Take part in and enjoy dancing in Edinburgh
Find out how at www.getscotlanddancing.org
OPPORTUNITIES to take part in and enjoy a great range of dance activity in Edinburgh presented in partnership with regional Dance Hub Dance Base as part of the national Get Scotland Dancing campaign are announced today.
Highlights include a large scale Ceilidh in West Princes Street Gardens at 7.30pm on Saturday 21 July 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.
Venues in Edinburgh 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 and classes include Dance Base – ballet, jazz, hip hop, street, tap, belly dance, flamenco, ceilidh, ballroom, tango, contemporary, salsa, world dances; Cuban Salsa School – Salsa.
Dance to interrupt, surprise and inspire will pop up in an unexpected location on Sunday 15 June with in one of a national series of one of Dance Trails.
In Edinburgh, and cyberspace, enjoy a digital dance with Dance Base‘s Virtual Flashmob Haka created as part of the Commonwealth Games celebrations by Taki Maori from New Zealand. This project is in partnership with Edinburgh Active Schools and will be launched on 14 April as part of the 100 Days To Go activity.
Dancers from Edinburgh-based Ihayami Fusion 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.
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.”
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
