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MOVE IT 2025 main-stage line-up details including Diversity’s headline performance.

MOVE IT, the world’s biggest dance event has announced more details on the Main Stage line-up ahead of its 20th anniversary event in March 2025 at the London’s Excel Centre.

Kicking off the festival on Friday 7th March is the current Anne Boleyn from Six The Musical Thao Nguyen, who will perform a special K-pop number, and Birmingham Principal Dancer at the Birmingham Royal Ballet Tzu-Chao Chou. On Saturday, headliners Serena McCall, who is fresh from completing a North American/Canadian tour of Message in a Bottle with Zoonation: Kate Prince Company and appearing in the blockbuster film of the iconic musical Wicked will perform, and Diversity will take to the stage for a spectacular ten minute performance. Rounding up the headline appearances on Sunday is professional dancer and choreographer Randall Watson, who has danced with the likes of Little Mix as one of their Mix Men. These headline acts will be joined by the winners of Starpower’s Battle of the Stars competition and a host of dance and performing arts schools including the Addict Dance Academy from Leicester and BIRD College Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre.

Alongside the headliners, special guest Strictly Come Dancing finalist and West End star Layton Williams returns to teach alongside other special guests Dance Moms’s Gianna Martello, who will also be a judge for the Starpower competition, and Love Island’s Molly Marsh who will be hosting. All three stars will be taking part in meet and greets across the weekend.

As well as the performances on the Main Stage, fans can look forward to three other stages, competitions, auditions and a meet and greet area. There’s also a shopping village with the best dance clothes, shoes, accessories and props, Acro sessions with AcroPAD and The Starlight Express Roller Rink in partnership with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical, Starlight Express. 

Since 2005 MOVE IT has been celebrating the dance and performing arts industry, as well as providing a launchpad for those starting their careers and a weekend of exciting events and more for attendees. For the past two decades, over 400,000 dancers, teachers, spectators, and professionals of all ages and levels have taken part with 33,000 in 2024 alone. From spectators and hobbyists to students, graduates, teachers, professionals or families looking for a fun day out, there’s a mix of performances, classes, talks, auditions, competitions, exhibits and more. A highlight is always the iconic Main Stage, which has previously showcased over 150 performances featuring some of the biggest names in the business including Strictly Come Dancing’s professionals Neil and Katya Jones, Darcey Bussell, Company Wayne McGregor, Rambert, and Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt.

Sadler’s Wells East opens in Olympic Park.

     

London’s newest dance theatre – Sadler’s Wells East is being officially opened this February.

The venue – hailed as a “gamechanger for dance in the capital” by mayor Sir Sadiq Khan – will open in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

It forms part of the newly-developed East Bank cultural quarter – which also includes BBC Music Studios and V&A East.

The theatre comprises a 550-seat auditorium, six state-of-the-art dance studios and a public performance space for free shows. It will be home to the Rose Choreographic School and Academy Breakin’ Convention, a new school for talented 16-19 year olds, dedicated to hip hop theatre.

“Renowned across the world as the UK’s leading dance institution, this brand-new venue will be a gamechanger for dance in the capital.

“The school, studio spaces and electrifying programme will showcase and nurture talent not only from London but across the country and provide inspiration and opportunities for young people – a world class vision that’s accessible to all, helping us build a better London for everyone.”

The venue’s opening show is ‘Our Mighty Groove’, a club-night inspired mixture of house, waacking and vogue performance, created by choreographer Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu. Loosely based on her personal dance story, the show features a cast of professional dancers as well as 12 dancers aged 16 to 21, who live or study in east London.

A total of 27 different productions are already on sale from now until December, ranging from ballet to hip hop. Some 20,000 tickets will be available for £25 or under in the opening season, with £10 tickets for 16-30 year olds for every performance.

As well as the cultural institutions which have established themselves on the East Bank, two universities – the London College of Fashion, UAL, and University College London (UCL) – have also welcomed over 10,000 students to their own new buildings next door.

Liverpool Theatre School Partners with Middlesex University to Launch Dance Degree.

Liverpool Theatre School is joining forces with Middlesex University to deliver a dance degree, which will be taught by industry professionals in both Liverpool and London. The new BA Hons degree programme starts with Liverpool Theatre School’s Level 5 or Level 6 Diploma in Dance before students go to Middlesex University in London for a final year of training to gain the BA Hons degree.

