Take part in and enjoy dancing in Aberdeen
Find out how at www.getscotlanddancing.org
OPPORTUNITIES to take part in and enjoy a great range of dance activity in Aberdeen presented in partnership with regional Dance Hub Citymoves as part of the national Get Scotland Dancing campaign are announced today.
Highlights include a large scale Ceilidh in The Music Hall, Aberdeen at 7.30pm on Saturday 21 June as part of a 24 hour Commonwealth Ceilidh that will also span the world.
The dancing for the Commonwealth Ceilidh, which aims to celebrate and energise a much loved tradition and is led by The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, begins in New Zealand at 7.30pm local time on Saturday 21 June, then traces a line around the globe with dances in different countries, reaching Scotland 12 hours later, and culminates in Hawaii.
Dance-along to classic movie Dirty Dancing at an outdoor screening on Saturday 5 July, Union Terrace Gardens.
Led by dancer, Chris-Stuart Wilson, audiences learn moves from key moments in the film before the screening in a fun warm-up.
The film begins and they join in the dancing during the key unforgettable scenes we know and love, breaking into a huge shake down for the finale.
To add to party atmosphere, audiences are encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters from the movie. And make the day complete by bringing a picnic.
A mass dance at Aberdeen’s Sport Village will be just one of an anticipated 2000 locations across the world where dance groups and individuals will take part in The Big Dance Pledge.
Participants are in the process of learning a specially choreographed dance piece created by Scottish Ballet which will then be performed across the world on Friday 16 May.
Venues in Aberdeen are offering free taster dance classes for people who haven’t been to a dance class before or fancy picking it up again as part of the Get Dancin’ initiative.
Venues offering classes include Nia with Cathy – Nia Technique; Aberdeen RSCDS – Scottish Country Dancing; Aurora Scottish Dance and Music – Scottish Country Dancing; Citymoves – contemporary, jazz, salsa, belly dance, ballet, world dances, Zumba; Lawrence Dance Academy – ballet, cheerleading, Highland, modern, tap.
Dance to interrupt, surprise and inspire will pop up in Aberdeen on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July in one of a series of Dance Trails, when you can join a dance hunt and follow clues via a map to discover dance around the city centre
Dancers from Fusion Youth Dance Company and Danscentre will be among more 400 dancers from 36 dance groups from ten countries set to perform at YDance’s first ever Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival from Thursday 10 to Saturday 12 July at Tramway, Glasgow, with an exciting range of shows for audiences to enjoy and professional development opportunities for dance stars of the future.
There will also be the world premiere on Sunday 20 July at His Majesty’s Theatre of a new dance performance, The Four Seasons which marries the north-east’s reputation for ‘four seasons in one day’ with Vivaldi’s most famous score.
The work is being created by, internationally renowned choreographers and community dance artists Royston Maldoom and Tamara McLorg with young people from across Aberdeenshire and the Aberdeen International Youth Festival.
Citymoves is also presenting 100 DAYS/100 DANCES, which runs from Monday 14 April to Wednesday 23 July and takes the form of taster classes, performance events and dance ‘happenings’ around the city centre, every day for 100 days and will present work by Scottish and international companies and choreographers.
Citymoves is delighted to be presenting work by young Scottish companies Underhand Dance Company, Product Dance Company and our company in residence, KaSt. Choreographers Chrissie Ardill, Will Thorburn, Katy Milroy and Steven Martin will have a chance to present snippets of their new works to the public.
Choreographers, Tony Mills and Aaron Jeffrey, will also be showcasing new site specific dances – in a Squash Court and on the Street.
Gemma Williams returns to Aberdeen with Liminal Dance – loosely based on Red Riding Hood – this mixture of contemporary dance, and soundscape offers a different kind of walk in the park!
From further afield, there will be a showcase of Contemporary Dance by Krama Dance Company (Brussels) and Marjukka Savolainen (Finland).
Young student dancers from the Space (Scotland’s School of Contemporary Dance), Fusion Youth Dance Company and Aberdeen University Dance Society will inspire with their energy and creativity.
A host of Dance Artists and Community Groups will present a multi-cultural mix of dance styles to enjoy including – Indian Dance, Salsa, Rock n Roll, Swing Dance, Scottish Country Dance, Tango, Bellydance and Middle Eastern Fusion.
And to keep the little ones busy, Federica Esposito and Guilia Montalbano, present dance workshops especially for children (four-to-ten) during the first week of the Summer Holidays.
The Get Scotland Dancing campaign, to inspire more people to get active and participate in dance is supported through National Lottery funding, and activity in 2014 announced today is part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme.
More than 250 organisations are coming together to provide thousands of opportunities to take part in and enjoy a huge range of dance activity throughout Scotland and across the world in 2014, through Get Scotland Dancing.
James Allenby, of Get Scotland Dancing, said: “It’s fantastic that so many people are joining in with Get Scotland Dancing – and this is just the beginning.
