Grand Finale Part II Our Dancing Town

Yorkshire.

Britain's biggest county.

A region of rugged beauty,

with a rich heritage and a proud industrial past.

Over one summer, three of its towns -

Barnsley, Skipton and Huddersfield -

put on their dancing shoes and took to the streets

in a spectacular display of unity and pride.

It's going to be a great memory to look back on in many years,

when I'm walking around with a Zimmer frame.

It warms the cockles of this old man's heart.

The man behind it all is choreographer Steve Elias...

HE SCATS

..who starred in a string of hit shows,

from Billy Elliot to Guys And Dolls.

I've always believed that dance has the unique ability

to bring people together,

and what I've witnessed this summer has proved that -

the way that people have come together

to create something special and lasting.

Now Steve wants to stage one final performance

to celebrate not just a town, but the entire county.

Personally, I think he's raving bonkers!

His master plan is to unite the people of Yorkshire

by bringing together the towns he's already conquered...

So, what do you think? Are you with me?

CHEERING

..with new recruits from York...

-OVER MEGAPHONE:

-People of York, I need you.

..to create a breathtaking grand finale

through the ancient city's streets.

It needs to be vibrant and colourful,

representing the people and their stories.

I want it to be spectacular.

Something to remember.

One and two, three and four.

Five and six and seven and eight...

LAUGHTER

We just have absolutely no rhythm whatsoever.

Umbrella, umbrella, hello.

Brilliant!

HE SCATS

Two and a-three and a-four and a-five...

Biggest county in England.

Bring it on.

I'm back in the city of York because I've got a bit of a problem.

The problem I'm facing is numbers.

I always set my sights on this magical figure of 500.

I don't know how many people I've got - 70, 80?

If I'm honest with you, I'm terrified.

I'm absolutely quaking in my size nine ballet shoes.

Plagued by dropouts when he was last in York,

Steve is making an 11th hour bid to boost numbers.

-Hi, mate. I'm Steve.

-Steve. Nice to meet you.

'I need to recruit more people.'

So I need to get the word out on a bigger scale.

He's holding an open rehearsal in two days' time for new volunteers.

I'm looking for people with two left feet,

people who have thought, "No, dance is not for me."

I'm looking for established dance groups.

Basically, it's for anyone and everyone to turn up.

You don't need to wear Lycra, because if you saw me,

I've got a physique like a prop forward,

-so there's no Lycra on this body.

-Oh, hello!

So, if you've got jazz hands, then take them down to see Steve.

Get on down.

There's a big performance happening in York.

With just two weeks to go and three other towns to visit,

this is Steve's last chance to pull in more people from York.

Take one of these.

If you know anyone who'll be interested, spread the word.

Everyone can do that - step, click.

You got the rhythm.

I was just admiring your pedal action, sir.

I think students would like that. All students dance.

Fingers crossed. Everything is crossed, at the moment.

Let's face it, something has got to happen on August 21st.

It'd be great if there's hundreds.

Steve is rounding off his recruitment drive

with a visit to an iconic York tearoom,

in the hope that he can enlist their staff in the dance.

-So, this is the world-famous Bettys.

-It is, indeed.

Why do you think it has an enduring charm?

We are only in Yorkshire, which is very deliberate,

and there's something very olde worlde,

if you like, about Bettys.

You don't really get this kind of place very much any more.

Nostalgia is engraved into every aspect of the tea rooms,

from the staff uniforms to the Art Deco interiors

that have barely changed since the building was opened in 1937

by Swiss baker Frederick Belmont.

This is our wonderful Belmont Room.

-Wow.

-Based on the Queen Mary -

Frederick Belmont went on the maiden voyage

and he commissioned the same craftsmen

to work on this room.

-Incredible.

-Yeah, it really is.

During the war, this was a bar,

and it was fondly known as "The Dive"

by mainly Canadian aircrew

and they used to scratch their names on the mirror

with coins, or a diamond.

Perhaps it's the romantic in me, but you can visualise them,

smoking their cigars, listening to the music of the time,

cos they never know what's going to happen,

and just their names left.

We get families who come in and are looking for the name on the mirror.

I love the fact that grandchildren, great-grandchildren,

from all over the world will want to come and find the name.

-Yeah, and we'll always welcome them.

-Yes, yes.

-It's lovely to see.

Steve is hoping he can win Una round

with his vision for her team's role in the York dance.

If there was any way we could get Bettys involved,

your beautiful staff in their uniforms, possibly,

with trays or some teacups,

a little cha-cha stuff, the shoulder going...

-LAUGHTER

-..and then coming back into Bettys.

So that's the kind of image.

I love the idea.

I don't think we will have any problem

in having willing volunteers to join in the dance on the day.

-Thank you so much...

-Good luck.

-..for helping me out.

-Thank you very much.

-You're very welcome.

Steve's hosting York's final drop-in rehearsal,

where he'll find out if his last-minute recruitment drive

has paid off.

It will be amazing if I can get 500 people all dancing in unison,

all celebrating York and Yorkshire.

That would be a great way to end what's been an amazing journey.

That's it, you can form a semicircle,

just coming round, don't be shy.

This is a fantastic turnout. It really is.

Uh...we're going to have some fun, here.

Steve wants the York spectacle

to culminate with everyone from across the county dancing in unison.

The track he's chosen for this grand finale

is swing classic Sing Sing Sing.

It's just a sassy little swing section.

Don't concentrate on the click, because what you'll get is...

LAUGHTER

We don't want that. We want...

# I do this every day

# Walking to Tesco's or Aldi's or wherever... #

Yes? So, that's the feeling.

The less you give it, the better.

Here we go. A-five, six, seven, eight.

And one, two, three, four,

six, seven, eight, and two, two.

Three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

And three, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Brilliant.

