Arts Programme and Cultural Development
Barking and Dagenham Dance Festival 2008
Monday 23 June 2008 - Sunday 20 July 2008
Dance is fast becoming one the Nation's favourite pastimes whether it is taking part in dance as part of your education, during your spare time attending a dance class, dancing with friends or watching the latest dance show on television.
Barking and Dagenham is having its first ever Dance Festival to celebrate and highlight dance with the community.
Dance can be what you make it, as well as keeping you fit, it can keep you smiling.
Below you can find information about dance that is happening in and around the borough.
School's Borough Dance Festival
Each year Barking and Dagenham schools work together in producing a dance sharing event. This happens over 3 days and every school in the borough from nursery to sixth forms are invited to come along and share their dance pieces. This happens at William Ford Church of England School and Valence Infant during July.
Raw Talent
Is the borough's Annual Talent Competition, this year's auditions are now closed but you can still support your favourite group at the Finals. Every year the borough looks for the best Dancers, Singers, and Band. This year's Dance element has been supported by Castle Green Community Centre, Gale Street, Dagenham, RM9 4UN.
The Finalists will be battling it out on the Community Stage at the Dagenham Town Show from 11am onwards, Saturday 19 July 2008.
So come along and have a look at the best of borough talent - the winners of Raw Talent 2008 will then get to perform live on the Main Stage at the Dagenham Town Show, Sunday 20 July 2008 as well as receive prizes in their given talent field.
Dance Umbrella, Overture 2012
120 young dancers will explode on to the Royal Albert Hall stage in Overture 2012. This Dance Umbrella commission is a monumental production set to one of the world's greatest symphonies, Shostakovich's 10th, played live by one of the world's greatest orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra.
Two young people from Barking and Dagenham were among those chosen to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2008.
If you would like tickets for this show please contact the Royal Albert Hall on 0844 412 4312.
East London Dance
East London Dance has been a pioneer for dance development throughout the East London Boroughs for over 20 years. They develop creativity and innovation and promote access and excellence for all.
Their ambition is for the diversity of dance to play a positive role in transforming the experiences and prospects of East London artists and communities and to enrich our local cultures. Tel: 020 8279 1050.
Dance Festival 2008 brochure 
PDF 2.83M
To view PDF files requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.
