Our International Women's Day 2026 centred around a flagship event on the 8th March as part of our ACCEPT PeacePlus programme with other partnerships events and gatherings between 5th - 10th March. Guests who flew over to participate in our programme were,
Fahima Mizarie (Afghan whirling Dancer),
Anna Rüya Ayyildiz (Kurdish Alevi-Bektaşi whirling dancer)
Dr. Shakardokht (Shakar) Jafari (educator, medical physicist and cancer technology innovator)
Elisa Schroth (founder Ekklesia School of Ballet / artistic director of Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet)
Katherine Schofield (author specialising in South Asian history/heritage. Head of the Department of Music at King's College London)
Cliff Cooper (entrepreneur helping 1000's of Afghan women & girls access education)
Joanne Cassidy, a traditional musician and singer songwriter from Belfast collaborated with Fahima and Anna for their whirling dance performances at various IWD events.
Video. Fahima, Anna and Joanne (IWD ACCEPT event @ Queens University.
High Points Youth Ballet also curated "Set Me Free" for the IWD ACCEPT event and began a partnership with Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet, Beyond Skin and Alghochak to bring the UNCAGED Ballet to Belfast in 2027. Details:www.ekklesiaballet.org/springshow/uncaged
Video: "Set Me Free" High Points Youth Ballet
Photo Gallery of ACCEPT IWD event
As part of the ACCEPT programme, women in Antrim town working alongside artists Mhari and Razieh in partnership with Black Diamond initiatives developed a immersive shared artwork and presented it at the IWD event. The women shared their stories and connection with the collaborative artwork
Photos from the Antrim Group ACCEPT project
The space at Queen's University was curated as a circle with many of the presentations and dance taking place i the round. This was to both have an inclusive impact and also compliment the dance performances.
Performers (music & dance)
Fahima Mizarie, Anna Fahima Mizarie, Joanne Cassidy, Claudia Keller, High Points Ballet, Chloe Shannon, Mambokadzi Emelia, Eva Kearney (& Zarifa Asghari).
Presenters
Amanda Ferguson (Journalist), Janice Hill (Carrickfergus Community Forum), Amanda St John (Musician and mentor), Elisa Schroth (founder Ekklesia School of Ballet / artistic director of Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet), Katherine Schofield (author / King's College London), Michelle Graham (SERC Bangor).
