DistDancing brings the Royal Ballet to Hoxton Docks.
Nothing about the last few months has made me feel like dancing, but then again I’m spectacularly uncoordinated, so that’s perhaps a good thing. Handily, a group of infinitely more talented dancers have been performing to the delight of passersby during the lockdown, as furloughed performers from the Royal Ballet have taken to a makeshift stage alongside Regent’s Canal for a series of live shows. It’s called DistDancing, and not only is it one of the rare chances to see live dance right now, it’s also free to enjoy! [Featured image: @dancersdiary, via @_distdancing_]
DistDancing is the brainchild of Royal Ballet dancer Chisato Katsura, with a little help from her landlord, who owns the Hoxton Docks space DistDancing has been using for their performances. Allowing furloughed dancers to keep their moves fresh whilst also delighting the public, DistDancing features a mix of traditional ballet set to classical music, modern dance, and even circus performances – all from a stage bobbing on the canal. Even the rain doesn’t stop them!
One can only assume it’s a joyful thing to simply happen across whilst out for a walk, especially since even the wildlife are equally keen to spectate…
Performances run on a slightly ad hoc basis; you’ll find a performance at 3, 5, or 7pm on Saturdays or Sundays, so you may need a little trial and error to catch one. DistDancing plans to continue through to October, so there’s still plenty of time to find these incredible shows.
Stumbling across a world-class ballet performance whilst out for your afternoon stroll? It’s the kind of magical occurrence that London is chock full of – and for that, we’re eternally grateful.
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Also published on Medium.