Music to Move to

Posted on November 12, 2014

Music to Move to is a new interactive digital project, designed to get members of the public dancing in real time and online.

Ten composers have created tracks that can be downloaded from the bespoke Music to Move to website. You can then choreograph your own short dance routine and upload it to the site. Each week, audiences can vote for their favourite video.  The composers will also be keeping a keen eye on all the uploaded videos, and choosing their favourite dance moves to be included in a “Composers’ Cut”.

The music is in a wide range of styles, with tracks by hip hop composer Michael “Mikey J” Asante of Boy Blue Entertainment, pop singer Little Boots, folk singer Jon Boden and classical composer Nico Muhly. Seven tracks are already live on the site, and choreographers including Rafael Bonachela, Vicki Igbokwe, English National Ballet soloist Jenna Lee and Hemabarathy Palani (pictured) have already created their own responses to the music, which can be seen on the site.

Commissioned by Dance Umbrella and The Space, the innovative project encourages everybody to dance, from all backgrounds and ages. Louise Blackwell, co-director of producing company Fuel, says: “This is not only a chance to be free and have fun, but also to show us your best moves. Perhaps you have a secret passion for dance and want to release it for the world to see, or maybe you just want to do something different and exciting. On your own or with your friends, it’s your chance to have a go.”

The site is open now, and accepts videos until December 19, 2014. See musictomoveto.co.uk for information, tracks and videos.

Picture: Jenna Lee’s commissioned choreography for Nico Muhly’s track Short Process. Photograph: Amber Hunt

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.