A Family Affair for Wigan Borough’s Huge Festival of Dance

Wigan Borough’s biggest festival of dance will be something of a family affair this year as the main showcase event falls on Mothering Sunday, 18th March.

‘Dance Fusion’, launched in 2006 and organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, is a weeklong celebration of dance activity in the borough. The festival kicks off with a huge showcase event, featuring no fewer than 17 local acts, at Lowton Civic Hall.

A week of free dance workshops and taster sessions take place from Monday 19th through to Saturday 24th March. All sessions are open to people of all ages and abilities and will be available throughout the borough.

Vicky Fletcher, Arts Development Officer for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said, “Last year’s showcase event was very successful and completely sold out within weeks of tickets going on sale. The Dance Network in our borough is one of the strongest in the region. The standard of performances and the enthusiasm, passion and dedication of the groups are second to none.

“This year we are selling tickets through the Tourist Information Centre because we are hoping to open up the festival to a new audience. We are advising people to get their tickets early so they don’t miss out. This is a family orientated event so we would be delighted to see lots of Mums coming along to celebrate Mothering Sunday.”

Renata Green, from Step by Step Dancing, one of the groups taking part in the showcase event, said, “There is a real buzz about this year’s festival following the success we had last year and all of our dancers are looking forward to hitting the stage. Dance is a really fun activity and is also great for your health and your social life. We are finding more and more people are becoming interested in taking part in dance and we are proud to be part of such a vibrant network of dance groups.”

Dance Groups Involved

Stage Coach, Lowton Youth Group, Step By Step Dancing, Daughters of Isis, The Thistle Society, Fred Longworth High School, St. Peter’s High School, St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Kurdish Cultural Association, Abraham Guest High School, Zenith School of Dance, Wigan & Leigh Youth Dance Company, Dynamite Dancers, Apple Dance, Wardhaugh Dance School, L & L Superstars and Winstanley College.

Tickets for the showcase evening on Sunday 18th March at Lowton Civic Hall are priced at £2.50 and are on sale now through Wigan Tourist Information Centre’s box office. Call 01942 825677 or call in from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 5pm.

Information about the free taster sessions running throughout the festival is available from Vicky Fletcher on 01942 486196.

Notes to Editors

For further information on this Press Release please contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942 486937.

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over 300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough.

Getting Wigan Active

Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more physically, mentally and creatively active . It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good citizenship.