I Charleston Brighton

On Friday 5 September the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Brian Fitch, attended the premiere of I Charleston Brighton – a viral film showcasing the very best dance talent in Brighton along with promoting the city.

Over the past eight months, local dance group I Charleston Brighton has been working with over 80 dancers ranging from ages from 5 to 80 years old, to put Brighton and Hove on the Charleston map. The goal is to add the city to the ‘I Charleston the World’ series – a global project in which cities and communities all over the world showcase their Charleston skills in city landscapes on viral videos, which can be found on YouTube.

Run by local dance teachers Elena Collins and Fiona Ring and supported by South East Dance, the project commenced in January by running dance courses. At the end of each course the team filmed the group on location to create one of the many scenes for the film. Along with working with local dancers, I Charleston Brighton has also collaborated with a wide range of different groups including JP Omari (Director of Streetfunk and Marina Studios), Live Life Hoop, Bitter and Twisted Burlesque, Acro Yoga and Gypsy Disco Fire Brigade. Elena explained: “We really wanted to capture the diverse and individual spirit of Brighton, so we were delighted that so many dance and performance groups volunteered their time to be a part of the project. Thanks to them, we managed to capture the creative vibe of our city.”

I Charleston the World has become a global phenomenon with more than 70 cities participating across four continents. In England though, only London and Liverpool have completed an I Charleston video. Brighton has upped the ante by filming not only the main attractions but some of Brighton’s best kept secrets.

Footage locations include Brighton Seafront, the Laines, the Wheel, Hove Lawns, Brunswick and Palmeria Square, Hanover, the Duke of York’s Picturehouse, the Level and the West Pier, along with a grand scene with 60 people dancing the Charleston in front of the Royal Pavilion.

Due to the popularity of the Charleston classes, Elena and Fiona will be continuing to teach with more exciting projects lined up for the autumn. Fiona said: “It’s such a joyful way to move; the music and diverse styles we use make it a really enjoyable experience. As well as the classes and film project, we hope to create opportunities for social dancing so that we can really grow a community of dancers.”

The film is now available on YouTube by searching ‘I Charleston Brighton Official Film’ and can also be found on dancebrightonandhove.com