Foundation for Community Dance LCB Depot 31 Rutland Street Leicester LE1 1RE Tel: +44(0)116 253 3453 Fax: +44 (0)116 261 6801 Email: info@communitydance.org.uk www.communitydance.org.uk Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales no. 2415458 Registered charity no. 328392 VAT no. 109056137

       

   Press  Release    STRICTLY  EMBARGOED  IN  ALL  FORMATS  UNTIL  12.30PM  ON  FRIDAY  16  MAY  (BST)    

65,000  PEOPLE  IN  WORLDWIDE  ‘BIG  DANCE’  FOR  THE  COMMONWEALTH  GAMES        At  1pm  on  16  May  2014  -­‐  thousands  of  adults  and  schoolchildren  in  the  UK  and  across  the  world  will  join  together  to  take  part  in  a  Glasgow  2014  inspired  dance,  created  especially  by  artists  from  Scottish  Ballet.        ‘The  Big  Dance  Pledge’  is  an  annual  project,  adopted  in  2014  as  a  part  of  Get  Scotland  Dancing  and  the  Glasgow  2014  Cultural  Programme.  The  dance  will  be  performed  by  over  65,000  people  in  24  countries  in  public  spaces,  schools  and  workplaces.      In  Edinburgh,  300  dancers  are  coming  together  on  The  Mound  to  lead  the  rest  of  the  world  with  their  moves.  The  Emirates  Arena,  Glasgow,  the  main  sporting  area  for  the  Commonwealth  Games  will  host  500  dancers  from  across  the  city.  In  London,  shoppers  at  Westfield  London  will  be  surprised  with  a  mass  performance  by  120  local  school  children,  whilst  at  Sadler’s  Wells  the  renowned  Company  of  Elders  -­‐  a  group  of  dancers  over  60  years  old  will  take  over  the  theatre.  [A  list  of  UK  and  international  performance  highlights  is  given  with  this  release.]    With  support  from  the  British  Council  Schools  Online,  huge  public  performances  of  the  Big  Dance  Pledge  will  take  place  around  the  world.  Over  1,000  dancers  will  fill  Place  de  l'Étoile,  Beirut,  the  home  to  the  Lebanese  Parliament,  whilst  other  countries  including  India,  Canada,  Brazil,  Pakistan,  Taiwan  and  Greece  will  host  local  large-­‐scale  events.  Groups  are  invited  to  perform  at  1pm  or  7pm  local  time,  wherever  they  are  in  the  world.      

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       The  Big  Dance  Pledge  is  produced  by  Foundation  for  Community  Dance  in  partnership  with  the  Mayor  of  London.  Scottish  Ballet  was  commissioned  this  year  to  create  the  dance  and  tuition  films,  which  encouraged  people  to  perform  their  own  interpretation  of  the  dance  –  whether  that  be  hip-­‐hop  or  folk,  Ballet  to  Bhangra  or  even  to  take  inspiration  from  community,  country  and  national  dance  styles.      The  choreography  was  created  by  Lorraine  Jamieson,  Scottish  Ballet  Education  Officer  with  an  original  composition  by  Scottish  Ballet  musician,  Dave  Boyd.  The  film  resource  was  created  by  director  and  choreographer,  Heather  Eddington.      Quotes      Jacqueline  Rose,  Big  Dance  Director,  Greater  London  Authority,  said:  “  I  am  delighted  that  the  Big  Dance  Pledge  continues  to  inspire  people  to  dance  all  over  the  world.”    Catherine  Cassidy,  Associate  Director  (Education)  at  Scottish  Ballet  said:  “The  Big  Dance  Pledge  is  a  wonderful  way  for  Scottish  Ballet  to  engage  with  thousands  of  people  across  the  world.  We  wanted  to  create  a  lively,  exciting  dance,  which  used  percussion  and  dynamic  movements  to  get  people  moving  and  having  fun  together.  We’re  delighted  with  the  response  from  across  the  world.  The  groups  look  just  amazing!”      James  Allenby,  Project  Manager,  Get  Scotland  Dancing  said:  “As  the  first  major  event  of  the  Get  Scotland  Dancing  programme,  we  hope  to  show  the  world  that  dance  is  creative,  healthy  and  fun.  What  better  way  to  be  inspired  and  challenged  than  to  join  thousands  of  others  around  the  world  in  this  wonderful  huge  dance.  We’re  delighted  that  so  many  groups  in  Scotland  will  be  performing  the  Pledge  today.”      Chris  Stenton,  Executive  Director,  Foundation  for  Community  Dance  said:  “This  year’s  Big  Dance  Pledge  has  really  captured  people’s  imagination  worldwide.  It’s  a  great  way  for  people  of  all  ages  to  get  involved  with  dance,  whether  that’s  learning  the  routine  or  creating  their  own  dance  inspired  by  the  Pledge,  and  join  in  with  the  celebrations  for  Glasgow  2014.”      