As part of the collaboration, Liverpool Theatre School students who gain a Diploma in Dance Level 5, or Level 6, will automatically be accepted for degree study on the Dance programme at Middlesex University, with their professional training counting towards BA (hons). The dance degree is open to new students applying for Liverpool Theatre School, as well as those who are currently training at the centre of excellence.

The degree programme at Middlesex University, which is designed to improve opportunities for talented young performers to enter the industry, will complement the range of specialist dance and musical theatre training courses already provided at Liverpool Theatre School, with auditions taking place in the coming months.

“The unique delivery model of this new dance degree means young performers can begin full-time professional training at Liverpool Theatre School from the age of 16, and potentially graduate with BA (hons) in dance from Middlesex University by the time they are 19 years old. A head start like this could be a huge advantage for anyone who is serious about a career in dance,” said Maxine Ellis, Principal at Liverpool Theatre School.

She added: “We’re incredibly excited to be joining forces with Middlesex University as we work together to help make undergraduate dance programmes, as well as opportunities to train in London, more accessible to young performers with talent, particularly those facing barriers of cost and location. I’m confident our degree students will welcome the seamless transition from Liverpool Theatre School to Middlesex University as they reap the benefits of training in two thriving creative cities.”

Claire Farmer, Interim Director of Programmes – Dance, at Middlesex University, said: “We are excited to embark on this partnership with Liverpool Theatre School and welcome diploma students into our thriving creative industries community. With a strong focus on industry and collaboration, Middlesex aims to develop dance artists for a wide range of roles in the creative industries. We look forward to seeing where their training at Liverpool Theatre School will take them as they further develop their creative identity and exciting future prospects with us.”

Liverpool Theatre School, whose patrons include Wayne Sleep OBE and Anita Dobson, is committed to improving access to high level professional training for all talented young performers, including those from working class and marginalised backgrounds. The performing arts school offers a range of scholarships and bursaries, such as the Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) and the Sir Ken Dodd Scholarship, to help support students facing financial barriers. The Liverpool-based college became the first to axe audition fees in 2018 in a bid to encourage a more diverse range of students to apply, with many drama schools following suit.

Liverpool Theatre School’s former students and graduates have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the industry, whether dancing professionally, working as choreographers or performing in hit shows such as Mamma Mia!, Frozen, SIX, Starlight Express, Blood Brothers and Wicked. Middlesex Dance graduates have gone on to JV2, Boy Blue Entertainment, established their own dance companies, produce award winning dance films and to further postgraduate study in choreography, physiotherapy, dance science and creative practice.

Follow Liverpool Theatre School on Instagram and Facebook and Middlesex Dance on Instagram to keep up with the latest news. To find out more about the new degree course and for details on how to apply, please visit liverpooltheatreschool.co.uk.

