BIG DANCE 2010

Photograph :  David Parry/PA

PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR BIG DANCE 2010 AND 2012:

LONDON’S MAYOR INVITES EVERYONE TO DANCE

• 10,000 people take part in show-stopping Big World Dance in the streets of London in July 2010


• Wayne McGregor to choreograph London in 2012


• £2.89 million funding from Legacy Trust UK for London’s Big Dance

In a year when dance has finally taken off as the nation’s favourite art form, plans were launched today for BIG DANCE, the world’s biggest and most influential dance initiative to take place from 3-11 July 2010 and again in Summer 2012, just before London’s Olympic and Paralympic Games with hundreds of events already confirmed in London and an open invitation to cities and communities around the country to join in.

Big Dance was established as a biennial festival in 2006 by the Mayor of London’s Office in partnership with Arts Council England and has grown to become the UK’s most important dance programme, with opportunities to experience, learn about and take part in dance for millions of people.

More than a major dance festival, Big Dance is a vibrant campaign to get everyone taking part – wherever they are, whatever their age, experience or ability. Supported by leading figures from the dance world, it is delivered through a network of national and regional agencies.

Photography :  Nick Gurney

This year Big Dance was selected by Legacy Trust UK to receive a grant of £2.89 million as its keynote project for London, enabling a major expansion and a huge increase in its reach, with an anticipated 3 million Londoners taking part by 2012. The Mayor of London is also providing significant funding as part of his 2012 legacy commitment to increase participation, cultural opportunities across the capital and see Londoners get more active and healthy.

T-Mobile UK, the company behind the iconic "Dance" advert, has come on board and is set to involve as much of London as possible in the Big Dance events, promoting participation from both T-Mobile and non-T-Mobile customers.

T-Mobile Big Dance 2010 will include a daring takeover bid of London’s streets and public spaces with Big World Dance, a showstopping dance for 10,000 people, culminating in Trafalgar Square. Luca Silvestrini will direct five co-choreographers for the Big World Dance on Saturday 10 July 2010.

Wayne McGregor, the Artistic Director of Wayne McGregor / Random Dance, recently described by The New York Times as " the closest thing to a rock star that ballet can currently claim", takes the commission in 2012. McGregor is the first Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet to have come from the world of contemporary dance.

T-Mobile Big Dance 2010 features hundreds of other performances, workshops, free events, schools events, large-scale participation events and community programmes, organised through a network of London’s leading dance organisations, East London Dance, English National Ballet, Greenwich Dance Agency, Sadler’s Wells and Siobhan Davies Dance, acting as hubs to develop the vast programme of events featuring every kind of dance style in the capital.

Photograph :  Nick Gurney

Jacqueline Rose, Director, Big Dance, said:
“Dance combines creativity and physicality in a way no other art form does. Thanks to the support of Legacy Trust UK, and all our many partners, Big Dance will champion and celebrate dance in all its forms. From the elite artists of the national stages to the extraordinary achievement of this country’s urban dance movement to simple, every day exercise, Big Dance is an invitation to everyone to join in.”

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "I'm delighted to once again support Big Dance. Anyone switching on the television lately 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'.'

Richard Moat, Chief Executive Officer, T-Mobile UK: "From our experience with our Dance advert – which attracted over 17 million views on YouTube and spawned many fantastic imitation videos – we know how dance can really capture people’s imagination and spur them to get involved. We’re delighted to be supporting Big Dance 2010."

Dugald Mackie, Chair of Legacy Trust UK said: “The Olympics are about more than sport. As the handover ceremony showed, the Games will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase Britain and to inspire generations of young people. We are delighted that projects such as Big Dance will encourage people throughout the UK to take part in cultural and sporting events, and leave a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympics.”

Moira Sinclair, Executive Director, Arts Council England, London said: “Big Dance has already created some wonderful moments in the capital, bringing people together through movement. I'm really pleased that Legacy Trust UK funding will enable the festival to grow, and I look forward to working with all our partners to see what can be achieved as we approach 2012.”

Big Dance is London’s Legacy Trust UK programme led by the Greater London Authority in partnership with Arts Council England and supported by major organisations including: Sport England, NHS London, London Councils, Museums, Libraries & Archives, London and the British Council.

Photography :  Nick Gurney