Dance Proms 2014 - Royal Albert Hall

Tickets are now on sale for Dance Proms 2014 at the Royal Albert Hall.

Taking place on Sunday, November 2nd at 6.30pm, this international celebration of dance, dancers and dance teachers will feature selected performances chosen by an esteemed panel of professionals.

Now in its fourth year, the Proms showcases original choreographed pieces from dance troupes and teachers from all over the world. It's a unique and exciting collaboration between three of the world's premier dance examination boards and the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, and began as an on-line virtual dance festival. Find out more about the creation of their legacy here.

Patrons for 2014 include such luminaries as Arlene Philips, Wayne Sleep, Angela Rippon and Matt Flint, with Strictly Come Dancing judges Darcey Bussell and Len Goodman, professional Anton du Beke and former contestants Lisa Riley and Chris Hollins, the Series 7 champion.

To book tickets, visit the Royal Albert Hall website.

Strictly joins Streetdance: Where dance worlds collide!

Following a successful residency in the West End in 2012 where it attracted rave reviews, a brand new production of FLASH MOB will appear in Kent as part of a national tour.

The cast for this latest production includes Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer from Strictly Come Dancing, Flawless from Britain’s Got Talent, and Dance Critic’s Choice winner and Olivier nominated Tommy Franzen from BBC1’s So You Think You Can Dance. Dubbed the modern day Romeo and Juliet by the media, contemporary duo Alleviate and Irish fusion couple Brosena, both from Sky 1’s Got To Dance, complete the impressive line-up.

If you’re new to dance, this show is the perfect introduction. FLASH MOB enables you to sample many styles from Latin to locking, from Celtic to contemporary and from street to Salsa.

The production climaxes with an exciting finale that is sure to see the entire audience on its feet, as it takes the show title to its literal conclusion when both cast and audience collectively experience the joy of dance through a shared FLASH MOB.

It will be the first theatre production to actively encourage social networking as an integral part of the show. Facebook and Twitter are used as tools to drive the storyline in the first act, so the audience will be invited to switch on their mobile phones and tweet as the show begins. It’s a hugely exciting concept to the many fans who engage with their dance heroes on social media.

Marina Blore, director of World Dance Management explains: “Many dancers work their way through weeks of competitive heats on TV with no public, live platform for their talent at the end of the programme. Whilst they may be offered A-list concert tours or West End shows, the dancers rarely get the chance to perform again in their own right.”

She added: “In this show the dancers have choreographed their own individual performances and with the help of Nick Winston, our artistic director and choreographer, we also show what can be achieved when these different dance genres are fused together. FLASH MOB enables the talent to showcase their work as part of a much bigger production.”

FLASH MOB is a celebration of dance, the art of movement, without the need to pigeon-hole or focus on any one genre, or an enforced or indulgent narrative. The intention is simply to celebrate dance as an art form that can “move” the audience emotionally.

Conceived and produced by World Dance Management, the show provides a platform for the amazing talent that has emerged from TV dance reality shows in recent years.

Kent Dates:

Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells – Saturday 21^st June 

Churchill Theatre, Bromley - Sunday, 29^th June 

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury – Monday 7^th July 

For the rest of the tour dates, please visit http://www.flashmobtour.com/208-2/uk-tour-2014

British Troupe Championships

Entry to the 2014 British Troupe Championships is now open.

A one day event to be held at Glyndwr University in Wales on Sunday, October 19th, the closing date is Sunday, September 14th (or earlier if all the places are taken).

There are four age categories: Junior (under 9s); Intermediate (10-13) Senior (14-25) Adult (25+).

Styles vary across the age bands and range from cabaret, classical, cheer, street, disco, tap, acrobatics, lyrical and contemporary.

Visit the website here or call 01978 661059 for more information.

Jermain Jackman is The Voice!

I'll admit I was a bit worried when Will announced Jermain's first song as 'Wreckin' Ball'. WTF, I thought. But all images of Miley Cyrus were quickly expelled from the mind when Jermain started singing.

I actually didn't nearly recognise it (not being much of a Miley fan) and I loved that it became a ballad with a kick to it - nice one, Will! Followed by a favourite of mine - and a brave choice - contestant and mentor duetted in the delightfully quirky Pure Imagination from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

And then came the There It Is moment. The one I'd been waiting for since A House is Not a Home. Jermain reprised his audition song, And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going and the audience went wild - much more so than for any of the others: my head, heart and guts were all telling me victory was his.

And just for the hell of it, here's A House is Not A Home.

Real old soul, passion and emotion in everything he did. And don't lie to me and tell me you weren't also bawling when he replaced 'friend' with 'mum' in the victory song - although he still managed to sing it, choked up as hell! It didn't help that Will was practically in tears too, as much for Jermain winning, as for being such a fantastic and inspiring role model for young people.

Jamie was the first out of the competition, a solid performance of Missing You being followed by a duet with Kylie that did rather feature a lot of Ms Minogue and not much Mr Johnson, which did him no favours. Tom summed up everything I loved about Sally "The way she gets inside as song" is how he put it, and Dear Darlin' was a highlight. From Both Sides Now and the duet with Tom on Walking in Memphis were all delivered well, although she seemed a lot more nervous than previously. Christina Marie can definitely sing, and there were moments of sheer beauty in The Power of Love, which were soon overtaken by the shoutiness again. As was Fix You, and her duet with the Kaiser Chiefs, Coming Home, which I felt could have been anyone if I'm honest.

So there we are for another year. If you think you can be the next Voice, you've until May 30th to apply.
"Please only register for Open Auditions if you are an artist with real talent and an amazing voice" - so that's how they weed out the X-Factor hopefuls ...