York Theatre Royal Dance-A-Thon - 3 April

Dance-A-Thon
De Grey Rooms
Dance through the decades for Access For All

You could be one of hundreds of people dancing in the De Grey Rooms Ballroom for 1½ hours or from morning ‘til night to provide Access for All. Whatever your age, whatever your talent, try your hand at just one or all of the following: Turn of the century Ceilidh Dancing, Spicy Salsa and Latin American, 1920s and 1930s Jazz, Glamorous ‘40s Ballroom, 1950s Rock ‘N’ Roll, 1990s Hip Hop or classic Disco (perfect fun for all the family).

Each class will be taught by professional dancers, so while you experience something new and take part in this brilliant event, you can help raise money to allow everyone to experience and enjoy these spectacular facilities.

York Theatre Royal is committed to providing Access for All, but we need your participation in the Dance-A-Thon to ensure that these superb workshop, Youth Theatre and event spaces are accessible for wheelchair users, those with physical impairment or anyone who requires the use of push chairs or trolleys for mobility.

This will also be the first of many opportunities to dance in the beautifully restored De Grey Room Ballroom.

To play your part in this exciting event follow these four simple steps:

1) Register for a dance style and slot, or commit to dancing for the whole 10½ hours by calling the box office on 01904 623568 or online at http://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/

To sign up for more than one class or the whole 10½ hours, please ring Box Office or visit us in person.

2) Pay your £5 registration fee
3) Receive your sponsorship pack (or download below) and collect your donations
4) Come and dance the style of your choice under professional instruction and help us provide Access for All

10.00am to 8.30pm - Dance All Day
10.00am to 11.30am - Classic Disco
11.30am to 1.00pm - 1990s Street & Hip Hop
1.00pm to 2.30pm - 1950s Rock 'n' Roll
2.30pm to 4.00pm - 1940s Glamorous Ballroom
4.00pm to 5.30pm - 1920s & 1930s Jazz
5.30pm to 7.00pm - 1920s Salsa & Latin American
7.00pm to 8.30pm - Traditional Ceilidh

Sign up to an individual session online or to sign up for more than one class or the whole 10.5 hours then please ring Box Office or visit us in person.

If you would like to donate to our Access For All Fund you can do so by clicking here.

Global Dance Contest - Vote Now!

The ten finalists in Sadler’s Wells online Global Dance Contest have been chosen.


In this next stage of the competition to find new dance talent from around the world, the public are invited to vote – just once - for their favourite. The winner will receive a £2,000 cash prize, an all-expenses paid trip to London and the opportunity to perform live on stage in January 2010 at Sadler’s Wells Sampled – a show case of different dance forms which can be seen at the London dance house through the year.

The Global Dance Contest was launched in March this year and in six months attracted 170 entries from 34 countries around the world, including Ghana, Venezuela, China, the Philippines and Russia. The ten finalists, who come from Australia, Israel, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Britain and the United States, were chosen by a panel of judges which included choreographer Arlene Phillips, UK broadcaster and journalist Miranda Sawyer and Artistic Director and CEO of Sadler’s Wells Alistair Spalding.

Kingsley Jayasekera, Director of Marketing and Communications at Sadler’s Wells said "We are very excited that the Global Dance Contest really has given us a window on the world and the diversity of dance out there. Our judges were spoilt for choice in selecting the finalists. Now it’s down to the public to watch the ten videos on www.globaldancecontest.com and vote for their favourites."

Voting is open until 13 November and the winner will be announced on 18 November. The overall winner will present their piece in front of an audience of nearly 2,000 people on the main stage at Sadler’s Wells next year. They will receive professional support and guidance to help them adapt their work to the theatre stage. The contest will run annually for the next four years. At the end of four years in 2012, the collective winners of the annual competition will be invited to perform their work in London during the Olympic year.

Choose your winner and check out all the entries on www.globaldancecontest.com