Big Dance Schools Pledge

The next Big Dance Schools Pledge will take place across the UK from May - July 2012. This year, young people of all ages are invited to learn and perform a new dance inspired by the Olympics.

On the day the Olympic Torch arrives in the UK, young dancers throughout Britain and worldwide can share a unique moment in time, dancing together and in unison. How could you get your class, your friends and family involved?

World record attempt

This year everyone who joins in will also be taking part in a monster attempt at a new world record. The current record for the largest multi-venue dance routine is held by the Netherlands, with 264,188 people and 1,472 locations. To be part of the Global World Record attempt, you must have a supervisor per 50 participants. Find out how you can successfully contribute to the GWR attempt at the Big Dance website. 

When?

At 13:00 (British Summer Time – GMT +1) on 18 May 2012

Where?

School halls, playgrounds, playing fields and public spaces around the world.

Because all this needs to be officially verified you’ll need to look carefully at the instructions on the Big Dance website. You’ll also find the choreography there too.

What do you need to do?

To be awarded the Guinness World Record Big Dance needs confirmation that you took part and how many people were performing at your site.

1. Record

Make sure that your watch is set to British Summer Time (GMT+1) and complete a paper register and store this safely in your own records. Allocate one supervisor per 50 participants and make sure you have two overall witnesses to verify the attempt - all of whom need to watch the full 5 minutes and then each complete and sign a personalised witness statement. Be sure to count by arranging dancers in line and grid formations.

2. Text

As the performance finishes one of your supervisors or your witness should immediately send Big Dance an SMS text with your data. All they need is BIGDANCE followed by the postcode of where you're performing, followed by the number of people performing where you are. Example, BIGDANCE NH12BD 124. From the UK, text to 78866. From outside the UK text +447786 200 100.

3. Post

Post your signed witness statements along with a CD of photo and video evidence, as soon as you can. Big Dance needs to receive everything no later than 1 June 2012. Once your data is in and the Guinness World Record is awarded, you'll be included on the official roll of honour on the Big Dance website.

Promising to dance

The second part of the Big Dance School Pledge is to commit to doing an additional 20 minutes of dance a day during Big Dance week (7-15 July 2012).

However you decide to join in, upload your pictures and videos to our project space.

Involving your partner

Take this opportunity to share some thoughts about dance with your partner school. Perhaps you could encourage them to take part in the world record attempt.

Here are some prompting questions to help you share your thoughts on dance.

1. What is your favourite kind of dance?

2. Who is the best dancer in your country?

3. Where can you see people dancing in your country?

4. Is dance taught at your school?

If you don't have a partner school in another country, but would like one, go to our teachers' forums and share your plans for this year’s 'Big Dance’.