who sound beautiful, and have a lively set of well-loved iconic pop songs, all set to Makaton signs. They love to get the audience up on their feet signing, singing and dancing along.
SUNDAY 8 JUNE
SACRED SOUNDS OF THE DIDGERIDOO 11:00
DANCE DYNAMIX 11:35
WREN MUSIC 12:10
BULGARIAN SOCIETY DEVON – DANCE PENDARI 13:20
SABU PAPPU 14:00
THE BOLLYGALS 14:15
A.K-POP DANCE BY EXESTAR 14:50
SING AND SIGN JUKEBOX CHOIR 16:00
TELL A CHILD IN GAZA’S TALE 16:40
GLOBAL HARMONY 17:20
Sacred Sounds of the Didgeridoo
Adrian loves to share the magic and sacredness of what the didgeridoo can evoke and bring to people. He has played in many sacred and special places across the world, including playing through the bars of Nelson Mandela’s prison cell on Robbin Island, Cape Town, South Africa.
Dance DynamiX
Fun, high-energy, and inclusive for all ages, sizes, abilities, and genders, featuring 80s/90s classics to current hits, promoting happy dancing and mental well-being.
Wren Music
Wren Music helps people from all backgrounds and all levels of experience to make music together, all across Devon. This year Devon Youth Folk Ensemble playing great folk tunes, all the members are aged 13-18 and Exeter Folk Choir sings traditional songs from the UK and beyond.
Bulgarian Society Devon – Pendari
Pendari, a new traditional Bulgarian dance club within the Bulgarian Society in Devon. They will dance the rich tradition of Horo which fosters unity and is known for its distinctive irregular rhythms. These dances, varying in tempo and mood, have been a cherished form of recreation and celebration passed down through generations.
Sabu Pappu
From Kerala, South of India, Sabu brings his traditional songs from his region to enjoy in Exeter.
The Bollygals
This Devon/Somerset-based dance troupe demonstrates the vibrancy, fun and emotion of some of the Bollywood movie industry’s best-loved musical numbers. The Bollygals have been sharing their passion for Indian dancing for over ten years through performances and workshops at festivals and private events throughout the South West.
A.K-pop dance by EXEstar
Ingrid, Sonia, Suhana, Jeeva & Tamila will perform to Magnetic-illit. They moved to the UK with their parents a few years ago and attend local schools/university. They recently performed for Exeter’s Hong Kong Community at multiple events at Exeter Phoenix, receiving recognition from the Lord Mayor.
Sing and Sign Jukebox Choir
Sing and Sign Jukebox choir is an all-age inclusive singing and Makaton signing choir. They make a beautiful sound, and have a lively set of well-loved iconic pop songs, all set to Makaton signs. They love to get the audience up on their feet signing, singing and dancing along.
Kurdish Govenda Dance
Kurdish traditional dance played in a group who perform at weddings, festivals and even as an act of resistance against their oppressors.
Tell a Child in Gaza’s Tale
World Storyteller David Heathfield retells Palestinian folk tales including The Fox’s Tail which he was told by Farah, a Young International Storyteller from Gaza. Enjoy a set of touching, funny and poignant folk tales from the project Tell a Child in Gaza’s Tale run by David and Haneen Khaled Jadallah.
Global Harmony
Global Harmony, a mixed community choir based at Exeter Phoenix, will sing songs of celebration and protest from around the world in glorious harmony . From Africa, the Middle East or pop favourites the choir bring an eclectic and diverse repertoire to the stage.