Bicycle Ballet

Bicycle Ballet

The Bicycle Ballet is a dance on bikes which celebrates the dance of cycling and is performed by members of the public on their bikes.

Bicycle Ballet @ London Freewheel '08 - a Mass Dance on Bikes

Bicycle Ballet is back in London in Sept 08 and calling all cyclists to come and join in a series of FREE, open sessions in Victoria Park in the build up to, and on, the London Freewheel day.

Come and join us to make giant formations on bikes, and learn some simple routines inspired by the film choreography of Busby Berkeley, synchronised swimming and the Red Barrows, amongst others.

Ideas Try Out Sessions - 31 August & 14 Sept, 2-4pm

Free, open sessions in Victoria Park, E9 (meet at Gunmaker's Lane entrance, south side of the park)

London Freewheel Taster Sessions - 21 Sept - CHANGE OF VENUE. Central Freewheel location to be announced

On the move, 30-45 min Bicycle Ballet workshop sessions throughout the day at: 9am, 10am, 11am, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm (no previous experience necessary). Learn & perform a Bicycle Ballet routine en Mass and on the move.

Meet at Gunmaker's Lane entrance, south side of the park to cycle to the central Freewheel route to meet the BB crew, or check the website for location details every few days

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All sessions are FREE to the public

You will need to bring a bike.

All ages welcome, but a level of cycling proficiency is required - minimum level 2 Bikeability is suggested

Funded by the Community Cycling Fund for London and supported by the London Cycling Campaign

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Bicycle Ballet 2006-7 (the story so far...)

Bicycle Ballet was created as a mass participatory performance, with a cast ranging from 6 to 100. Participants worked over many weeks to develop the routines and choreography, which has been presented as a 10 or 30 minute performance, and as a series of workshops with young people.

The show explores cycling: the feelings of ecstatic joy you get from swerving downhill on a bike with the wind behind you and the sun on your face, tempered by the gritty reality of manoeuvering amongst traffice, pollution, theft, vandalism and the tricks of securely locking your bike.

The performers/participants dance and cycle between set formation pieces reminiscent of Busby Berkeley's film choreography, with visual spectacle and character based stories inspired by people’s cycling experiences – learning to ride, fall off, tricks – and memories.

Click link below for additional press coverage in the London Cyclist & Silence magazines
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bicycleballet/sets/72157602814264780/