Photo Flash: BIG DANCE 2016 LAUNCH

Big Dance 2016 was launched yesterday in London's Trafalgar Square by Darcey Bussell, Akram Khan, Big Dance director Jacqueline Rose, Alistair Spalding and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Big Dance Week runs 2 to 10 July 2016 and celebrates a decade of festivals, coming to a close this year. Khan has choreographed a mass dance, which will be performed by hundreds in Trafalgar Square tomorrow, and there are numerous free events, performances, workshops, film screenings and debates, created by and with communities all over London, the UK and internationally. Find more information and a full programme here.

Speaking at the launch, Darcey Bussell advocated for dance fitness: "It must be a powerful contributor to the health of our next generation, as music and movement makes children come alive and changes the way they feel. Big Dance has clearly been a force for good by providing opportunities for more young people to be involved in dance, and I congratulate everyone involved."

Akram Khan said: "Working on Big Dance 2016 has been a transformative experience for me. To have seen for myself the extraordinary effect of bringing people together on a mass scale to dance across cultures, nations, ages, abilities, has been a revelation. Dance should not be contained and controlled by the borders of the stage or even the borders of countries. Big Dance has dared to bring together people, and I hope has transformed lives as a result."

See pictures from the launch event below, photographed by Jamie Scott-Smith