Big Dance Goes East! Let's break a world record and get Ipswich dancing on Saturday 10 July

Southend-on-Sea | Luton | Peterborough | St Albans & Watford | Norwich | Cambridge | Ipswich
 
Big Dance Goes East celebrates dance in towns and cities across the region and includes a whistle-stop tour by one of today's most acclaimed dance companies, ZooNation, as well as a whole range of taster classes and performances by local community dance group and is part of a national campaign to get the country moving. Over 20,000 people are expected to take part over the 7 venues.
 
This region-wide initiative aims to get everyone dancing - wherever they are, whatever their age, experience or ability.
 
Each venue will have a range of events during the day, highlights include a performance by ZooNation in each location, dance workshops in shopping centres, former Come Dancing presenter Angela Rippon hosting three open air dances, a Michael Jackson Mass Dance, a chance to have a go at Parkour, Hip Hop, Capoeira or Ballroom and much more.

Big Dance Goes East has been granted the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme. Seb Coe, Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: 'The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now as projects like Big Dance Goes East are enabling people in the Eastern Region to make positive life changes.'

Big Dance is supported by Dance Champions Group which exists to promote dance as a fun way of keeping fit and making new friends, that anyone of any age can take part in. www.dancechampions.org

Funded by Grants for the Arts
 
Notes to editors:
For further information contact - Emma Brightmore, Head of Marketing and Communications, DanceEast, Jerwood DanceHouse, Foundry Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1DJ
Direct dial: +44 (0)1473 295242 or General number: +44 (0)1473 295230  -
 
ZooNation -Their work includes creating the 5* Award winning West End show Into the Hoods, representing the UK at the handover Olympic ceremony in Beijing and performing for Nelson Mandela at his 90th birthday celebration in Hyde Park. As their passion lies in both creating innovative pieces of hip hop dance theatre and using that work to inspire young people, ZooNation are also proud to run a hip hop academy for over 120 young people aged 8-18 years.)

Inspire programme: The Inspire programme is run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of the London 2012 Games - a broad participation programme spanning culture, sport participation, education, sustainability, volunteering, and business opportunities & skills. New opportunities are being created to inspire young people and encourage the whole of the UK to join in.

Information on each location:

Southend-on-Sea - Saturday 3 July

High Street & Victoria Centre, 11am - 4pm
A FREE day of dance for all ages and abilities! Catch performances along the High Street and in Victoria Shopping Centre.

Workshops and Demonstrations, High Street & Victoria Centre, 11am - 4pm
Support your local dance groups who will be showing you their moves, or get on your dancing shoes and have a go at one of the FREE dance workshops in Hip Hop, Breakdance, Contemporary, African and many more! Young or old, beginner or professional - there will be something for everyone.

ZooNation Performance, Victoria Centre, 12pm
An explosive performance in the Victoria Centre by acclaimed hip hop company ZooNation. Performing anextract from Into The Hoods and featuring music from Stevie Wonder, Dizzee Rascal and Massive Attack, this is a spectaclenot to be missed!

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE
For more information about the Big Dance event in Southend-on-Sea including workshop timetables, dance teachers, performing groups and venue details please visit the DanceDigital website www.dancedigital.org.uk or call DanceDigital on 01245 346036.

Luton - Saturday 3 July

Big Dance Luton in recognition of Michael Jackson's dancing talent is holding a mass participation dance session - the MJ Challenge - in St. George's Square at 1pm. The plan is to get 1000 people simultaneously performing some of Michael's moves with Ash in aid of charity. So now is the time to find your trilby and white glove and get involved.

For more information visit www.lutonarts.com or www.kadam.org.uk

Peterborough Thursday 1 July and Sunday 4 July

Thursday July 1st workshops 10am - 4pm

10am - 12pm Physicality workshop with Jason Mitchell
2pm - 4pm Street Dance and Hip Hop choreography workshop with Sarah Roe

The BDGE Big Performances
July 4th: 12pm Queensgate shopping centre, central square (opposite BHS)
Cruise Control - Hip Hop Collective.
Velocity Dance Company

PLUS! Special performance from award winning dance company ZooNation - presenting a sensational taster of their highly acclaimed West End show "Into The Hoods".

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE! For more information about the Big Dance event in Peterborough including workshop timetables, dance teachers, performing groups and venue details please call Kate on 07967 449630 or email on bigdancepeterborough@hotmail.co.uk

St Albans & Watford - Sunday 4 July

Workshop Programme St Albans
Outside on St Peter's Street, St Albans AL1 (The Old Town Hall if wet weather) 11:00am - 4:30pm

Just turn up and have a go at a workshop in Parkour, Hip Hop, Capoeira or Ballroom. All workshops are open to all ages and abilities, so bring along the whole family to take part. Part of the St Albans Festival of Life.

Workshop Programme Watford
The Harlequin Shopping Centre, (between HMV and M&S) Watford, Hertfordshire WD17 2UB 10:00am - 3:30pm

Workshops for the whole family in Capoeira, Jive, Hip Hop and many more.

ZooNation Performance
The Harlequin Shopping Centre, Watford, Hertfordshire WD17 2UB 3:30 - 4:00pm

Big Dance Party
The Old Town Hall, Market Place, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 5DJ 5:00 - 8:00pm
JiveSwing will lead an exciting evening of Jive workshops, demonstrations and music. Then hit the dance floor with your best moves to finish the day with a bang.

For more information about the Big Dance event in St Albans and Watford including workshop timetables, dance teachers, performing groups and venue details please visit the DanceDigital website
www.dancedigital.org.uk or call DanceDigital on 01245 346036.

Norwich - Saturday 10 July

Norfolk Dance, the dance development organisation for Norfolk, is delighted to kick off ZooNation's performance with a curtain raiser of a specially commissioned dance piece by Banxy, a veteran in UK Hip Hop dance.
Local male dancers have been working with Banxy and Norfolk Dance since February choreographing this knock out, dynamic and original piece.

ZooNation and the Banxy piece will be at 2.00pm on The Forum's amphitheatre, Norwich city centre. It is a free and unticketed performance.

For more information contact Norfolk Dance or visit www.norfolkdance.co.uk The Lord Mayor's Celebration is taking place on the July 10 so make the most of the entertainment available all day.

Cambridge - Saturday 10 July

Hip Hop Workshops in the Children's Festival Area. Throughout the day Drop in to see SinCru and try out some Hip-Hop dance in our free workshops! ZooNation Performance on the Main Stage

For more information visit www.junction.co.uk

Ipswich - Saturday 10 July
 
Big Dance Goes East is a day full of dancing around the town. From a Mass Dance with special guest former Come Dancing presenter Angela Rippon to taster sessions, Morris Men on the Cornhill and ZooNation in the Jerwood DanceHouse.
 
Try It Out! sessions will run throughout the day at the DanceHouse. Sessions cost just £1 per person and can be booked in advance by calling 01473 295230.
 
Mass Dance! Come and Get Up Offa That Thing! and dance with DanceEast and New Art Club at the following three locations:
12.30pm Christchurch Park
1.30pm Arras Square, Buttermarket Shopping Centre
(by the Tourist Information Centre)
2.30pm Jerwood DanceHouse

ZooNation and more! Jerwood DanceHouse, 7.30pm
In the evening there will be a special performance from award winning dance company ZooNation, presenting a sensational taster of their highly acclaimed West End show, Into The Hoods as well as performances from New Art Club and DanceEast groups.

Tickets: £5/£3 (concessions)
Box Office 01473 295230

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