The project, which is called Encompass, will take place in Much Wenlock in July 2012 with workshops in schools across Shropshire.

Encompass 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 awarded a combined total of £190,000 by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Arts Council England, Advantage West Midlands and Shropshire Council.

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture, said:

“Encompass will connect young people all around the world. Using dance, digital media and film, the project will create links across continents and wrap dancing images around audiences. Different styles of dance will collide, merge and collaborate. Young people from Shropshire and around the globe will form the core creative team, leading the vision for the project supported by experienced professional artists, to create a groundbreaking 360-degree dance and film extravaganza.”

Milner Whiteman, Shropshire Councillor for Much Wenlock, said:

“This is a unique and exciting opportunity for everyone in Shropshire, particularly the young people involved.”

Over the next few months the professional dance artists Toby Norman-Wright, Sonia Sabri and Anna Belyavin will be running dance and film workshops in schools across Shropshire in partnership with local digital media artists Chris Vandyke and Callum Goodwilliam from The Hive Digital Media and Music Centre.

In addition, online tutorials will be uploaded to create an opportunity for anyone anywhere in the county, country or the world to learn different dance styles and then upload their own dance films, that could become part of the grand finale event in Much Wenlock in July 2012.

The project is now recruiting for a co-ordinator and will be contacting local schools soon about the workshop opportunities.