Big Dance Darwin
Australia is taking the lead on a global dance project that’s all about getting involved.
Big Dance is a global biennial festival celebrating the craft of dance for all ages and abilities that started in London in 2006.
Aussie choreographers Frances Rings and Craig Barry have taken the reigns this year and have designed a fool proof five-minute dance, which is expected to be learned by more than 40,000 people across more than 40 countries.
The dance is split into three T-shirt groups – a black T-shirt, a white T-shirt and a red T-shirt. Rings, a descendant of the Kokatha people from South Australia, says the coloured shirts represent a shared dialogue between the people in our multicultural nation.
“The black is the Indigenous and the white is the non-Indigenous; the red is really the heart of our country,” she says.
“It’s the red soil, it’s our bloodline, it’s our lineage and it’s our spiritual heart of Australia, which is Uluru – and that is something that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people connect with.”
Tracktivators for Tracks Dance Studio are out and about teaching Top Enders the moves so they can take part in the worldwide event.
Tracktivator Bryn Wackett says there are plenty of opportunities to learn the moves, which can be tailored for anyone’s needs.
“There are open classes at our space in the mall, but we are also teaching free workshops in schools and to other community groups – if you’re in a book club and decide to do something random and different, we can help,” she says.
“Big Dance is completely and utterly about joining in – it’s not about sitting on the sidelines and watching.
“If you’ve never danced before, this is an opportunity to perform without having to go to dance classes all year – you go to two sessions, one rehearsal and then you perform – it’s simple.”
Footage of the main event – to be held on the sixth floor of the West Lane car park – will be uploaded to the Big Dance website to show the world a slice of Darwin.
SUN 29 APR, 5-7PM | REHEARSAL SAT 28 APR, 5-7PM | WEST LANE CAR PARK | FREE | See event listing
