Hi everyone.
Well, the launch of Let’s Dance 2026 on Saturday the 7th of February was just a totally mind blowing and amazing event. If you weren’t there – let me try to paint the scene for you with a word picture, and give you an impression of what it was like.
Ten dance companies came together to perform beneath the magnificent dome of the historic, Old Bailey in the heart of the City of London. Throughout the morning, there were cheers, standing ovations, tears of laughter, tears of pure emotion, and applause that echoed through the marble pillars of the Great Hall. But most of all, there was the sheer joy of a morning filled with 100 dancers who proved beyond doubt – the power of dance.
We got off to a brilliant start with the young dancers of The Shift youth dance company from The Place, the centre for contemporary dance, who performed an exciting new piece, choreographed especially for them by Monique Jonas.
Then proving that dance really is for people of any age, the Over 60s dancers from The Place proved that age really is nothing more than a number on a piece of paper, as they performed Becky Namgauds’ choreography with grace and power.
The young dancers from Oska Odiakosa’s company Black in the Ballroom showed us what a jive should look like when it’s danced at full power. And were a total contrast to the Silver Swans from the Royal Academy of Dance who did a cheeky routine to music from the musical Oklahoma. Great ballet technique – but not a tutu in sight.
As I think we all know, it would be great to get more dance into schools. All the research shows that where schools have some form of dance, there is less disruption, less absenteeism, and certainly fewer exclusions. So it was really encouraging to be joined by young pupils from the City of London School for girls. Dance is a valued and integrated part of the school’s curriculum. Their performance blended dynamic choreography with imaginative, student-led creative elements, all inspired by the work of the wonderful Sir David Attenborough.
Last year, I made a film for the BBC programme The One Show, about a group of men dancers in Southampton, who work with the amazing Zoie Golding. At the time, the men were adamant. Men don’t dance. (Of course they don’t!) “No, we move to music,” they said. Well, they do so with purpose and deep seated emotions to help them combat the darkness of mental health. So I was thrilled when they agreed to have a crack of dawn start to travel from Southampton to London, for an 8am start, and perform in our launch. They are the Big Movement Collective – Men Moving for Mental Health, and boy did they produce a reaction in the audience.
Their bravery, their togetherness, their demonstration of male bonding and support was mesmerising, and got the first standing ovation of the day.
As the guys left the arena – on came the colour, the glitz and the glamour of Bollywood. Brought to us by the exuberant dancers of the Bollywood Company. And hot on their heels were the European Street Dance champions – Mums Da Word.
All in black, but with bright red suede shoes, these Mums are a strong, award-winning sisterhood of the coolest mums you will ever meet. And they had the whole place rocking with their founder and choreographer JP Omari. Again, they had made a crack of dawn start to travel up to London from Brighton. And I was just thrilled to have them as part of the Let’s Dance crew.
Over the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a lot of dancers who have Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative illness, for which there is no cure. But there is help in the form of dance. So, for our launch, I approached my dear friend, and co-Let’s Dance launch director/choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips, to create a new routine for Parkinson’s Dancers. It’s the first time Arlene has worked with dancers who have Parkinson’s. And she was so impressed and moved by their dedication, that I can honestly say, it has made an incredible impression on her. The work she produced had its premier at the launch. And at the end of their performance, there was not a dry eye in the house. Our dancers performed with such fluidity, grace and emotion, that when they finished, the applause from another standing ovation, practically lifted the domed roof of the Great Hall. They had demonstrated beyond doubt, that dance can be life changing, and is a true superpower.
Then came our finale. And once again, the crew from Jazzcotec brought the launch to a frenzied close. Their style of jazz is bursting with authentic energy and improvisation. They just burn the floor with a range of outrageous moves and music that had the whole place rocking. And set the scene to get all 100-plus dancers, and the audience, back on the floor to dance to “It’s Raining Men,” and finish our morning in a demonstration of pure dancing joy.
Phew. Like I said, it was quite a morning.
Some of you may have caught the three live hits we got on BBC Breakfast between 7am and 10am. If so, I hope that gave you a taste of the fun and enjoyment we all had to promote Let’s Dance for 2026. It really was a terrific launch pad for our National Day of Dance on Sunday March 8th. And I hope that the video we have distributed of the event will help in your own preparations and publicity for events you are planning for March 8th.
Have a great day. And let’s say to the nation – Let’s Dance!
Angela Rippon
