Following a successful launch event attended by almost 100 people in person and via Zoom, The Guildhall Trust is delighted to announce the official registration for its Dance Live! 2022 competition is now open, with 26 schools and colleges signing up for the prestigious event in the first 24 hours! 39 schools and colleges participated in the Heats of the inaugural event in 2020 before the Final and 2021 events were forced online due to Covid-19, and this is now set to expand in 2022 to engage up to 4,500 young people from up to 90 schools and colleges in staged events at the iconic Portsmouth Guildhall.
Embracing an ever-evolving digital world and how this is changing the face of modern performance, Dance Live! sees those in KS2-4 and Further Education compete with choreographed routines to the backdrop of a giant LED screen with pupils showcasing a range of skills from dance and performance to off-stage technical skills and creative design. With a focus on raising aspirations and developing skills for creative career choices, Dance Live! delivers a range of supportive workshop opportunities and encourages all to get involved.
For Dance Live! 2022, the team will also be launching a ‘Dance for Film Solo Platform’ to give 16-18year olds an insight into creating dance for the camera, delivering school holiday enrichment activities, developing volunteer and placement opportunities and will be encouraging increased participation amongst boys and SEND schools.
Following interest from throughout the country Dance Live! is also looking to expand to new areas and launch a Studio Edition for dance schools, studios and youth dance companies.
Dance Live! Producer Cherry Lambert said, “The response to the opening of registration for
Dance Live! Portsmouth 2022 has been amazing! We know there is a lot of interest out there and we are expecting about 90 schools to sign up for our Portsmouth event next year. We are not restricting the numbers that can register as we want as many young people as possible to experience this fantastic opportunity, but we do encourage schools and colleges to register as soon as they can to aid our planning. The future for Dance Live! is looking incredibly bright and I’m excited to see the event’s development over the next year”. Businesses and organisations are also invited to collaborate on the event with a range of corporate benefits on offer. Sponsors of Dance Live! have included Hornpipe Theatre Company, Prospero Teaching, Wave 105 FM, Wightlink, Isle of Wight Ferries and Becketts of Southsea. To register and find out more, interested schools and colleges should head to: www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk/get-involved/schools-colleges/dance-live/ Registration is open until 5 pm, Friday 24th September 2021 with no financial commitment at the time of registration.
Enquiries can be made directly to the team at:dancelive@portsmouthguildhall.org.uk or 023 9387 0193. For those keen to see what Dance Live! involves, tickets to see the 2021 streamed Dance Live! TV final on Saturday 19th June will be available to purchase from 10 am, Monday 7th June at: www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk