For many, MOVE IT is the biggest event in the dance calendar, and with last year’s convention selling out, the 2026 edition is already shaping up to be the biggest yet.
Following on from the announcement that choreographer, creative director and dance legend Brian Friedman will be one of the convention headliners next year, MOVE IT already has the dance world talking.
From young dancers exploring the industry to performing arts colleges showcasing their offerings and industry professionals teaching classes, MOVE IT has been a staple of the UK dance scene since 2005.
Taking residency at the Excel Centre in East London from 20–22 March 2026, the team behind MOVE IT have said that those attending “will experience a weekend of jaw-dropping performances, next-level masterclasses, and invaluable audition and networking opportunities.”
A key pull for industry newbies, professionals and the curious is the Showcase Theatre Stage, which will highlight musical theatre performances from leading UK colleges and schools. At the same time, Disney Auditions and Royal Caribbean Productions return, offering dancers the chance to join their elite teams and perform on cruise ships around the world.
Spotting gaps in the sector and much needed resources, new for 2026, MOVE IT will be launching its Dance Teacher Forum on Saturday 21 March – a dedicated one-day event featuring inspiring workshops, expert-led sessions in pedagogy, safeguarding and career development, high-energy practical classes, a dance-fashion walk, exhibitor-floor access, and exclusive networking, culminating in a celebratory finale at the MOVE IT Championships.
Friedman isn’t the only headliner attending the event, and Dance Informa had the opportunity to talk to several of MOVE IT’s upcoming experts.
“Having a convention such as MOVE IT is incredibly important,” headliners the Ferdinand Twins say. “Dance has the power of bringing people together, and this event is the exact representation of that. It also offers opportunities for young dancers to get seen in the classes, and exposes ages 14-18 to colleges and universities once watching the performances on the Main Stage. MOVE IT personally introduced us to The Urdang Academy, where we trained for five years. If it wasn’t for MOVE IT, our training might have begun elsewhere.”
Having attended the event when they were 14, 10 years on they are excited to be a headliner at the convention, describing the experience as “a dream come true”.
Fellow headliner Jau’Mair R Garland says, “I feel truly blessed and honoured to be a headliner at the next convention. As someone who did not come from convention-style training, but always admired it from afar, it feels like a huge privilege to be invited to share my experiences and found-knowledge with this community of artists.”
Garland also shares advice for those attending: “I believe dancers attending MOVE IT 2026 can expect to be cared for, both physically as well as in developing their craft. For newcomers, I’d recommend soaking up inspiration from the variety of dancers in the room and seeking new ways of exploring within each class, performance, etc!”
Dancer, choreographer, and educator Clara Bajado, who is also a headliner at MOVE IT 2026, echoed the others and conveys, “I think a convention such as MOVE IT is important to expand your network either professionally or just socially. It helps to reach communities that you might not have access to and also re-connect with those you might have lost contact with, and it is a great platform to showcase your work and projects.”
Jazz dance aficionado and headliner Christie Lee Manning can’t wait to use the platform to help spread her love and knowledge of the discipline.
“It honestly feels like a huge honour,” she shares. “As far as I know, we’re the only jazz-style headliner at MOVE IT 2026, and being able to represent jazz in such a major space means a great deal. Jazz has over 200 years of history and has evolved endlessly, and throughout my 10+ years in London, I’ve made it a priority to properly educate myself on its roots if I’m going to call myself a jazz educator and run a jazz company.”
She continues, “To be featured as a headliner and represent both jazz and a jazz company on this scale feels incredibly meaningful. We’re genuinely honoured and excited to be part of the conversation around this style.”
Knowing that MOVE IT will not only be a great platform for her, but for those auditioning while there, she shares some industry advice.
“Your career will constantly evolve, so don’t pressure yourself to have everything figured out immediately. You’re a human first and a dancer second, and as you grow and change, your career will shift with you. You’re not supposed to have all the answers — if you did, it would be overwhelming. Follow what excites you. The things that make you feel alive or joyful aren’t accidents — they’re clues.”
For more information on MOVE IT 2026, visit www.moveitdance.co.uk/move-it-2026.
By Jamie Body of Dance Informa.
