Let’s be honest: most of us aren’t exactly blessed with natural rhythm.
There’s the person who mysteriously breaks into the same three moves at every wedding, the one who insists they “don’t dance” before spending half the night on the floor, and the brave soul whose signature routine probably shouldn’t be performed in public.
But perhaps that’s exactly the point.
This December, Newcastle-based dance company balletLORENT is inviting audiences to forget about getting the moves right as Best Worst Dances returns to the John Marley Centre for three nights celebrating all the wonderfully awkward ways we move.
Following its preview performances last year, the production returns from Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th December, bringing professional performers and local people together for an evening where sitting back and getting involved are equally welcome.
Forget the intimidating atmosphere that can sometimes surround contemporary dance. Best Worst Dances is built around something most of us already understand: what happens when a favourite song comes on and you suddenly find yourself moving.
The production explores those moments when nobody is trying to look good – the spontaneous moves, the awkward ones, the completely personal routines and those occasions when you simply stop worrying about what everyone else thinks.
balletLORENT’s performers share the space with local participants, making the whole thing feel less like sitting back and watching a performance and more like being part of a night out. When the show finishes, the floor opens up to the audience too, so there’s nothing stopping you from having a go yourself.
And there’s something quite refreshing about being told that your moves don’t have to be good…they just have to be yours.
Last year’s audiences described the experience as joyful, uplifting, funny and inspiring, while others praised its nostalgia and the memories it brought back. This time around, balletLORENT is once again bringing together trained performers and people who simply fancy getting up and having a bit of fun.
So, whether you’re first onto the floor or the person hiding behind your drink until someone else makes the first move, Best Worst Dances is a chance to stop worrying about whether you look ridiculous and just enjoy yourself.
And if your dancing really is terrible? Well, at least you won’t be the only one on the night.
Tickets, priced at £15.00 in advance, are available at balletlorent.pembee.app.
