The World Youth Dance Crew participating at the FLAME 2025 Catholic youth convention in Wembley.
LONDON
A group of talented dancers of Goan origin had the opportunity of performing at FLAME 2025, the largest Catholic youth convention in England and Wales, as part of the internationally recognised World Youth Dance Crew.
Held at the prestigious OVO Arena Wembley, the event which consisted of inspirational speakers, live music, prayer and adoration, brought together over 10,000 young people to celebrate faith, unity, and culture.
The World Youth Dance Crew, a Catholic dance movement, captivated the audience through a dynamic fusion of contemporary, hip-hop, and liturgical dance, conveying a powerful message of faith, joy, and inspiration.
Their performance not only showcased artistic excellence but also reflected the deep-rooted cultural and spiritual heritage they proudly carry.
“What made this moment even more special was the overwhelming love and appreciation showered after our performance. Many in the audience, including youth with health conditions or impairments, expressed how deeply moved they were by the energy and inclusivity of the performance. It was a testament to the power of dance in breaking barriers and touching lives beyond words,” remarked World Youth Dance Crew founder and group leader Melrick Fernandes, who hails from Reis Magos in Goa.
Speaking about this opportunity, one of the dancers, and media lead for the team, Anoushka Fernandes hailing from Candolim said, "Dancing at Wembley was a dream come true. Professing our faith through conventional forms of art on such a grand international platform was a blessing. The love and encouragement we received reminded us why we do what we do – to inspire, uplift, and bring people together through dance.”
The World Youth Dance Crew participating at the FLAME 2025 Catholic youth convention in Wembley.
FLAME 2025 was more than just an event; it was a celebration of faith, culture, and youth empowerment. For the youth dancers who took part, it was a moment of immense happiness and joy, as they carried a piece of their homeland onto one of the world's most famous stages.
“The World Youth Dance Crew continues its mission of spreading faith and positivity through dance, proving that movement is a universal language that unites and uplifts souls across all backgrounds,” said Melrick.
“The group was created on June 9, 2019, as there were many like-minded individuals who wanted the opportunity to use dance as a form of worship.
“The World Youth Dance Crew had the opportunity to dance for the inaugural ceremony at the World Youth Day in front of Pope Francis in Panama in 2019.”
“Since then, our group has been performing and conducting dance workshops in countries like Panama, Venezuela, El Salvador, Italy, Nigeria, Ireland, United Kingdom, USA, United Arab Emirates and India.”
“My focus is to find not talented dancers but passionate dancers who will dance for the Lord. For an individual to be a part of the team is basically to focus on evangelising, and not to run after the fame, because the group’s moto is to bring back the youth to the church.”
Jason Dias, one of the dancers hailing from Parra, said when he used to dance for the churches in Goa, he always felt the need to do more to serve the Lord and the group did define his purpose.
Another dancer, Stafney Fernandes from Velsao, said when she was 13 she had come to FLAME and never imagined she would be one day on that stage professing her faith.
Earlier in January, the group also conducted a workshop with the archdiocese of Goa under the guidance of the Diocesan Youth Centre Director Fr Blaise Lobo.
“The group has performed for the World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023 and since then, we have travelled to many places like Ireland, Italy, Bahamas, Honduras to evangelise and hoping for more youth to step forward for the Lord. The next stop is Rome for the Jubilee Youth in July 2025,” informed Melrick.
“Our main hashtag and motto (#ForTheLord) haven't changed since the day we established he group. We like to welcome individuals who love dancing and would want to use it as a way to praise and worship The Lord,” he added.
The youth group from St Joseph’s Church, Wembley, participating at the FLAME 2025 Catholic youth convention.
Carl Fernandes, Lead Confirmation Catechist at St Joseph’s Church in Wembley who managed the Confirmation group for the Youth Flame, said a total of 150 youth from their parish, which included a majority of Goans, attended the FLAME 2025 Catholic youth convention.
“Such was the interest among the youth that a waiting list was even set up to accommodate any last-minute attendees for unused tickets,” said Carl.
“It was inspiring to witness the enthusiasm of the youth from Wembley who were eager to participate in this spiritual event held in London, which included talks, praise and worship, and dancing.”
“For the majority of the young attendees, this was their first opportunity to experience a concert, and they embraced the event with great enthusiasm and passion as they continue their faith journeys towards receiving the sacrament of confirmation.”