   

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Performance  Highlights      

Location   Details  

Skye  Bridge,  Kyle  of  Lochalsh,  Scotland,  IV40  8AG  

The  Skye  Bridge  will  be  transformed  when  250  people  from  Skye  Dance,  aged  from  1-­‐91  years  will  peform  their  Big  Dance  Pledge  on  it.    

Waverley  House,  2-­‐4  Waterloo  Place,  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  EH1  3EG  

Employees  from  Creative  Scotland,  Amazon,  Microsoft  and  other  companies  in  Waverley  House  come  together  to  perform  in  their  entrance  atrium.  

Sadler's  Wells,  Rosebery  Avenue,  London,  EC1R  4TN  

The  UK's  largest  dance  performance  venue  hosts  a  professional  performance  of  Romeo  and  Juliet  from  Scottish  Ballet,  the  company  behind  the  Pledge  2014  choreography.  Dancers  from  Sadler's  Wells  renowned  Company  of  Elders  will  perform  at  1pm  followed  by  local  community  and  Scottish  Ballet  professional  dancers  who  will  open  the  evening  with  a  7pm  foyer  performance  of  the  Pledge.  

Place  de  l'Étoile  /  Parliament  Square,  Beirut,  Lebanon  

The  annual  mass  performance  of  the  Big  Dance  Pledge  continues  to  grow  in  Lebanon  with  1,000  school  children  coming  together  from  in  and  around  the  capital.    

The  Engine  House,  High  St,  Merthyr  Tydfil,  Wales,  CF48  3HA  

Community  teacher  Jen  Angharad  is  bringing  together  400  people  from  the  local  area  to  perform  in  a  coverted  rail  engine  shed.  Local  BBC  news  are  expected  to  attend  and  cover  the  story.  

Westfield  Shopping  City,  Shepherd's  Bush,  London,  W12  7GF  

200  participants  from  local  Greenside  Primary  School,    older  people  from  Open  Age,  young  dancers  from  West  London  School  of  Dance  and  Young  Dancers  Academy,  students  from  Hammersmith  Academy  and  English  National  Ballet  evening  will  be  brought  together  by  English  National  Ballet  to  stop  shoppers  in  their  stride  at  1pm  and  7pm.  

Emirates  Arena,  G40  3HY   355  young  people  from  across  the  Glasgow  area  are  brought  together  by  YDance,  Dancehouse  and  Scottish  Ballet  to  dance  a  Pledge  welcome  to  the  Commonwealth  Games  in  the  arena  that  will  see  so  much  of  the  sporting  action.  

LightNight  Liverpool,  Liverpool  Anglican  Cathedral    St  James  Mount,    L1  7AZ  

Merseyside  Dance  Initiative  are  leading  public  classes  to  learn  the  Pledge  ready  for  a  7pm  performance  as  part  of  LightNight,  Liverpool’s  one-­‐night  arts  and  culture  festival.  

City  Centre,  Sarawak,  Malaysia  

The  Kolej  Datu  Patinggi  Abang  Haji  Abdillah  school  in  Kuching,  Sarawak,  Malaysia  have  created  their  Pledge  performance  for  a  surprise  flashmob  in  the  city  for  ‘Visit  Malaysia  2014’.  

 www.bigdance.org.uk    Media  Enquiries  including  images:    Jane  Quinn  +  44  (0)20  7221  5000  +44  (0)  7771  858  728    jq@boltonquinn.com      Lorna  Plampin,    Big  Dance    lorna@bigdance.org.uk        

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Notes  to  editors:    1. The  Big  Dance  Pledge  is  an  annual  international  initiative  inspiring  people  to  learn,  create  and  

perform  a  special  dance  with  groups  from  around  the  world.  Free  online  resources  enable  anyone  to  learn  or  teach  the  dance,  or  create  inspired  versions,  to  be  performed  simultaneously.  The  performance  day  is  16  May  2014,  with  worldwide  simultaneous  performances  at  1pm  and  7pm.  Previous  choreographers  of  the  Big  Dance  Pledge  include  renowned  international  artists  and  companies  including  Wayne  McGregor,  Artistic  Director  Wayne  McGregor  |Random  Dance  and  English  National  Ballet.  www.bigdance.org.uk  

