DANCE: Chance to dance a minute away at FACT

Mar 5 2008 by Philp Key, Liverpool Daily Post

DANCE lesson in one minute? It sounds impossible – but it can be done.

It is one of the more intriguing aspects of Liverpool’s Leap dance festival. currently taking place in the city.

I went to FACT, in Wood Street, where the lessons are being given inside a DIY booth.

The Move Me Booth looks something like an instant photo booth. Instead of an instant photograph, though, you get an instant dance lesson instead.

I stepped inside, and by pressing buttons, I was able to select my own choreographer from a list that included Nigel Charnock, Stephen Petronio and Shobana Jeyasingh, among others.

I chose Charnock, as he is well known on the British dance scene for his solo works.

After a short introduction on tape, I was asked to follow his instructions.

It was, to be frank, pretty easy and physically undemanding.

He wanted me to stretch my arms, close my eyes and lean back. I had to put my face close to the camera and deliver a few expressions, move backwards and forwards.

And after he told me he loved me, that was about it.

Well, it won't be quite the end. My video dance and everyone else’s who has entered the booth will eventually go on line on www.move-me.com and I await the results with trepidation.

The booth is free and available until the end of the festival on March 15.