Dance4Life UK 2006

“Everyone who took part was buzzing from the Dance 4 Life session. I think they all really enjoyed the 'hands-on' nature of Dance4Life - it's an excellent way of putting the message across in a more entertaining way. It was a fantastic opportunity for the year 12's, and we are hoping that they will be able to pass the message down to other year groups through assemblies and the like…I know the students gained so much from the experience and as a school we feel honoured to be a part of such a huge and worthwhile movement.” Naomi, Newport, Wales

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of everyone that was involved on Monday as it was simply an amazing experience. The team were brilliant and were an absolute asset to the Dance4Life organisation. The dancing was great and everybody thoroughly enjoyed it.” Leonie, Head of school team, Torquay.

“There is a real buzz in school and the kids involved are full of it.”
Gillean, organising teacher, Birmingham.

THE BIG EVENT

Young people from schools in London and Brighton started arriving early, by 3-30pm there was a long queue outside the doors of the very chic CC Club in Piccadilly.

At 4pm MC for the afternoon Dynamite introduced Ollie from Red Zebra and there was a run through of the UK version of the Drill. Everybody was very up for it, screaming and yelling together 'WE CAN BEAT IT'. Before the live connection poet MC Matis from the USA came on stage, he rapped a poem specially written for today (click here to read it). The poem talked about the power of young people to make a change, how all of us where ever we live can make a difference by making our voices heard. Everybody in the audience listened attentively and cheered at the end.

Then it was time for the satellite connection. As each country came on the screen everyone in the crowd cheered and screamed until then it was the UK's turn ....the place went completely mad as everyone jumped up and down shouting and waving to the world. The drill went perfectly, with every single person in the club following the routine. What an amazing experience.

The place was buzzing after this for the rest of the afternoon. Radio One DJ Tim Westwood came on stage and pledged his support to Dance4Life and congratulated and thanked everyone for taking part and making sure the UK was part of this movement for change. He then played his first session and everyone was dancing, dressed in white of course. There were some great performances by the Brit School of Performing Arts and the Royal academy of Dance and these were very well received.

One of the most moving moments of the day was when Clint spoke on stage. He told us that he was 27 years old and having been diagnosed with HIV at 17 has been living with HIV for 10 years. He explained how now with treatment he is healthy and last year ran the London marathon. However he knows that he is one of the lucky ones. All those in the crowd could help to make a difference and ensure that treatments become available for all people whatever country they are in. As Clint left the stage he got probably the largest cheer of the day and you could see he was visibly moved by the amazing support from everyone.

Eric Levine, International Director of SPW thanked everyone for coming and for the hard work of all those involved in organising the Dance4Life Schools Project and Event. He promised an even bigger and better event next time!

The floor was then left to Tim Westwood to spin favourite tracks for the rest of the event. the floor was full the whole time and the excitement and commitment of everybody there was plain to see.

As they left everyone said they had had an amazing day and through the Dance4Life Schools Project would definitely be doing something to tackle HIV and AIDS. Perhaps Fatima from Tower Hamlets said it best - 'This was one of the best days of my life, seeing all those people in all those countries and knowing that we were part of that was so cool. Now I really want to do something to help to make sure that AIDS is not a problem in the future'.