Hundreds of people are expected to join in the energetic Through & Out: Skipping Extravaganza, a brand new commission by Greenwich Dance for Big Dance 2014, which forms part of the Royal Greenwich Festivals 2014.
Devised by choreographer Jorge Crecis, Through & Out is a cross between dance and old-fashioned rope-skipping: a new choreographic game for all comers, dancers, non-dancers, kids, adults and lookers-on.
Dance-skippers, including professional dance artists and a local community cast from across south east London, will come together for an epic performance to the sounds of an original score by composer The Artist.
Audiences will all be taken into the heart of the action in Greenwich Park, against the iconic backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, with an audio soundtrack on headphones, which can be downloaded on to mobile 'phones or MP3 players in advance, providing a totally immersive experience.
Choreographer and director Jorge Crecis said: “The creative team behind Through & Out: Skipping Extravaganza guarantee that even if we have 500 people skipping in Greenwich Park at the same time the Earth won’t move out of its orbit.
"German professor Hans Peter Neisward has suggested that if 600 million people around the world jump at the same time, the synchronised jolt could rattle the earth’s orbit enough to eliminate the effects of global warming... well, we’re hoping the earth will move for everyone involved but not enough to cause a worldwide calamity! That’s why we’re limiting the numbers... just in case.”
Greenwich Dance Artistic Director Kat Bridge said: “We are delighted once again to be part of the brilliant Royal Greenwich Festivals and to be producing one of only 16 national Big Dance commissions this summer.
“We’re excited to be working with inventive choreographer Jorge Crecis, bringing his playful crossover of dance and rope-skipping for everyone to try.
"The fantastic team of dance artists are working with groups at schools, community centres and youth dance groups around Greenwich and beyond, and there is still plenty time to get involved—just get in touch with us if you’d like to take part, or come down to the park and watch it on the day.
“It’s destined to be a wonderful way to celebrate south east London as part of a fantastic summer of cultural events for the Royal Greenwich Festivals, so make sure you’re part of it.”
Groups already taking part include Heronsgate Primary School, Plumstead, St Matthew’s Academy, Blackheath, Crown Woods College, Eltham, LeSoCO, Lewisham, Future Essence youth dance group from Camberwell and the Clockhouse Community Centre and YMCA at Woolwich Riverside.
There is an open rehearsal group at Greenwich Dance on Sundays that anyone can join. For more information on how to take part visit www.greenwichdance.org.uk or call Greenwich Dance on 020 8293 9741.
We are promised that after 440 hours of rehearsals, the dancers will perform 121 number of jumps per minute / 4000 in half an hour, in 50 different skipping moves, using 1500 cm of the skipping ropes.