Darlington Dance Festival returned this weekend as part of the town’s Coronation celebrations, with a crowd of over 500 flocking to the Market Square.
Now in its 11th year, dance schools, community groups, and members of the public got involved with the fun on Sunday (May 7).
Dance schools/groups included; Darlington Academy of Performing Arts, Rachel Code School of Dance, Joanne Lowe Dance Academy, Red Hall Dance Company, The Hippodrome Dancers, Dance Wright Studios, The Happy Tappers, Stage, and Reid Street Primary Dance Club.
Everyone put in so much effort and energy, and it was fantastic to see the town centre so busy and vibrant, with plenty of family and friends showing support from the side-lines.
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Mayor of Darlington, Ann-Marie Currie took to the stage to introduce the mass dance.
She said: “I am so honoured to be here to be able to start you off on your mass dance. It has been an honour and a privilege to see so many people here willing to dance for Darlington.”
Kicking off with ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’ from The Lion King, and the little ones especially loved dancing along to this.
This mass dance was choreographed and learnt prior to the day, and it was clear how much effort everyone had put into learning the steps.
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There was also a nod to the historic occasion of the Coronation of King Charles III with excerpts of the national anthem featured.
Stockton dance company, Urban Kaos, is a regular act at the festival and the trio got everyone up and moving with a high-energy dance workshop, and we were tired just looking at them.
The ladies not only got everyone up and moving but they also provided humour, which was certainly needed when the rain started.
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Next, the crowd enjoyed a performance from Socharo Bollywood dancers who were show-stopping with their amazing red, white, and blue costumes.
The one-hour festival came to an end, there was a fantastic atmosphere in the town and plenty of smiling faces.
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