The free roadshow is the last of twelve taking place across the West Midlands as part of celebrations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and features as part of the Shrewsbury Summer Season taking place in Market Square. The spectacular day of free dance performances will also feature music from hip-hop artist DJ Moyma.

Each Breathe the Beat roadshow will showcase local talent, performances from professional dance companies and be fronted by Breathe the Beat artists, and two of the world’s leading street dancers, Brooke and Roxy from the award-winning Plague Dance Crew.

David Massingham, DanceXchange Artistic Director, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wealth of dance talent here in the West Midlands, with high quality community and youth dance through to professional dance companies representing the best the region has to offer. And we hope that everyone watching will be encouraged to get involved in workshops and on stage, whatever your dance experience.”

In August 2011 the Breathe the Beat website was launched featuring step-by-step video tutorials for budding dancers from internationally-renowned hip-hop dance artist Salah. The website offered the chance for anyone to upload videos of their own performances with the best performer winning the opportunity to meet Salah himself and perform at one of the Breathe the Beat roadshows. The competition is now closed but has received entries from around the globe, from Uzbekistan to the US with the tutorials themselves being viewed over 250,000 times. The winner will be announced shortly.

Breathe the Beat is part of Dancing for the Games, which is inspired by London 2012 and part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands. It has been funded by Legacy Trust UK, which is creating a lasting impact from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by funding ideas and local talent to inspire creativity across the UK, as well as Arts Council England and Advantage West Midlands.

For more information about the roadshows, please visit www.breathethebeat.com.

Photo Credit: Richard Battye