Dance Fest 2023 makes a welcome return
Dance Fest, Ayrshire’s biggest celebration of dance, made a welcome return to the Palace Theatre with three sell out shows recently.
The spectacular event showcased the very best of dance from local schools, community groups, private dance schools and stage schools plus a performance from our resident East Ayrshire Youth Dance Company. 750 young people from 42 different groups put on an incredible show and for the first time in Dance Fest history, a Teacher Performance group performed wowing the audience with a dazzling Bollywood/ commercial routine entitled ‘Caught Up’ and a jazz performance entitled ‘Black & Gold’.
Dance Fest was produced by Zara Smith Cultural Co-ordinator, Dance and Movement from East Ayrshire Council’s Creative Minds team, and featured a range of different dance styles and musical tastes, including musical theatre, street, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop.
Performances included Galston and Patna Primaries, both performed Revolting Children from Matilda the Musical on separate nights; Gargieston Primary who performed a jazz and hip hop routine called ‘Of the Night’; Stewarton Academy kept all the Swifties happy with a hip hop/ lyrical routine to a Taylor Swift mash up; Onthank Primary performed a sensational ‘What are you looking at’ hip hop/ commercial routine that included the songs Vogue and Barbie Girl, while St Joseph’s Academy performed a lyrical routine called ‘Train Wreck’ choreographed by Samantha from S5.
The tantalising and totally toe-tapping three-night event saw further highlights from Jam Street, i-Dance, Take a Bow, Dynamite, Karen E Moir and CentreStage.
Zara Smith said: “Dance Fest represents the culmination of weeks and months of practice by pupils and their teachers in schools across East Ayrshire who come together to share their love of dance on stage. It is a spectacular celebration and showcase, which left everyone buzzing.”
Councillor Elaine Cowan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, Education and Skills and Culture said: “Dance Fest is an incredible celebration of dance. The audience was bowled over by the talent, commitment and interpretation displayed by our children and young people, who were brimming with confidence as they performed.
"Congratulations to Zara Smith for producing a wonderful event and to all the performers, it really was magical!"