Greenwich Dance and Artstrust Productions' Summer in the Park is a series of free performances and dance experiences at festivals and parks across the Royal Borough of Greenwich this summer.
The programme will feature three performances as part of Greenwich Park Revealed, a major regeneration project from The Royal Parks. On Friday 24 June, Autin Dance Theatre will perform Out of the Blue, featuring a large-scale Sea Giant Puppet operated by five puppeteers and a female dancer.
On Friday 8 July, Joseph Toonga, The Royal Ballet’s Emerging Choreographer, will present his company Just Us Dance Theatre in Born to Protest, a piece that celebrates black excellence and challenges racial stereotypes.
Completing the festival line-up is Folk Dance Remixed, who bring their show Step Hop House to the park on Friday 22 July performed by a cast of eight dancers and four live musicians.
Each performance will also see young people from local schools take to the stage to showcase their dance skills, as well as providing an opportunity for audiences to try a few moves of their own.
There will also be a programme of weekly classes in Greenwich Park on Saturdays, including Tai Chi in the Park, Family Story Walks led by a dance artist and storyteller and Kiduku Rhythms, based on a modern Afro dance style from Tanzania.
Two South East London cultural organisations, Greenwich Dance and Artstrust Productions, will join with the local community for a series of Park Picnics at Maryon Park (26 June), Queenscroft Park (24 July) and Gallions Park (31 July), each including a performance from either Cut a Shine ceilidh band, Endurance Steel Orchestra or Just Us Dance Theatre.
Celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Friday 3 June, a special Platinum Picnic will be held at Charlton House, where people will have the chance to take part in the Queen’s favourite dance, the ceilidh, hosted by South London band Ceilidh Tree.