Urban Moves into region, 23 July

The third Urban Moves – International Dance Festival takes place in Manchester and Bury later this month. The highlights include: A romantic duet between a dancer and a giant mechanical digger, animated shop windows, Daring aerial feats on walls and in the air, Romance and dance on the platforms and escalators of Piccadilly Station, and music from opera to hip hop, classical Indian, electronic and more

Urban Moves has put together three days of professional, contemporary dance performed outdoors, against the architectural backdrop of the city.
 
Twenty companies from the UK and Europe will perform in variety of venues:  Castlefield, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Square, Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly railway station.
 
The weekend’s highlights include: Beau Geste from France – prepare to be amazed when Transports Exceptionnels brings to life the ultimate children’s fantasy – a duet between a dancer and a giant mechanical digger!
 
Etant Donne from France, Aspecto’s shop window in The Triangle comes to life with naughty antics, as dancers mercilessly send up the word of fashion and the hard sell in La Vitrine.

Dancing in the air, from Circo Delicio from Spain performing daring aerial feats in walls and in the air and UK based Gravity and Levity with Re-Flex.
 
A journey back in time  – local company Resonance Dance perform Forgotten Ghosts, an Urban Moves new commission, a taste of romance on the platforms and escalators of Piccadilly Station.
 
The Bicycle Ballet, a 30 minute dance performance, celebrating the dance that is cycling, will take place on Sunday 25 in Castlefield, Manchester. See bicycles dance in a performance reminiscent of Busby Berkeley’s stunning synchronized film choreography, illustrating the highs and lows of city cycling: the sheer joy of swerving downhill on a bike, the wind behind you and the sun on your face, tempered by the gritty reality of urban cycling. The performance is funded by Manchester City Council as part of the Cultural Olympiad open weekend

Urban Moves runs from 23 – 25 July. For performance times and a full programme visit the website.