The line-up for the biggest Dance Reading Festival yet has been unveiled, as it returns in-person and online later this month, with live performances, workshops and films for all ages.
The event launched on Saturday, October 29, with the first-in person event for three years, the On The Block dance battle at St Laurence Church in Reading town centre.
In partnership with Reading Fringe Festival, which begins the same day, from 2-6pm the best dancers in Hip Hop, Popping and Krumping will be competing for the £100 prizes in each category, with spectators welcome to come and go over the afternoon.
The festival then runs at venues across Reading and online until Saturday, December 3, with grand finale of the JUMP! Showcase at Read College, including Ballet, Belly Dancing, Contemporary Dance, Hip Hop, Kathak, Lindy Hop and more.
A week earlier – Saturday, November 26 – the same venue hosts The Royale Dancehall Flamingos, PC*DC’s celebration of old age featuring Tik Tok dance challenges, hot pink leotards and older people having fierce, fabulous fun, on a pay-what-you-can basis.
On Saturday, November 5, in Broad Street, just outside Marks & Spencer, MCDC will be performing a free, family-friendly outdoor dance show Fish Out Of Water, with performances at 11.30am, 1pm and 3pm.
On Sunday, November 6, Wokingham’s Whitty Theatre hosts Avartan, a sensational evening of Classical Indian dance, music and poetry from Drishti Dance.
On Saturday, November 19, South Street is the venue for two performances of the beautiful Little Murmurs, from the world-renowned Aakash Odedra Company, mixing dance with stunning visuals, technology and humour.
As well as the public performances there will be a series of workshops for all ages, including Far From The Norm Hip Hop classes for intermediate, advanced and professional dancers, and Kapo Dance’s GROW circus dance after-school sessions at libraries around Reading.
Following the success of Dance Reading’s online festival in 2020, digital highlights this time around include Reside Dance’s gentle, meditative and creative Move, Breathe, Be classes; the Boogie Baby Digital Disco with from local DJ and funk, soul and reggae legend Jewels Vass spinning tunes for your own living room or kitchen disco, and Nocturn Dance’s interactive QR Code piece The Riddle.
Films available to watch online include Alleyne Dance’s (Re)United, inspired by the true story of Sir Mo Farrah and his twin brother, and ILLUMÉ’s climate crisis-inspired interactive video The World Is Broken.
Festival producer Liz Allum said: “Our core aim is to help people find dance, whether that be showcasing the brilliant organisations that exist in and around Reading or bringing the best national and international talent to our town.
“This year with performances and workshops everywhere from Broad Street, Reading Libraries and St Laurence Church to South Street, Read College and online wherever you are, this is our most exciting and accessible, five weeks of dance for you to watch or participate in.
The full line-up and booking can be found at dancereading.com
