Blackpool’s Capital of Dance Festival is back in July!

Following a successful pilot event last year, Capital of Dance will return as an annual fixture in Blackpool’s event calendar from the 1^st-31^st July.

The festival was borne out of Blackpool’s unrivalled heritage in dance that dates back to the late 1890’s, when hundreds of people travelled to the resort to dance on the pier. From the early 1900’s onwards, ‘dance trains’ brought thousands of people to Blackpool, to trip the light fantastic in the resorts two spectacular dance spaces: the Empress Ballroom and the Tower Ballroom. Both venues continue to welcome dozens of national and international dance competitions throughout the year, and for every Strictly professional dancer, ‘getting to Blackpool’ still remains the annual aspiration.

Capital of Dance was created by Martin and Marina Blore, Lytham based festival and theatre show producers. They have set up the Blackpool Dance Board Community Interest Company to promote the resort as the UK’s go to place for all things relating to dance or physical theatre.

With over 180 dance related events throughout July, the festival is continuing to gain traction year on year. If you are a dance fan taking your first steps, or a trained professional, there is something for everyone.

Marina Blore, Artistic Director for Capital of Dance said: “The ambition is for Blackpool to do for dance, what Edinburgh has done for comedy. There is nowhere else in the country to rival Blackpool’s heritage in dance. It has been ever present for over 130 years, through the war years and the big band era in the ballrooms, to variety theatre, disco, Northern Soul, superclubs and of course Strictly Come Dancing.”

“The Blackpool Dance Board will focus on dance and movement throughout the year not just for tourism, but also for the benefit of the local community. Dance will be provided to help with social isolation, Parkinson’s, dementia, obesity and addiction. We will also be focusing on creating new opportunities for locally trained dancers and choreographers to work with some of the world’s leading producers and dance companies.”

Capital of Dance is one of Blackpool’s flagship events in the town’s Cultural Strategy and it has support from Arts Council England and Tourism Business Improvement District.

For the full line-up of events throughout the month and to make bookings for the workshop, visit www.capitalofdance.com