Theatre News

London’s Mayor Says Get Grooving For Big Dance

London’s Mayor Boris Johnson invited everyone to dance at the launch of Big Dance 2010, the summer festival which encourages the public to get grooving, be it hip-hop, salsa, or ballet.

Johnson said: “Anyone switching on the television cannot fail to have seen how enormously popular dance is – not just the lively shows, but the dancercise commercials. Big Dance is a terpsichorean feast that takes it quite literally one step further. We want to get as many people moving as possible this July and afterwards, to 2012 and beyond. Whatever your style, whatever your age or ability, as the Lady says ‘Just Dance’.”

This year’s festival will see hundreds of performances, workshops, free events, schools events, large-scale participation events and community programmes organised through a network of London’s dance organisations. The event culminates with Big World Dance, a takeover of London’s streets and public spaces including Trafalgar Square by 10,000 people. Choreographer Luca Silvestrini will direct five co-choreographers for the event on Saturday 10 July 2010. Wayne McGregor, the Artistic Director of Wayne McGregor/Random Dance, takes the Big Dance commission in Olympic year 2012.

Big Dance is sponsored by T-Mobile UK, the company behind the “Dance” advert filmed at Liverpool Street Station. This year’s event takes place in London from 3-11 July.