This is a unique opportunity to be involved in some of the biggest events of 2022, including the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremonies.

Participants will learn new dance styles, meet other young dancers and work with professional dancers to create and participate in a wide variety of performances.

Sessions and rehearsals will take place across the West Midlands, with a range of Summer Camps taking place during August where participants can find out more about the project and begin their journey with this exciting project. Summer Camps will take place across the region including Birmingham city centre, Selly Oak, Royal Leamington Spa, Shrewsbury, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Worcester.

Summer camps are taking place at Motionhouse’s Spencer Yard studio in Royal Leamington Spa, on Sunday 15 August at 11am and Thursday 26 August at 6pm. To sign up visit criticalmass22.org.uk.

Liam Bartlett, Warwick District Council Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tourism and Leisure said: 

“Critical Mass 2022 is a fantastic opportunity for young dancers in the district to be part of the Commonwealth Games cultural programme next year with the chance to be involved in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of B2022 next July. It will be great to see some of the district's brilliant young performers taking part.”

Raidene Carter, Executive Producer for Culture Programme and Live Sites at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games said;

“This is a truly once in a lifetime opportunity for young people from across the West Midlands to be involved in some of the biggest events to ever take place in our region.

“We are on the lookout for a truly diverse collective who represent Birmingham’s vibrant communities with an enthusiasm for creating memorable moments for spectators to enjoy on a regional, national and international scale.

“This August, we look forward to welcoming hundreds of young people to our Summer Camps and beginning this unique journey together - I encourage all of those interested to sign up online today.”

Alex Henwood, Head of Participation at DanceXchange, the Birmingham based dance organisation that is the lead delivery partner for Critical Mass, added,

“We’re working to make Critical Mass 2022 a truly welcoming, empowering and fully accessible project and we’re so excited to be launching our Critical Mass Summer Camps. 

“Participants don’t need to have any previous dance experience and we are particularly keen to hear from young people who self-identify as disabled and/or from Black, Asian or mixed ethnicities.

“The Summer Camp programme will be a mixture of online and in-person sessions, and we recommend that participants take part in at least one of each type to get the full Critical Mass experience.”

Critical Mass 2022 is a unique collaboration between Arts Connect, Birmingham 2022, DanceXchange and the Dance Development Leaders Group (DDLG), a dedicated network of 70+ dance organisations across the West Midlands who are passionate about developing dance participation.

The project is a part of the Birmingham 2022 cultural programme and made possible thanks to generous support from Spirit of 2012, the London 2012 legacy funder that invests in projects which help people feel better about themselves, others and their communities.

For more information, please contact Ben Wooldridge, Communications and Marketing Manager for Culture, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on ben.wooldridge@birmingham2022.com or 07791183043.

About the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games   

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region and its people on the global stage.    

The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people

and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.    

Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.

About the Birmingham 2022 Cultural Programme

As part of the Commonwealth Games celebrations in 2022, the OC will be delivering a six-month cultural festival across Birmingham and the West Midlands from March to August 2022.

The festival aims to promote and showcase the rich and diverse creative talent of the city and region to a global audience – and to support the local cultural economy to not only recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but to grow and thrive in the future. Find out more at www.birmingham2022.com     

About DanceXchange

DanceXchange (dx) presents and produces some of the best UK and international dance including the award-winning biennial Birmingham International Dance Festival. dx has a strategic role in developing the art form, supporting dance artists and choreographers to create and develop their practice and build sustainable dance careers. dx delivers dance classes for adults and young people of all abilities and runs a tailored schools programme.

In partnership with Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage, dx leads the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT), an elite training opportunity for talented young performers aged 11-18, in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Contemporary styles. dx is an active partner in Dance Hub Birmingham (DHB), a dynamic collaboration of organisations and individuals representing the West Midlands’ professional dance sector.

About Arts Connect

Arts Connect works with a variety of partners including education, arts, culture and local government in the West Midlands to ensure that all children and young people can benefit from engagement in high quality arts and cultural activities.

We believe that engagement with the arts and culture in all its forms, the opportunity to take part, to create and produce culture supports young people to build the social and cultural capital that enables them to thrive. It builds creative skills that are valued by employers and can provide pathways into careers in the creative industries.

About Dance Development Leaders Groups

DDLG comprises dance professionals from core funded and project funded organisations as well as independents, working in all parts of the West Midlands. A membership of 70+ meet twice a year to explore the potential for collaboration, shared ambition and mutual support.

With a collective history of delivering high quality participatory dance projects successful in reaching large audiences, the impact of our work across the region has inspired many young people to seek further training and development in dance with significant numbers going on to work professionally.