Leveraging the shortly approaching Eurovision Song Contest, community NGO WIILMA will launch their first Eurovision Watch Party at The Red Lion pub ballroom in Leytonstone on Saturday, 13 May 2023 starting from 4.30PM; to bring Ukrainian and the London community together through the power of singing and dancing.

As part of the NGO’s ongoing efforts to reduce loneliness and isolation, WIILMA organises The Eurovision Watch Party so Ukrainians, all refugees and the wider London community get to share the experience in this special and meaningful occasion. Putting on weekly singing lessons every Tuesday between 7PM and 8PM, WIILMA’s multilingual singing tutor teaches Ukrainian refugees as well as community participants to sing Mae Muller’s UK Eurovision entry this year “I wrote a song” and the Ukrainian winning entry last year “Stefania”. For those who prefer to dance along, WIILMA is hosting dance classes weekly between 7PM and 8PM, led by a West End Wicked musical professional.

Attendees of WIILMA’s Eurovision Watch Party will be able to enjoy the showcase performance of the singing and dancing at the legendary Red Lion BallRoom, a venue previously graced with acts such as Led Zeppelin & Genesis.

Besides the live screening of the Eurovision contest final on a big screen, participants can certainly enjoy a community atmosphere where everybody cheers on the singing and dancing performances of the contestants.

Other major activities of the day include:

Eurovision inspired Food and beverages
Flag & bunting making
Eurovision Heritage Talk
Eurovision karaoke style singing activity
Photo booth for portraits by fashion photographers

Professional makeup artists from the film and tv industry for face make up such as Eurovision country flags
“I was at one of the singing lessons hosted by WIILMA. They are so creative and amazing! I even felt myself back in Ukraine in those hours.” Says Yulia, an Ukranian refugee. “There were people from different countries, but I felt free. We were practising English as well as sharing our thoughts,values and part of Ukrainian culture, talking about Ukraine and identification of Ukrainian people.”

“It’s really a privilege meeting all these refugees who want to connect with their wider community but perhaps didn’t have an avenue open to them to do so in this way.” JJ Khun, WIILMA Founder and Creative Director, said about his time teaching in the build-up to the event. “As a multilingual community singing tutor, I strongly believe learning should be an exchange, refugees have a lot to teach us. Teaching the songs in their native language, enables them to share their culture and nuances of their language with their community and the interest shown by the community in them, in turn makes them feel more welcome and connected. This is exactly how we bring our communities together through an exchange of different people and cultures, everybody is welcome, and has a role in our wider community.

Come show solidarity and support for Ukrainian and all displaced refugees who have been through so much, and those impacted by Brexit, for a day of entertainment suitable for all from 4.30PM-Late, for the 13th May event.

Learn to sing some Eurovision songs, or to simply connect to the wider community, book a FREE ticket and the weekly Eurovision singing and dance classes at www.wiilma.org/workshops.