General News & Sighting

• A former Royal Ballet School student has settled a legal claim against the organisation, after she accused it of serious body shaming. (The Stage)
• A lawyer representing dancers making body shaming claims against ballet schools has claimed that the abuse they allege is worse than anything he has seen in the elite sporting world. (The Stage)
• The WhatsOnStage Award for Best Choreographer went to Christopher Wheeldon for his work on “MJ The Musical”.
• The winners of the inaugural Rose and Bloom dance prizes went respectively to Christos Papadopolous for “Larsen C” and Stav Boutros for “Sepia”.
• Strictly star Vito Coppola had to leave the tour due to injury, with Nikita stepping in to partner Sarah Hedland. Wynne Evans left the tour after making an inappropriate comment.
• Sadler’s Wells East was officially opened. It has a 550 seat auditorium and 6 state of the art dance studios.
• Beverley Knight and Billy Porter will host the 2025 Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall on the 6th of April. Anthony Van Laast will be the creative director for the show.
• The Secret Cinema will return to London this summer with “Grease”. The show will run at Evolution in Battersea Park from the 1st of August until the 7th of September with a cast of 30 performing across multi-screen platforms. The choreographer is Jennifer Weber.
• West End Live will take place in Trafalgar Square in central London on the 21st and 22nd of June.
• The cast has been announced for the world premiere of “Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet”. It will star Serena McCall, Taela Yeomans-Brown and Paris Fitzpatrick. The choreography is by Paul Roberts. The show will open in Plymouth on the 28th of May.
• “Cabaret” in the West End has announced a new prologue company for the Kit Kat Club.
• Regent’s Park Open Air Festival will present a new production of “Brigadoon” this summer. It will be directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie and stars Danielle Fiamanya and Louis Gaunt. Ebony Molina is the Associate Choreographer.
• The lead casting has been revealed for “Shucked’s” UK premiere at the Regent’s Park Open Air Festival. It will star Monique Ashe-Palmer and have choreography by Drew McOnie and Myles Brown.
• The complete cast for “A Knight’s Tale” has been confirmed. The show will star Emily Benjamin and have choreography by Matt Cole. The production is set to open at the Manchester Opera House on the 11th of April.
• “Top Hat” will be revived at the Chichester Festival theatre this summer with direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall. The show will run from the 14th of July until the 6th of September.
• The upcoming production of “The Great Gatsby” revealed its complete West End cast. The show will star Amber Davies, Jamie Muscato and Frances Mayli McCann and has choreography by Dominique Kelley. It will open at the London Coliseum on the 11th of April.
• The lead casting has been revealed for “Come Fall in Love”. The show will star Jena Pandya and Ashley Day and has choreography by Rob Ashford and Shruti Merchant. It will open at the Manchester Opera House on the 29th of May.
• Complete casting has been announced for the UK premiere of “Muriel’s Wedding The Musical”. Megan Ellis will play Muriel with Annabel Marlow as Rhonda and Daisy Twells as Cherry. The choreography is by Andrew Hallsworth.
• Welsh superstar Sophie Carmen-Jones has joined the Broadway production of “Chicago” as Velma Kelly.
• Burn The Floor will be performing at the Sydney Opera House from the 6th of August until the 10th of Augus.

Future Dance Events News

• “Young Frankenstein” will receive its regional premiere at the Hope Mill theatre in Manchester from the 10th of October until the 30th of November. It will be directed and choreographed by Nick Winston.
• The full cast has been announced for the UK tour of “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical”. The tour will open in Leicester on the 6th of March. The show has choreography by Anthony van Laast.
• “Hercules” will open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on the 6th of June 2025. It will star Luke Brady and have choreography by Casey Nicholaw and Tanisha Scott.
• “The Great Gatsby” will open in the West End at the London Coliseum on the 11th of April 2025. It has choreography by Dominique Kelley.
• Lead casting has been announced for the UK premiere of “Muriel’s Wedding The Musical”. It will star Megan Ellis and Annabel Marlow. The choreography is by Andrew Hallsworth. The show will run from the 10th of April until the 10th of May 2025 at the Curve theatre in Leicester.
• The full cast has been announced for Sondheim’s final musical “Here We are”. It will star Tracie Bennett and Denis O’ Hare and have choreography by Sam Pinkleton. The show will run at the National Theatre in April 2025.
• The world premiere of the new musical “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” will be staged in Bath in the Spring of 2025.
• Disney’s animated classic “Hercules” is headed for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the Summer of 2025. It will have choreography by Casey Nicholaw and Tanisha Scott.
• The world premiere of “Wild Rose” will run from the 6th of March until the 5th of April 2025 at the Lyceum theatre in Scotland. It has choreography by Steven Hoggett.
• “Calamity Jane” will tour the UK and Ireland before a West End run in 2025. It has choreography by Nick Winston.
• The Leeds Playhouse will host the world premiere of “Coraline – A Musical” from the 11th of April to the 11th of May 2025 before the show embarks on a UK tour. The choreography is by EJ Boyle.
• “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is set to embark on a world tour in 2025. The new production will launch in the UK while its West End staging will continue its run at the Piccadilly theatre.
• A stage musical based on Prince’s film and album “Purple Rain” is in the works with producer Orin Wolf.
• “Some Like It Hot” is coming to the West End in 2025. It will be directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.

