By Arts Council England
Story curated by TIN Arts in partnership with People Dancing. Photography by Sean Goldthorpe.
What does a dancer look like?
From a lithe ballerina on pointe to a twinkle-toed tap artist, ballroom waltzers to the tightest tango, so many of our perceptions around dancers are based on perfect form and technique. 11 Million Reasons to Dance sets out to challenge perceptions of disability and dance.
Sean Goldthorpe's stylishly composed, challenging and fun images have captured the interest of people worldwide.
The title of the exhibition reflects the number of people in the UK with a limiting long term illness, impairment or disability when the exhibition launched in 2014.
Singing In The Rain (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Singing in the Rain
A 1952 American musical romantic comedy portraying performers caught up in the transition from silent films to 'talkies'.
Dirty Dancing (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Dirty Dancing
A 1987 romantic drama dance film that tells the story of a young woman who falls in love with a dance instructor.
This is an adaptation of the famous lift featured towards the climax of the film.
Saturday Night Fever (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Saturday Night Fever
A 1977 dance drama film about a young Italian-American who spends his weekends dancing at a local discotheque whilst wrestling with the feeling his life is directionless.
This recreates John Travolta’s dance floor scene that is set to the Bee Gees classic track.
Step Up 4 (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Step Up 4
A 2012 3D dance film that is part of a series of fictional films about young people in America with regular dance battles.
This is a recreation of the battle with ‘The Mob’.
Step Up 2: The Streets (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Step Up 2: The Streets
This 2008 dance drama film follows the story of a rebellious street dancer who struggles to fit into a new elite school.
A recreation of the romantic duet from the film through stunning choreography.
Billy Elliot (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Billy Elliot
A 2000 British coming-of-age comedy-drama set in the North East of England during the miner's strike. The film is about a working-class boy who discovers a passion for Ballet.
High School Musical! (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
High School Musical!
A 2006 musical television programme about a sports captain and academically-gifted student who try out for lead parts in the school musical causing division amongst the school's cliques.
The final capture would hope to display the colours and dynamic energy of the film.
Grease (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Grease
A 1978 American musical romantic comedy depicting the lives of Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson, who develop feelings for each other during a summer romance.
The Blues Brothers (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
The Blues Brothers
A 1980s musical comedy with convict Jake and his brother Elwood trying to save an orphanage in which they were raised.
The Sound of Music (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
The Sound of Music
A 1965 American musical drama set in Salzburg, Austria, about Maria, a nun who is sent to the villa of a retired naval officer and widower to be governess to his seven children.
The Full Monty (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
The Full Monty
A 1997 British comedy which tells the story of six unemployed men who decide to form a male striptease act in order to make some money.
Hairspray (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Hairspray
Set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, the film revolves around teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show.
Black Swan (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Black Swan
A 2010 American psychological thriller revolving around a production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet by the New York City Ballet company.
Chicago (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Chicago
Set in the 1920s, Chicago is an American musical that follows Roxie Hart, a wannabe vaudevillian star who murders her lover and must dance for her freedom.
Strictly Ballroom (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Strictly Ballroom
A 1992 Australian romantic comedy where a top ballroom dancer pairs with a plain, left-footed local girl and his maverick style earns him the disdain of his more conventionally-minded colleagues.
The Wizard of Oz (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
The Wizard of Oz
A 1939 American musical where a tornado rips through Kansas, which results in Dorothy and her dog, Toto, being whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz.
Flashdance (2014) by Sean GoldthorpeArts Council England
Flashdance
A 1983 American romantic dance drama film starring Jennifer Beals as a passionate young dancer who aspires to become a professional ballerina.
Find out More
Visit People Dancing where you can find out more about the photographer Sean Goldthorpe, the dancers involved in the project, as well as watch videos capturing the creative process.
Photographer – Sean Goldthorpe
Producer – Louise Wildish, People Dancing
Set Dresser – Nicky Moorhouse
Hair and Make up – Kristie Matthiae
Photographers Assistant – Oscar Henton
The 11 Million Reasons to Dance photography exhibition is a People Dancing commission, supported by Unlimited Impact, Arts Council England and private contributors through the Sponsume campaign.
This story was curated by TIN Arts as part of Arts Council's Northern Stories collection.
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