Dance
"To watch us dance, is to hear our heart speak"- Unknown
Our Dance section, held over two-and-a-half days during the spring half-term in Grantham, is open to dancers of all ages and styles. We have categories for all different styles of dance from ballet to street, solo dancers to ensembles there is a place for you on our stage!
Ballet
A timeless style of dance which is simply stunning to watch. Ballet is known as the building block of all dance and is characterised by fluid and precise movements done in “turned out” positions. This graceful, meticulous art form is spoken in French and is considered the foundational style of all dance technique. Both soft shoes and pointe shoes are permitted.
Classical
Another beautiful style of dance which should include elements of both adage and allegro. Dancers should demonstrate the principles of classical ballet, which include secure posture and alignment, turn-out, weight distribution and placement. A well-schooled port de bras is an essential component that should exhibit correct shaping, flow, and coordination of the head and eye line.
Cabaret
An entertaining, energetic and fun dance, Cabaret refers to a style of performance that combines dance, music, and often theatrical elements . This genre is known for its lively, expressive style and often includes elements of jazz, burlesque, and even contemporary dance.
Character
Enjoy both dance and drama- this category is for you. Character dancing involves portraying a character, fictional or non-fictional, or even an animal or an element from nature, a feeling, an emotion or something more abstract. The fundamental element of the performance should always be focused on the storytelling and development of the narrative.
Modern
Modern dance choreography is performed with a theme in mind with soft and fluid movements. It has a special technique for developing the use of the entire body in movements expressive of abstract ideas. It should be as entertaining to watch as it is to perform and we cannot wait to see your entries
National
At Colsterworth Festival we love to see people embracing cultures across the globe. National dance encourages you to perform to traditional dance to a culture or country of your choice. The choice for this section is broad and encompasses both traditional folk dances and dances drawn from the rich body of cultural dance practices from around the world.
Tap
Exciting and often quite noisy, Tap encompasses many different styles. Tap dances should be rhythmic, show clearly defined rhythmic patterns and precision in beating and footwork. We cannot wait to hear and see you perform in this exciting category!
Lyrical
Combining elements of music, dance and drama; lyrical expresses the lyrics and the story of a song through movement. The piece should demonstrate the dancer’s range of emotions while telling a story.
Contemproary
This is a beautiful blend of ballet and lyrical techniques. Contemporary dance is a performance inspired by creating shapes with the body, and can be inspired by an idea, concept or theme or an abstraction of ballet. It is driven by storytelling
Song and Dance
One for all you lovers of songs from the stage! Song & Dance entries are theatrical performances combining both singing and dancing. There has to be at least one third of either singing or dancing in the routine to enter this category.
Acrobatic
Acro blends gymnastics with jazz movements. It showcases your incredible agility, flexibility, and strength while demonstrating proper technique with pointed feet, lengthened lines, and control.
A relatively new category for Colsterworth Festival we cannot wait to see what you have to show us!
Exciting News!
Exclusive to the Dance category, Solo dancers selected by the adjudicator will be required to dance again at the end of the festival.
The adjudicator will chose one performer to receive a bursery of £100! Alongside two additional runner up prizes of £50.
What an incredible opportunity and we wish all our performers the absolute best of luck!
Dance Rules
- Age limits apply as at the first day of the Dance Festival.
- Performers may dance only once in each Solo class. In Duet & Trio classes a performer may dance twice in a class provided each dance is with a different partner(s). In Group classes, Schools may only dance twice per class.
- Novice classes are only open to entrants who have not been placed 1st in that style of dance in any competition prior to the first day of the Dance Festival.
- Pre-recorded music must be handed in at the beginning of each session (preferably on CD), clearly marked and ready for the appropriate performance. A separate CD is required for each entry. Please ensure that your CD plays on a CD player or bring an alternative e.g. ipod
- The use of props containing glass, any liquid or other dangerous material will not be allowed.
- Pointe work is not allowed in any Age Group below Category D.
- A Group is defined as 4 or more dancers.
- Performances must not exceed the time limits stated in the schedule. The Committee reserves the right to stop a performance if it exceeds the stated class time limit (see General rule 6). Timing starts when the first dancer comes onto stage OR the curtains open.
- Copyright Rules apply as outlined in the schedule
| Date | Time | Acts at a glance |
|---|---|---|
| 17/02/25 | 09:00-18:35 | A variety of performances across styles, ages and abilities |
| 18/02/25 | 09:00-19:15 | Another full day of performances across different styles, ages and abilities |
| 19/02/25 | 09:00-11:55 | Our final performances |
| 19/02/25 | 13:30-15:00 | Bursary competition performances |
what you can see
Show Schedule
For a detailed breakdown of the dance schedule please download the attachment below.
We cannot wait to welcome you to our stage and watch you shine
how to find this show
Venue Information
This year our dance category will be held in Grantham College. We would like to extend our thanks to the college for allowing us to use their space.
Parking is available on site