“Every day we hear about more people arranging to hold their own dance pledge, planning their own Commonwealth Ceilidh during what’s going to be an amazing mid-summer night, and the number of venues who are offering free taster dance classes keeps growing.
“There are also an exciting range of performances for audiences to enjoy in exciting and unexpected locations around Scotland.
“Dance is healthy, sociable and great fun and anyone can do it. Join us in what’s lining up to be an amazing year for dance in Scotland.”
Jennifer Phillips, acting artistic director, Citymoves Dance Agency, said: “We are delighted to be part of Get Scotland Dancing, it’s a fantastic opportunity to get people dancing all over the country, and here in Aberdeen we’re kicking off with 100 days of taster classes and free performances all over the city.
“Whatever style of dance you want to try out, there will be something for you!”
Janet Archer, chief executive, Creative Scotland, said: “All across Scotland, whatever your age or experience, there’s an unparalleled range of opportunities to get creative through dance thanks to Get Scotland Dancing.
“Whether it’s trying out ballet for the first time, salsa dancing with a partner, street dancing, taking your baby or toddler to a family class, joining in the fun at a Dance-Along Movie, or being one of the thousands of men and women across the world who’ll take part in the Big Dance Pledge and the Commonwealth Ceilidh, there’s definitely something for everyone.”
Shona Robison, Minister for Sport and Commonwealth Games, said: “In 2014, we want to Get Scotland Dancing and keep Scotland dancing. Encouraging individuals and communities to become more active is a key part of our Legacy from Glasgow 2014.
“Dance is a great way for people of all ages and backgrounds nationwide to do just that in a fun and sociable way.
“I am delighted to be at today’s launch of the full Get Scotland Dancing programme, which is a key strand of the ever-growing Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme.
“Thanks to the packed and varied programme, people might try dance for the very first time or reignite a once-loved hobby.
“Through activities like the Commonwealth Ceilidh and the Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival, global connections will be formed while also boosting Scotland’s reputation as a vibrant, culturally rich and diverse nation.”
Eileen Gallagher, independent director on the Glasgow 2014 board and chair of the Ceremonies, Culture and Queen’s Baton Relay Committee, said: “The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is offering people the opportunity to be part of the Games wherever they are.
“From large-scale events to taster sessions for absolute beginners, there is something for everyone to enjoy or get involved in and create a personal legacy from the Commonwealth Games.”
Get Scotland Dancing is being presented in collaboration with six regional Dance Hubs – Citymoves, Dance Base, Dance House Glasgow, Dundee Dance Partnership, Eden Court, macrobert – and other partner organisations including Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Big Dance, Indepen-dance, The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and Scottish Ballet.
To find out more, visit: www.getscotlanddancing.org
Notes to editors:
1. The Get Scotland Dancing initiative aims to encourage more people to get active and participate in dance. The 2014 Commonwealth Games provides an unparalleled opportunity to raise the profile of dance as a creative, participative and physical artform. In support of this, Scottish Government policy, Creative Scotland has committed £1.5 million across a four-year period towards the creation of this inclusive celebration of dance across Scotland.
2. For more information on Get Scotland Dancing and how you can get involved, visit www.getscotlanddancing.org. Follow @GetDancin and www.facebook.com/GetScotlandDancing
3. Citymoves Dance Agency is the regional dance agency for North East Scotland, part of Aberdeen City Council. Citymoves offers a wide variety of community classes in the studio and in various venues across Aberdeen City Centre and works in partnership with schools and community groups to deliver a range of dance projects and activities. Citymoves also run a series of professional classes, residencies, workshops and projects as part of a commitment to supporting dancers and choreographers and developing new dance initiatives. Citymoves is committed to creating performance opportunities and producing and promoting new dance work, including producing the annual DanceLive Festival of new contemporary dance.
4. The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is a national celebration. Culture 2014 is showcasing dance, theatre, music, visual arts, comedy and much more in the run up to and after the Commonwealth Games, with Festival 2014 transforming the Host City at Games time. The Cultural Programme is a partnership between the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, Glasgow Life, and Creative Scotland through National Lottery funding. www.glasgow2014.com/culture
- Creative Scotland is the national organisation that funds and supports the development of Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries. Creative Scotland has four objectives: to develop and sustain a thriving environment for the arts, screen and creative industries; to support excellence in artistic and creative practice; to improve access to and participation in, arts and creative activity; and to deliver our services efficiently and effectively. In 2013/14, we will distribute over £100m in funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information on Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
Media contact for Get Scotland Dancing
Brian Maycock
Interim Media Relations and PR Officer, Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme
E: brian.maycock@creativescotland.com
T: 0330 333 2000
D: 0131 523 0046
M: 07972 835 212
PRESS RELEASE issued by Creative Scotland. You too can post a press release (aka a media release) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Brian Maycock
Phone: 07972835212
Email: Brian.maycock@creativescotland.com
Website: http://www.creativescotland.com
