Dancers performing

A celebration of the diversity and talent of youth dance activity across Aylesbury Vale , featuring schools, youth groups and youth dance groups.

This year's Activate festival took place on Sunday 6th April. Over 150 young people from across the district participated in the festival, as well as visiting groups from Wycombe Swan and Swindon Dance.

During the day young people took part in dance workshops in contemporary dance and Capoeira (a Brazilian martial art/dance form), before performing their own work to an audience of over 450 people in the evening.

This year’s participants included Aston Clinton Youth Club, who worked with professional dance artist, Joanne Odro, in the six weeks prior to the festival to create original and imaginative dance pieces. AVDC organised these sessions to give young people who don’t usually participate in dance or can’t access dance classes the opportunity to learn new skills and gain new experience.

Young people from the Uptown Coffee Bar also contributed to the festival by creating giant banners inspired by Brazilian culture. The group of over 20 young people worked with local visual artist, Stu McLellan, on the two day project to produce the striking back drop for Activate. The banners will be kept by the Uptown Coffee Bar and will hang as a feature in their new building.

How to be involved next year

Action from the performance

Activate is open to school groups, youth groups and community dance groups in Aylesbury Vale. If your group would be interested in taking part in the next Activate Youth Dance Festival  please follow the contact detials below

Date Updated: 22/04/08