Big Dance – 15th To 23rd July 2006

If you live in London or plan to visit over the summer, July is a great month to be around if you are a dance fan!

Big Dance is a week long celebration of dance across London and the UK and will involve a huge range of dance events across the city. Kicking off on Saturday 15th July, Big Dance will promote dance as a social activity and a physical activity, as well as an art form – and London as a world city of dance. The campaign will highlight dance of every type and from every culture. Whatever their age, taste and ability, Londoners and the capital's visitors are being encouraged to join in, not only by watching performances, but also taking part in the wide range of dance events, workshops and other activities.

As well as events from London’s top dance organisations and theatres, there will be plenty of smaller events and open days around the capital, as the many smaller, local dance clubs and schools throw open their doors to the public.

Big Dance will culminate over the weekend of 22nd-23rd July, with a spectacular weekend of dance in Trafalgar Square, including world record attempts. Watch out for The Big Dance class at 12.30pm on Saturday 22nd July, when 40 cities across England will dance the same routine for two minutes, choreographed by Luca Silvestrini to set a new world record.

BBC One will also broadcast a special programme, Dancing in the Street, on the Saturday night.

Organised by the Mayor of London, in partnership with Arts Council England and the BBC, Big Dance already has the support of a wide range of organisations, including; Sport England, Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Health, The British Heart Foundation and Visit London.

There is information on the site about how you, or your pupils, can take part, either as part of an organisation or as an individual. To find out more go to the Big Dance website which includes full listings for the week. The web address is:
http://www.london.gov.uk/bigdance