Big Dance
18 May - 15 July
Get into the groove and prepare to be inspired as Big Dance the Londonwide free celebration of dance returns. Whatever your style, experience, age or ability, there’s something for you in Big Dance 2012, the biggest festival of its kind in the world.
This year’s celebrations are set to go far beyond London reaching an incredible five million people across the UK. Highlights include a spectacular choreographed performance featuring over 1,000 dancers in Trafalgar Square, the Schools Pledge World Record, Big Dance Bus Tour, Older People’s project, Pop-up Cinema Tour and Big Street Dance Day.
In London, Big Dance works through five local hubs – East London Dance, English National Ballet, Greenwich Dance, Sadler’s Wells and Siobhan Davies Dance – who lead dance activity in every part of the city. So, wherever you live in London you’ll be able to get involved in the ultimate celebration of dance as part of the London 2012 Festival.
Big Dance is London’s Legacy Trust UK programme, delivered by the Mayor of London and Arts Council England, with a national programme coordinated by Foundation for Community Dance.
Big Dance highlights
Big Dance week
7-15 July
Big Dance Week 2012 is the UK's biggest ever celebration of dance with thousands of events across the nation. London’s streets, parks, libraries, cinemas, theatres and museums will come alive with dance throughout the week.
Big Dance Bus Tour
18 May - 15 July
Watch out for the Big Dance Bus as it tours London. The bus - a cross between Notting Hill Carnival and an old British tea party - will be popping-up in streets, squares, shopping centres and parks around the capital presenting performances and workshops until 15 July.
Dance in Focus Exhibition at City Hall
25 June - 15 July
Aspiring photographers worked with acclaimed dance photographer Chris Nash and professional dancers to produce imaginative and thought-provoking images capturing dance and movement. See the stunning results in this exhibition at City Hall.
Big Youth Dance Weekend at The Scoop
7 and 8 July
Young dancers will take centre stage at The Scoop in two days dedicated to youth dance. More than 40 young groups from London and beyond will present work from ballet to hip-hop, kathak to contemporary. Whatever your tastes – there’ll be something for all to enjoy.
Dancing Voices
11 July
East London Dance, Capital Age Festival and Southbank Centre present a cast of older dancers and singers masterminded by choreographer, Natasha Gilmore and music director Fi Cunningham. The performance will feature songs from 1908 (the first time London hosted the Olympic Games) - 2012.
Big Dance Trafalgar Square 2012
14 July
Wayne McGregor directs 1,000 dancers from 40 groups in a piece inspired by the Games with music by Scanner and Joel Cadbury - as part of the nationwide Big Street Dance Day. Former and future hosts of the Olympic Games in Beijing and Rio, will join the fun via big screens.
Big Dance Brazil Day
15 July
Big Dance and London Borough of Wandsworth team up for a day of Brazilian dance and culture in Wandsworth Park. The free all-day event will showcase dance, music and participatory activities, including samba, capoeira and an evening showing of Rio on the Big Dance Pop-Up Cinema.
Find out more about all of these events and more at www.bigdance2012.com
Image by Kois Miah