A show stopping dance performance and projection parade comes to the streets of Dumbarton tomorrow (November 8) evening.
Award-winning, Glasgow-based visual theatre makers Megahertz and arts producing house FERAL are bringing their unique show to Dumbarton town centre this week, showcasing some top local talent in their STRUT performance.
The performances are rooted in the community with familiar faces taking to the streets to celebrate dance in the local area. Dramatic lighting, catchy beats and stunning projections enveloping everyday buildings form the perfect backdrop for the neighbourhood to watch the STRUT procession – whether that’s snug behind windows or gathered on the pavement.
Five local dance heroes will perform their own choreography, reflecting and celebrating their much loved community through ballet and contemporary, commercial and hip hop, Irish, funk and soul dance styles.
The top-tier dancers were chosen from a vast array of submissions from a wide ranging open-call and will be moving and shaking their way around Dumbarton town centre this Friday.
STRUT’s local heroes include Isabella, whose dance journey began in West Dunbartonshire, before moving to London to dance professionally. They bring ballet and contemporary moves to the community where their love of dance first began.
Wiktoria embraces a range of dance styles – but her favourites are Commercial and Hip Hop. She loves to dance, because it sets her free and is an escape from reality.
World champion Under-9s Irish Dancer Tegan has grown up and developed her calm and passionate dance style at a local West Dunbartonshire dance school. She loves to perform and adores dancing “because it makes me feel happy, good and productive”.
Tegan explained: “My teacher, Alana, helps me to feel like a brilliant dancer, I am a passionate and calm performer.
“I love Irish dancing because it makes me feel happy, good and productive.
“I am so excited to be part of STUT and happy to be trying new opportunities. I have always lived in West Dunbartonshire with my family, I also go to school and dance class here. I love living in West Dunbartonshire.”
Kyle is a competitive lyrical and hip hop dancer, excited to grow his confidence through performing in STRUT. He sees dance as an escape from stress and looks forward to his future as a dancer.
Completing the line up is Salahdine (Salah or Sal for short). Living in Dumbarton since the 1980s, he has always loved to dance and can’t wait to push himself out of his comfort zone with his first public performance as part of STRUT.
Sal, 67, explained: “I dance to a wide variety of music, and my preferred music to dance to is funk and soul. By joining STRUT, I intended to push myself out of my comfort zone as it is my first performance. I am a bit nervous about it but also looking forward to it.”
STRUT: West Dunbartonshire will be hosted by MC Steven Galloni AKA Big Gal – a Scottish Italian public speaker, podcaster, music artist and all round big personality – who runs one of Bangin’ Pizza in Dumbarton East.
The event starts at 7.30pm on the grass in front of 21-35 Risk Street, moving along the High Street and ending at College Way, at the south entrance to the Artizan Centre, at around 8.30pm.