‘Let’s Dance’ was a campaign to get Britain dancing, led by Angela Rippon. Everyone was invited to participate and DanceEast collaborated with Ipswich School of Dance to offer a wide range of dance experiences.

What a great day it was! DanceEast celebrated with dance for all ages and abilities, with balloons, decorations and refreshments in the foyer. The day started with a creative class for Tiny Tots in the studio, then EncoreEast performed in the foyer. Using sequences from several of our existing pieces, Tom Bowes and Katie Byford shaped a dynamic piece that took over the foyer totally (including the bar) and was enjoyed by the audience. Making it in three classes, and navigating people of various sizes, buggies, pillars and seating, made the experience fun and made us proud!

Next DanceEast’s Dance for Parkinson’s group invited everyone to join their class and learn a short dance that had been taught to Dance for Parkinson’s groups across the country. A zoom session was led by English National Ballet and joined by some half-dozen groups, and we all danced and laughed together.

This was followed by Ballet Boogie where we followed James Muller doing centre work, including quite a few jumps, to familiar boogie music, and with hardly a pause. Then a small group of Centre for Advanced Training students performed krumping in the foyer. There were more workshops, a short yoga session and a finale.

It was a wonderful event. What can be better than dancing with friends? Dancing with more friends! And making more friends through dancing! It would be lovely if ‘Let’s Dance’ became an annual event.