 2. Big  Dance  is  a  biennial  festival  of  dance  and  dancing  led  by  the  Mayor  of  London,  Foundation  for  

Community  Dance  and  a  network  of  Big  Dance  Hubs.  Big  Dance  2012  was  the  UK’s  largest  ever  celebration  of  dance  as  part  of  the  London  2012  Festival.  The  Big  Dance  Weekend-­‐  12-­‐13  July  2014  -­‐  the  finale  of  the  2014  festival  includes  exceptional  performances  and  events  by  a  range  of  international  and  UK  choreographers  in  iconic  public  spaces.  Big  Dance  is  delivered  through  the  England's  leading  dance  organisations:  Dance  City,  Pavilion  Dance  South  West,  Dance4,  DanceEast,  Dancefest,  East  London  Dance,  English  National  Ballet,  Greenwich  Dance,  Merseyside  Dance  Initiative,  Sadler's  Wells,  Siobhan  Davies  Dance,  South  East  Dance  and  Yorkshire  Dance.  www.bigdance.org.uk        

 3. Foundation  for  Community  Dance  creates  and  develops  opportunities  for  people  to  experience  

dance  in  all  its  diversity.  Its  vision  is  of  a  world  where  dance  makes  a  positive  difference,  its  mission  is  to  make  engagement  with  dance  important  and  relevant  to  individuals,  communities  and  society.  The  Foundation  works  across  the  UK  and  internationally  with,  and  on  behalf  of,  artists,  organisations  and  teachers  involved  in  leading,  delivering  or  supporting  opportunities  for  people  to  participate  in  dance.  It  promotes  life-­‐long  engagement  in  dance,  excellence  in  artistic  practice,  and  places  inclusion,  equality  and  diversity  at  the  heart  of  its  work  –  believing  that  everyone  should  have  the  opportunity  to  take  part  in  dance  in  the  way  that’s  right  for  them.  www.communitydance.org.uk.    

 4. Get  Scotland  Dancing  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  will  commit  £1.5  million  across  a  four-­‐year  period,  creating  an  inclusive  celebration  of  dance  across  Scotland,  linking  into  the  wider  UK  and  marking  Scotland’s  place  in  the  world.  For  more  information  on  Get  Scotland  Dancing  visit  www.getscotlanddancing.org.  

 5. Scottish  Ballet  is  Scotland’s  national  dance  company.  At  Scottish  Ballet  education  is  everywhere;  

engaging  with  community  groups  of  all  ages  and  abilities  across  Scotland,  the  UK  and  internationally.  From  community  performances  of  Hansel  and  Gretel  in  rural  woodland  areas  to  Parkour  and  ballet  projects  in  the  park  and  on  the  beach;  the  company  breaks  down  barriers  and  opens  its  doors  to  everyone.  A  vibrant  and  experienced  Education  team  work  creatively  with  Artistic  Director,  Christopher  Hampson  to  produce  a  programme  of  activities  which  complement  the  Company  repertoire.  Since  his  arrival  in  September  2012  the  importance  of  the  Education  programme  has  increased  considerably  with  his  direct  support  and  clear  commitment  to  a  dynamic  and  excellent  access  programme.  www.scottishballet.co.uk  

 6. The  Glasgow  2014  Cultural  Programme  is  a  national  celebration.  Culture  2014  will  showcase  

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  

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Cultural  Programme  is  a  partnership  between  the  Glasgow  2014  Organising  Committee,  Glasgow  Life,  and  Creative  Scotland  through  National  Lottery  Funding.  www.glasgow2014.com/culture  

 7. The  British  Council  is  the  UK’s  international  organisation  for  educational  opportunities  and  

cultural  relations  set  up  to  create  international  opportunities  for  the  people  of  the  UK  and  other  countries  and  build  trust  between  them  worldwide.  The  organisation  works  in  more  than  100  countries  and  the  7000  staff  –  including  2000  teachers  –  work  with  thousands  of  professionals  and  policy  makers  and  millions  of  young  people  every  year  teaching  English,  sharing  the  Arts  and  in  education  and  society  programmes.  The  organisation  is  a  UK  charity  governed  by  Royal  Charter.  A  publically-­‐funded  grant-­‐in-­‐aid  provides  less  than  a  quarter  of  our  turnover  which  last  year  was  £781m.  The  rest  is  earned  from  English  teaching,  UK  exams  and  services  which  customers  around  the  world  pay  for,  through  education  and  development  contracts  and  from  partnerships  with  other  institutions,  brands  and  companies.    All  our  work  is  in  pursuit  of  our  charitable  purpose  and  creates  prosperity  and  security  for  the  UK  and  the  countries  we  work  in  all  around  the  world.  For  further  information  please  visit:  schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org  and  http://www.britishcouncil.org.