Auditions & Vacancies

• ATA is looking for male dancers for cruise ship contracts. Contact: info@artistictalent.com
• Joss Arnott Dance is looking for a male dancer to join the company for the creation period and tour of their new dance production “Meet The Hatter”. The deadline to apply is the 21st of February. You can email: opportunities@jossarnottdance.com
• The Saudi Arabian theme park Six Flags has an audition for dancers in London on the 3rd – 7th of March. Details are on its website.
• Industry Warehouse is looking for a Musical Theatre teacher in SE London for Saturday mornings from 10.00am – 1.00 pm. Contact: info@theindustrywarehouse.com
• Park Chinois in London is looking for dancers. Contact: auditions@parkchinois.com
• Todrick Hall is looking for black ballet dancers who can sing for a London workshop from the 3rd of March until the 5th of April. You can DM Todrick on his Instagram page.
• The Rambert has auditions on the 28th of February at its premises in London. You can register and book via the link on it’s Instagram bio.
• BOR Productions is looking for dancers. Send your C.V and showreels to: casting@borproductions.com
• Jona Dance is looking for contemporary dancers for an upcoming R & D process in March. To apply, send your C.V, headshot and showreel to: jona.dancecompany@gmail.com
• Cabaret Delicques is holding auditions in London in March. Contact: production@cabaretdelicques.com
• Nathan Clarke is looking for tall male dancers for a 6 month contract in Berlin. You can DM Nathan on his Instagram account.
• Dolce Riviera Parties are looking for dancers for 2/3 month contracts in St Tropez. Contact: casting.drparties@gmail.com
• Ruth Forbes is looking for dancers for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Contact ruthforbes@glyndebourne.com
• Ashleigh Montador Dance Company is looking for a dancer / acro gymnast teacher. Contact Ashleigh to apply.

Dance Classes

• Abbie Brown has a Lyrical masterclass on the 22nd of March at the Kinning Park Complex in Scotland. You can book via the link in Abbie’s Instagram bio.
• Danielle Barton has a free commercial class on the 23rd of February from 12.00 am – 1.00 pm at Danceworks in London. You can book via the Danceworks website.
• Jenny Thomas is holding 2 workshops (Charleston and Salsa) at the Berkshire Ballroom on the 9th of July. You can book places via: http://www.berkshireballroom.co.uk
• David Anderson is teaching at the Base Dance Studios on Tuesdays from 5.30 – 6.55 pm.
• Paige Goulding has a Heels class at the Manor in London on the 19th of February from 5.30 – 7.00 pm.
• Crystal Hantig and Hannah Levitt Collins have a Heels workshop on the 21st of February at the Manor in London at 1.30 pm.
• Tracey Illife has a Parisian Showgirl Technique class at Pineapple on the 29th of February from 1.30 – 3.00 pm at the Pineapple Dance Studios.
• Lucy Jane Adcock is doing regular classes at the Manor in London at 11.00 am on Wednesdays and at the Base Studios on Sundays at 11.30 am.
• Esme Bowdler has a Mamma Mia! workshop on the 22nd of February from 2.00 – 5.00 pm at the Park Community School in Havant.
• Amy Ireland has a Beginners Tap class at Pineapple Dance Studios on Fridays from 10.00 am – 12.00pm.
• Christina Andrea has Commercial classes at Pineapple on Tuesdays from 5.00 – 6.00 pm and on Wednesdays from 7.30 – 8.30 pm. Christina also has a class at Base Studios on Thursdays from 2.30 – 4.00 pm.
• Jordi Guitart has a class at Move It on the 8th of March.

Film & TV

• We spotted the following dancers performing with Take That at the BAFTA’s last night: Philip Birchall, Charlie Goddard, Josie Peacock, Erin Dusek, Darcey Simmons, Erica Stubbs and Charlotte Bazeley. The choreography was by Adrian Gas.
• We spotted the following dancers performing with Kylie Minogue: Jenny Griffin, Yves Cueni, Theo Maddix and Ainsley Ricketts. The choreography was by Ashley Wallen and the contract was with the Kutes Agency.
• We spotted Ruby Hood performing with the cast of “Bat Out Of Hell” at the National Lottery’s Big Night Of Musicals.
• We spotted Pfion Vince in the new music video for Alice Chater.
• We spotted Jazz Peters, Chloe Simmons, Summer Villiers and Millie Lund performing with J Balvin.
• We spotted Louisa Fernando in the latest advert for Aesop.

Pro Dancer News Published by the Dincwear Pro Dancewear Team.

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