Dance World Cup in Brighton
Best Young Movers and Shakers head to Brighton for Global Dance Competition
The Dance World Cup 2013 is taking place in Brighton & Hove at the Brighton Dome complex from 1-6 July. It is the first time a mainland UK destination has been chosen to host the event which is designed to bring young performers from around the globe together through the language of dance. The event is expected bring economic benefit in excess of £2.5 million to the city. A record-breaking 3,000 competitors from over 24 countries have already registered to take part in the event, which last year attracted 2,000 participants to Austria.
Entrants aged from 3-25 years will compete in an array of dance genres including ballet, national, modern, jazz, show dance, tap, song and dance, street and hip hop. Each year over 18,000 dancers take part in a series of heats in their own countries to qualify for a place in the final competition which is seen as the pièce de résistance for the best children and youth dancers in the world.
An opening ceremony led by Brighton & Hove mayor, Denise Cobb, will see competitors, with their national flags and mascots dressed in national costume, gathered on the lawn of the Royal Pavilion on 1 July at 3.45 pm.
Local school children have been invited to attend the event over the course of the week and are encouraged to champion competitors from other countries as well as cheering on the England team.
A gala performance to showcase the competition winners will take place at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall on Saturday 6 July 2013.
BHCC’s new assistant chief executive, Paula Murray, was instrumental in the bid to bring the event to the city and the VisitBrighton Convention Bureau has acted as conduit providing support to the organisers, facilitating accommodation bookings and arranging Greeters to welcome people to the city. All event participants will be given city maps and a VisitBrighton ‘Delegate Deals’ card which offers a range of discounts at stores and restaurants across the city.
UK Dance World Cup organiser, Jo Arnett, says: “Brighton is the perfect place for the competition’s first foray to the UK. The city’s vibrancy and diversity is in-keeping with the ethos of the competition and I’m sure the young people will enjoy exploring the great assortment of entertainment and activities on offer during their visit.”
Paula Murray adds: “We’re very happy to have brought this important event to the city and look forward to giving the young dancers a warm welcome. There are so many different types of dance and the competition is an ideal platform to highlight what’s on offer. The event is a fantastic showcase for the skills and dedication of these young people in their chosen sport and should inspire our own budding dancers to aim high."
The Dance World Cup is an annual international dance competition that takes place in a different country each time. The event is open to pupils of private dance schools.
The competition, which was first held in Hellas, Greece in 2001 has gone from strength to strength and this year has representatives from 24 countries taking part including teams from as far as Malaysia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
VisitBrighton Convention Bureau promotes Brighton & Hove as a place to hold meetings, conferences and business events. The Bureau works on behalf of the whole city and offers impartial support to event planners throughout the organising process. Team members have an in-depth knowledge of the city and can provide realistic, relevant and up-to-date information.
Brighton & Hove is recognised nationally and internationally as a dynamic conference destination, combining a seaside location with a vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere. It has a range of venues - from imposing historic rooms to spacious modern facilities - and can host conferences for up to 10,000 delegates. Brighton has excellent transport links and is a 20 minute train ride from Gatwick Airport and less than an
hour’s journey from London. The city offers Regency heritage as well as beachfront cool and has an impressive mix of iconic attractions, quirky nightlife, award winning restaurants, arts, culture and a year-round programme of festivals and events.