A blue planet dance show
THOSE of us in the sold out Gracie Fields Theatre for Can’t Dance Can’s Community Dance Showcase, Our Blue Planet, had smiles still firmly in place as we swarmed out, buzzing with admiration at what we had just experienced.
First on stage was Langley Theatre Workshop’s Ballet and Tap, with dancers as young as three receiving roars of appreciation for Tappy Feet.
Oulder Hill’s The Other Side of the Blue Planet celebrated the beauty of animals in their natural habitat before dramatically introducing bounty hunters.
We were transported to the deep blue ocean with SHADES’s stunning exploration of the effect humans have on the seas.
Declan Anthony wowed with his contemporary dance interpretation of the effects of man-made waste.
Wild Things Drama School’s Come Alive performed a vibrant musical theatre dance celebrating everyone.
It was back into the sea with Saddleworth Acro Dance’s Waves, stunning moves and lifts showing movement of the sea.
Elevate, by Can’t Dance Can’s Everybody Dances class members, showed how dance can conquer the stage – and a lot more.
A spectacular piece in three parts by Singleton’s Dance Academy depicted how our planet is being destroyed.
Unite Dancing Company danced Vessel, dramatically highlighting the dangers and delights of seafaring life.
Styles Dance Company explored the devastation of the tsunami in Calm Before the Storm.
Young dancers created their own solos and duets, movingly exploring their emotional responses.
Our Adventure showed young people of Sophie Elliott’s Street Dance ‘chillin’ in an intriguing piece that ended up with them ‘on an adventure, or was it?.’
Dancing Steps Theatre and Dance Company told the story of a little boy who loved to make paper boats embarking on a voyage encumbered by pesky pirates.
Infinity Dance created a contemporary piece portraying life under the sea that got us all thinking about the effects of plastic pollution.
Oulder Hill Community School’s dancers took up the theme with Don’t Let Your Litter Bug Our Reef.
Oldham College brought the show to a thrilling climax with Submerged, a dance that told the story of an ill-fated ship that plummeted to the depths of the sea bed, where strange creatures live.
A justifiably proud Can’t Dance Can artistic director, Romina Thornton, said: “I love my job – 324 participants dancing on a professional stage to a sold out audience. Our youngest was three and our eldest 78.
“Some have been dancing for weeks while others eat, sleep and dream dance. The theatre was buzzing, as am I.”