THE BIG Dance Bus rolled into Hounslow at the weekend to kick-start a month of free outdoor performances across the borough.
Performers on the old Routemaster bus, which has its own stage and sound system, wowed crowds at Hanworth Air Parks Leisure Centre throughout Saturday (June 16) afternoon.
Hanworth was the party vehicle's first stop on a tour of the borough, as part of Big Dance and the West London 2012 Festival of Outdoor Arts. It will visit Lampton Park, Hounslow High Street and nearby Ealing in coming weeks on a tour organised by Brentford's Watermans Arts Centre.
A pop-up Bollywood cinema and a floating performance of The Owl and the Pussycat, re-imagined by Monty Python's Terry Jones, are among the other highlights of the season.
As well as enjoying live dance shows on Saturday, crowds got to try their hands at dance-based fitness classes Zumba and Bokwa.
The day ended with a performance of Taxi, a street dance show about London life seen through the eyes of a black cab driver.
The full line-up of free outdoor performances organised by Watermans this summer is:
Friday, June 22 (7pm till late)
Gunnersbury Park
Pop Up Bollywood cinema and picnic
Music from the BBC Asian Network, followed by a screening of Ban Baaja Baaraat (Wedding Planner) at 9.30pm. Come early and bring a picnic for the best seats
Saturday, July 7 (7pm till late)
Lampton Park, Hounslow
Bollywood music and a free dance show including performances by 21st century maypole duo The Cone Dancers, who perform stunning aerial acrobatics. This will be followed by a free screening of Grease, with tickets available on the day or in advance from www.watermans.org.uk
Wednesday, July 11 (3-7pm)
Haven Green, Ealing
Big Dance Bus
The quirky party bus is back, hosting performances by its resident dance company and local dance groups
Saturday, July 14 (noon-5pm)
Hounslow High Street
Big Street Dance
Indo-Caribbean themed music show Chutney in the Street offers the chance for audience involvement. There will also be live music from Britain's Got Talent finalists Jive Acres and dance classes run by the London Swing Dance Society
Friday, July 20 (from 7.30pm)
Brentford Lock
The Owl and the Pussycat
Part of Hidden London, the Royal Opera House's take on Edward Lear's classic tale has been created by Terry Jones and composer Gill Dudley, who wrote music for The Full Monty. This is the premiere of ths show, which will float along London's canals to the Olympic Park. There will also be a light and sound show created in conjunction with Brentford schoolchildren. Tickets are available on the day or in advance at www.watermans.org.uk
Tuesday, July 24 (11.30am-2pm)
Lampton Park, Hounslow
Olympic torch relay
Nine-piece brass band Brassroots will help celebrate the Olympic flame's passage through Hounslow. There will also be a feast of carnival dance from around the world, courtesy of Feltham Arts Association
