Dance Fest 2026 – Ayrshire's biggest celebration of dance
Dance Fest, Ayrshire’s biggest celebration of dance, was held recently at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr.
The spectacular event showcased the very best of dance from local schools, community groups, private dance schools and stage schools.
Our resident East Ayrshire Youth Dance Company and Junior Dance Company, which are funded by the National Lottery, opened the show in style.
Choreographed by Louise Chudleigh and Carrie Craggs respectively, the youth company gave a wonderful performance in a jazz style to Hit the Road Jack while the junior company performed an incredible hip-hop routine to Sparkling Diamond from the stage version of Moulin Rouge.
Across the two days of Dance Fest performances, which took place in the afternoon and evening, there included a hip-hop routine from St Sophia’s Primary who were attending Dance Fest for the first time, Darvel Primary got everyone moving with a high energy routine to Macklemore, Pitbull and Usher; Lochnorris Primary gave an amazing musical theatre performance from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat; Auchinleck Primary P6/P7 left everything on the stage with a performance to Run DMC’s It’s Like That!; while St Andrew’s Primary’s after school dance club gave a tender, lyrical performance to Lewis Capaldi’s Heavenly Angels, Something in the Heavens.
It was also an opportunity for senior pupils to take a leadership role and lead their own dance and cheer teams. Grange Academy Junior Dance team was led by senior pupil Lauren and their cheer team ‘Got Loud’ thanks to Ava and Lexi from S5 who put together a routine to JLo’s Let’s Get Loud.
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.
The East Ayrshire Council Staff Dance Group impressed the crowd with On Broadway – a jazz routine choreographed by Louise Chudleigh, and a hip-hop routine choreographed by Carrie Craggs to the incredible Lady Marmalade.
The two day event saw further highlights from Jam Street School of Dance, i-Dance, Karen E Moir Dance, KC Dance 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, and it is also an opportunity for people of all ages to express their emotions through dance.
“I know that many people in the audience felt uplifted and energised but also had moments where they felt incredibly emotional by the thoughtfulness of the dancers and the choreography. It was a special shared experience for us all.
“I would like to recognise and give thanks for the ongoing and much-appreciated support and encouragement from parents, family members and carers.”
Provost Claire Leitch attended Dance Fest with the Council’s Chief Executive, Eddie Fraser, Director of Education and Skills Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Dr Julie Carrie, Music Services Manager and Caroline A Dickov, National Advisor - Expressive Arts from Education Scotland.
Photos from Dance Fest are available online
Summer dance school
This year the Summer School will run from 27 July – 31 July, 10am-3pm in the William McIlvanney Campus, Kilmarnock, and will cost £50/pupil (£40/sibling) per week.
Pupils will be taught various styles of dance by professional dance artists and will participate in a final show on the Friday.
Apply online for summer school and payment will be invoiced in June.