Boris cuts shapes with Kate Prince & Arlene Phillips for Big Dance

Over 150 dancers converged on the platform at 10am to mark the mass-participatory “celebration of dance”, which spreads across public venues all across London for the next week. The event culminates with a 1000-strong performance in Trafalgar Square on 14 July.

West End choreographers Kate Prince (Some Like It Hip Hop) and Arlene Phillips (Saturday Night Fever, The Sound of Music, Grease) were present at the launch, the latter ably guiding the Mayor of London in a few steps.

Big Dance runs from 7 to 15 July as part of the London 2012 Festival, which comprises 12,000 events and performances involving over 25,000 artists
from all
204 participating Olympic Nations.

According to press material, “Big Dance is characterised by a strong emphasis on participation; some of the UK’s most renowned and innovative choreographers will be interacting with local dance groups and members of the public in venues ranging from public squares and shopping centres, to parks, playgrounds, beaches, bridges, studios and swimming pools.”

As part of Big Dance, Skegness will have dancers and musicians swirling across its coastal district in Dream Walk and the cityscape of Greater Manchester will be scattered with aerial dance performers in Urban Moves.

On 14 July, Big Dance will reach a climax with Big Street Dance Day, which will see 1000 dancers gather in Trafalgar Square to perform a new piece by choreographer Wayne McGregor inspired by the Olympic Games, while “across the country performers and the public will be gathering in town centres and squares for their own Big Street Dance”.

For further coverage of the London 2012 Festival, visit whatsonstage.com/summer2012