Commonwealth Dance Groups on the right track with Virgin Trains

Glasgow Central Station’s main concourse was alive with creativity on 9 July, as seven youth dance groups from across the world met for the first time on their way to the YDance Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival.  The groups travelled from London free of charge, courtesy of Festival sponsors, Virgin Trains.  High Kicks All Girls Dance Ensemble (Chennai) and Khronos (London) were greeted by fellow Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival groups the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland, One Step Beyond (New Zealand), right2dance (Paisley), Ql2 (Canberra) and Wagana Aboriginal Dancers (New South Wales) who performed a fusion of Aboriginal and traditional Scottish dance as a piper provided music.

Virgin Trains, sponsors of the Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival, have provided free transportation for 13 groups from 5 countries.  Their support has enabled many groups who would otherwise be unable to make the trip to Glasgow to participate in the first ever Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival, making the event a truly diverse spectacle with 11 corners of the Commonwealth represented.

Gary Iddon, Virgin Trains’ General Manager for Anglo-Scottish services, said:  “The Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival is an extremely exciting event and, given Virgin Trains close links with Glasgow, it was only natural to offer our support. There are many exciting events taking place in the city throughout the summer months and there’s sure to be a buzz about the place.  There’s going to be a lot of talent in the city of Glasgow over the next few months whether that be sporting, dancing or otherwise and Virgin Trains is happy to play a part in helping that talent to arrive in style.”

With inward and outward train journey’s, over the course of 5 days, covered by Virgin Trains many of the groups have been relieved of costs which may otherwise have been a barrier to their involvement in the Festival.

Knronos dance group leader, Julia Dark, said: “We are thrilled to be travelling to Glasgow and honoured to have been selected to perform as part of the Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival.  We are hugely grateful to Virgin Trains for their generous donation of tickets for each company member, without which this unique performance experience may not have been possible”

The Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival offers audience’s performances by 36 youth dance groups over 3 nights, 10 – 12 July, at Tramway in Glasgow.  Festival Extras also open to the public will include a Festival Photography exhibition (The Briggait, 30 June – 13 July), a Festival Dance Film Night (Tramway, 11 July) and a selection of new dance works created by the young choreographers of the Hothouse project, delivered by YDance in partnership with Scottish Ballet (Jumping Into the Unknown, Tramway, 12 July).  Multi-screen dance film installation, Old News, created by award winning Director and Choreographer Gail Sneddon runs throughout the Festival (Tramway, 10 – 12 July).

The Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival, which is part of Get Scotland Dancing, offers audience’s performances by 36 youth dance groups over 3 nights, 10 – 12 July, at Tramway in Glasgow.

Notes

YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) is the national dance organisation for children and young people in Scotland. The Company aims to offer every child and young person in Scotland, aged 3 to 21, the opportunity to realise their potential as individuals through dance. YDance works through key partnerships in education, culture, health and sport, to provide a range of high quality dance experiences across three main areas of work – Developing Talent, Education and Participation. Full details are available at http://www.ydance.org/

Virgin Trains

As one of Britain’s most experienced train companies, Virgin Trains have been speeding all over the country for 12 years now in their Pendolino and Super Voyager trains. Typical journey time between London and Glasgow just 4h 35m, taking slightly longer on Sundays, with up to two trains per hour throughout the day. Advance fares start from £21 (Standard) and £51 (First).

Contact

For all media and press enquiries please contact Katrina Moohan, YDance Marketing Officer, on 0141 552 7712 or Katrina@ydance.org or 07590758664.