Move It Dance 2017 took place from the 10th to the 12th of March at ExCeL London and saw thousands of dancers perform, exhibit and visit over the three days. The first thing I noticed when I arrived was the vibe, which filled the air with an intense energy that immediately made me excited about what I was about to experience. Everyone who was there was there because they love dancing and performing, and the wide range of activities and exhibits available explained Move It's popularity, as there was undoubtedly something for everyone.
One of the biggest aspects of Move It Dance was the Main Stage, on which there were numerous brilliant performances by performing arts schools and colleges throughout the day, as well as professional dancers working in the industry. A huge range of dance styles were exhibited, from a sensual Spanish-themed piece by Tiffany Theatre College to graceful, elegant ballet dancing by SLP College. Some performers had large groups, such as ZooNation Youth Company, whose fun and cheeky street dance performance made them a crowd favourite, whilst others danced alone, such as Brandon Lawrence of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, whose magnificent stage presence allowed him to fill the space effortlessly.
ZooNation Youth Company performed a fun and energetic piece with some exciting flips and tricks
I particularly loved the performances by Bird College, which involved some seriously impressive acrobatics, the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, which included stunning costumes and makeup and didn't contain a single dancer who wasn't giving it their all, and Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, whose performance was absolutely mesmerising and made the fiendish skill of Irish dance seem like a piece of cake. I found myself wishing many times for a rewind button, so that I could re-watch each dance and appreciate them all over again.
The hosts, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of dance theatre company 'Folk Dance Remixed' Natasha Khamjani and Director of B-Better Hiphop company Damien Anyasi, did an impressive job of keeping the energy up in the hall throughout the day, ensuring that the acts who performed later in the afternoon didn't receive any less support or commendation than those who got the earlier slots. With performances spread over six and a half hours, I certainly didn't envy their task, but they were both lively and amusing the whole time and engaged well with the crowd.
An American in Paris' Leanne Cope and Robert Fairchild gave an exclusive sneak preview of a beautiful routine in the Tony award-winning musical
As well as the Main Stage, there was also a Showcase in a separate room, where performing arts schools, colleges and academies could present their work to prospective students who wished to gain an understanding of what they teach. This was the 7th year of the Showcase, and it was hosted by Got To Dance Series 2 winners Chris & Wes, who also dealt well with an ever-changing, smaller audience and a near-continuous flow of performers.
The other main event was the Move It & Capezio Dance Championships, a new event this year which took place every day and saw over 30 acts perform with the hope of being chosen by the panel of judges to progress to the semi-final and then the final. On Sunday the judging panel consisted of Got To Dance Series 4 winner Lukas McFarlane, Dance Dance Dance winner Jonny Labey, former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips and Sales & Marketing Director of Capezio Maddy Gladman, and the four had an incredibly difficult time deciding which acts to put through from each round. Eventually, Eleanor Norton-Bailey, a 13 year old contemporary dancer, was named the winner of Sunday's Championship, and received £500 and a large trophy as her prize, as well as the chance to perform on the Main Stage before the event ended at 5pm. I spoke to her afterwards and she said that it had been 'a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I was very pleased that I got to dance onstage. It was incredible', and named her dance teacher, Emily, as her 'biggest inspiration'.
For those who didn't get to perform on any of these large platforms, the Freestyle Stage in the centre of the main hall was open to anyone who signed up, and attracted a large crowd throughout the day as talented dancers as young as 5 performed to randomly selected pieces of music. Many of those I saw made their dances seem choreographed, moving effortlessly to styles they weren't used to; the most impressive was undoubtedly the young girl who managed to break dance to classical music, and actually made it work. I have no idea how she did it, but it was brilliant.
As well as being a celebration of dance, the event was a fantastic opportunity for brands to promote themselves, and the huge number of stalls set up in the area in front of the main stage showed just how many take advantage of that fact. There were companies selling everything from custom-made tutus to dance floors, and I had leaflets handed to me every few steps advertising jobs in Disneyland Paris or auditions for West End shows.
Workshops and seminars ran over the weekend providing everything from dance and fitness classes to audition techniques and improvisation lessons. On Sunday morning alone, there was a Latin Fusion class, Kimberly Wyatt's Dance Academy, a workshop inspired by the musical 'An American in Paris' and another inspired by 'We Will Rock You' all taking place in marquees in the same hall all at the same time. The huge variety of activities appealed to everyone on the performing spectrum, and cost only £5 or £6 each, making them affordable for most.
And if that weren't more than enough to keep you occupied for an entire weekend, Move Fit, a new female fitness event, also took place alongside Move It Dance, offering a wide range of fitness workshops from Boxercise to yoga and celebrating the health aspect of dance. There were numerous stalls selling workout clothes and promoting natural skincare treatments and healthy snacks, as well as a small Parkour course, which was a favourite among small children.
Samba Mojito closed the event with a spectacular belly dancing routine filled with glitter and glamour
The highlight of the day for me was undoubtedly the performance on the Main Stage by Jelli Studios, an Elite Dance and Musical Theatre college based in Liverpool, which was set in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and was backed by a combination of music and the voices of news readers reporting the attacks. All of the dancers beautifully combined dancing and acting, showing genuine emotion to the point where almost all of them left the stage crying. It was a truly stunning performance which proved to me the incredible power of dance.
There was so much going on at Move It Dance that I constantly wanted to be in multiple places at once, as no matter where I was I knew I was missing out on something spectacular elsewhere. The sheer volume of talent is overwhelming, and I could honestly sing the praises of each and every performer I saw. Spending a day surrounded by impromptu outbreaks of dance, stunning performances, beautiful costumes, and more glitter than I've ever seen in one place in my life was a truly amazing experience, and I loved every second of the time I spent there. Whether you want to pursue a career in dancing, do it for fun in your free time or simply love watching it, Move It Dance is a truly wonderful and unforgettable experience that you are sure to adore.
It makes me proud to know that dance is still being celebrated this way!