Dancing Terraces

Dancing Terraces is back at Pavilion Dance South West this summer, running every Friday and Saturday night from 7 to 29 August. It's a series of outdoor dance sessions held on the Garden Terrace, a space right by the sea in Bournemouth, and it's open to all ages, so it works as a family thing as much as a night out with friends.

Each night brings a different style to the terrace, and the line-up covers a fair bit of ground over the three weeks. It kicks off on Friday 7 August with street dance led by Hannah Malone and a live DJ, followed on Saturday 8 August by African dance with Aida Diop and live drumming. The second weekend moves into ballroom and Latin with Lawrence James on Friday 14 August, and vintage jazz with Ruby Adams on Saturday 15 August. The third weekend pairs hip hop and house with Rich Smith and a live DJ on Friday 21 August, and Bollywood with Kamalesh Borkar on Saturday 22 August. The final few nights bring a ceilidh with Murphys Lore Ceilidh Band on Friday 28 August, and a salsa party with Clare Nicholas on Saturday 29 August.

That's nine different styles in less than a month, so you can pick the ones that actually interest you rather than committing to the whole thing. The sessions are free, and there's no booking required — you just turn up and follow the moves. You don't need any prior experience either, so it's as much for people who've never danced as for those who have. Each session runs for two hours, from 7pm to 9pm, and they're all held at the Garden Terrace at Pavilion Dance South West, The Terrace Pavilion, BH1 2BU. The whole series is part of Pavilion Dance South West's year-round programme of dance performances.