Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

Join me for a #Viasakhi celebration at Fosse Park in Leicestershire .  We kick off the video with the Jodi Dancers adding a burst of colour to the Food Central area. ​⁠  The group features a Dhol drummer who plays alongside the dancers, as they show off the dance moves that have been passed down through generations of performers, all celebrating the #Vaisakhi festival.  The group soon welcomes everyone, no matter their age, to join in the dance as the music fills the shopping centre.

In the second of my films from Light Up Leicester I take a look at the various performances that accompanied the Installations around the city. We start with Aquanauts Adrift on Jubilee Square complementing the bubble like structures of Evanescent by Atelier Sisu, this performance piece by  @enteredem5879  features two Aquanauts on a mission to bring the wonders of the underwater world to the audience, with lots of fun bubbles and characters along for the ride. Next we arrive at the Clock Tower where  @NupurArtsDance  bring us the bight colours, dance and spectacle of the Holi Experience, ending with a blast of colour from bright powder thrown into the air. To the  @LeicesterMuseums  on New Walk next for the surreal but magical spectacle of FIERS À CHEVAL, Featuring imposing illuminated ivory horses, light and flamboyant. What follows is a magical experience along the New Walk led by performers from Compagnie Des Quidams, as they journey to The Circl...

Over the August bank holiday weekend a giant sea goddess roamed the streets of Leicester, Her name was STORM and she came with a message to protect our seas. STORM, Created by Vision Mechanics, is a ten meter tall goddess of the sea who emerges from the deep to celebrate our seas and encourage us to put the environment first. Two years in the making and made entirely from recycled materials, the giant puppet visited Leicester as part of the annual city festival in 2022. We find her resting in The Circle wrapped in fishing nets and man made waste before she is released by a group of people in yellow storm coats and serenaded by Taiko Drums beating traditional Japanese rhythms before she begins her tour of the city streets. She soon arrives at Town Hall Square where the Extreme Mountain Bike Show is taking place alongside other Ride Leicester attractions. Moving into the city center three swallows surround her and guide her to the Clock Tower area where she passes a fun fair. At the Cloc...

The Chinese New Year Celebrations in Leicester started with a procession through the city center to the clock tower stopping at various points to entertain the gathered crowds with dancing dragons and a longer dragon chasing a pearl through the streets. The procession ended at New Market Square where a dragon dance was performed with a traditional drum accompaniment and a 3D projection shown on the corn exchange. The event concluded with a pyrotechnic display and firecrackers.

On Diwali day 2019 BBC Radio Leicester held an Open Day featuring tours of the station, an exhibition of dance costumes (see pic below) and traditional dance performances by the Centre for Indian Classical Dance (CICD). My film features a few of the traditional dances performed in the reception area of the radio station. A design promoting the event was also created by myself and was displayed in and around the station on the day and can be seen below. Happy Diwali to all celebrating.

Highlights from Pudsey does Diwali a special event held in Leicester`s Jubilee square and at BBC Radio Leicester on 13th November in aid of BBC Children in need. My film aims to bring a flavor of the event which featured 2000 Diva lights in the shape of charity mascot Pudsey the bear alongside fire performers from Flambé Circus Theater, Dhol Enforcement agency, Leicester's own singing stars Sam Bailey and Sally Barker, face-painters, digital sparklers Giant rangoli and much more. The event was held in aid of the BBC`s annual fundraising event Children In Need. Images follow

A brief to design a poster for an 80`s themed disco fund-raiser for Leicester charity Menphys. The poster needed to evoke the themes and style of the 1980`s yet still needed to appear modern when displayed alongside a number of other posters on a noticeboard etc. The poster design needed to appeal to a target demographic of teens through to adults and fit alongside other posters and literature used by the charity. The final outcome is a largely text based layout with a striking Red colour scheme (the charity colour) with the main details offset at a 45 degree angle creating a dynamic form that takes its cue mainly from the majority of 1980`s electronics packaging. DFTGAWX6ZFEZ

Founded in 1985 as an event to keep the cultural traditions of the Caribbean alive the Leicester Caribbean Carnival is an annual riot of colour and music that twists, shakes and parties its way through the streets of Leicester every year this is my video of this years event.