'That is such a relief.'

I was thinking, "Oh, I might get 20 or 30."

There seems to be just shy of 100.

One, two, three, four, five, six... Excellent.

There is something special about a group of people

who start at the same level, laugh together, fail together...

LAUGHTER

They form friendships together as they help each other

'try to learn the steps.'

One and two and three and four and five and six... Up, down!

LAUGHTER

I'm talking to people I've never met before

and we're helping each other out

and it's kind of like, suddenly, you got a team, really quickly.

I've always wanted to take part in a mass dance group,

so I think it's wonderful.

Flick, flick, up, down.

LAUGHTER

Well, you got there.

How you got there, I don't know, but you got there!

Let's go again, let's go again. Bravo.

Yeah, that's...

It's fantastic.

Brilliant, thank you.

APPLAUSE

Newcomers have boosted York's numbers...

Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Position, position, position, and...

..as they join the groups already drafted in.

From the local rugby team...

..to ballet troupes...

..to builders.

Two, two, three, four, drive.

Five, six, seven, eight.

-Come on!

-LAUGHTER

Warm up...

Already signed up is Chilli Bon Bon,

a dance and drama group that welcomes adults

with and without disabilities.

They stood out when Steve last met them

thanks to a star turn by Lee and Tristram.

You stretch like that.

41-year-old Tristram lives at home with his parents,

not far from his younger brother, Miles.

And it's like a Romeo and Juliet thing.

-Really?

-Oh, right.

-Which one were you?

-Um...

-Were you Romeo? I hope...

-Romeo.

-You were Romeo!

I had him in the early morning and about, was it, lunchtime,

they came and said that he was Down's syndrome.

You think, "What have I done wrong?"

It was really, really a shock.

-Mine has ran out again.

-Oh - it's because you half-fill it.

I just treated him as normal.

To me, he wasn't Down's syndrome.

I've been blessed by him, yeah.

That's when I first started at Brunswick, you see.

-Oh, right.

-This makes me a happy life.

-Does it?

-Yeah.

That's one of you - Chairman Mao, isn't it?

LAUGHTER

He's very determined.

In fact, out of the three brothers, at one point,

he was the only one with a girlfriend and a job,

which kind of puts that into perspective

of how he is as an individual.

Like that. Like that.

On holiday, karaoke,

any opportunity to get onto the stage, he would be there.

He would dance whether there was anyone watching him or not.

Obviously, he does like an audience.

He gets so much pleasure from it that it's wonderful, you know?

Made my life wonderful.

-Tristram.

-Yeah.

-It's Steve. Good to see you.

-Hello.

-I know that you love dancing.

-Yeah.

-I like singing, acting, drama...

-Mm-hm.

When you dance, when you're in that moment,

how does that make you feel?

It makes me...great, inside me,

cos I get the rhythm going.

Every time we have a break at Chilli Bon Bon,

I put the music on, and I keep doing my hip-work...!

-LAUGHTER

-Keep shaking away.

-So we are going to work together and create something special.

-Yeah.

It's my first session with Chilli Bon Bon

and I'm really excited.

Yeah, I'm sure there's got to be a lot of fun and giggles,

cos they...

Yeah, they're a great bunch.

How are you?

Can I join in? Where do we start?

-Are you going to teach me one of your routines?

-Yes.

Show me whatever you've got.

That's excellent! I love that. That's it!

Give me your best dance move that you love, that is yours.

Christian likes to wiggle the hips!

Shake your hands! That's great.

Anyone got a special move they'd like to show me?

Saturday Night Fever, I say!

That was excellent! I love that.

Let me see if I can choreograph something

which has all your dance moves in for that special performance,

how about that?

Happy? Brilliant! OK.

It's just sheer joy when they dance.

There's no filter, so what you see is what you get

and what they feel that moment they express through their bodies.

A lot of people could learn a lot from Chilli Bon Bon.

Steve's heading back to Huddersfield

where he has arranged a reunion

for the groups he'd like to get on board for the big York dance.

I've hand-picked this group of performers from Huddersfield

because I think they best represent the spirit of Huddersfield.

I can't fault them for their commitment, their passion,

to create a performance which celebrates them

as people and the community.

With their annual carnival cancelled,

the people of Huddersfield threw themselves behind Steve's plan

to get their town dancing.

I think it's going to be awesome. I've never done anything like this.

His quest to bring together the diverse mix of communities

threw up a few surprises.

It's lucky I've got a six-pack.

And despite a washed-out rehearsal...

Ignore the rain!

..Steve pulled off his biggest success to date

with nearly 400 people taking to the streets

in a riotous show of pride in their home town.

I had carnival, I had Bhangra,

Bollywood, you name it.

I had them here, rocking out.

It's fabulous.

CHEERING

Wow. Hello, Huddersfield. Good to see you again, all right?

I don't know who we've got, actually.

Charles, Nancy, Mandy,

Tyrone, Jas! Paige.

I've got a little surprise I'd like to reveal to you all.

I'm not quite done with dancing on the streets of Yorkshire.

I'm planning another event,

to celebrate not just a single town but your entire magnificent county.

So I'm planning a one-off huge event in York

and I want you all to be part of it.

So what I'm going to ask you - are you with me?

CHEERING

I'm quite moved, really, he thinks my technique and everything

is sort of to represent Huddersfield, it's wonderful!

There are so many talented people around,

so many different varieties of people, religions, everything.

I think creating this one big thing is just great.

It's like unity!

Some of them I want to give a leading role.

I want to give them the confidence

that they can really go to the next level.

So I've got a duet.

The duet is for Mandy and her daughter Ruby.

I think they've got a great story to tell through dance.

Mandy was persuaded to take part in the performance by daughter Ruby

whose passion for Punjab dancing was inspired by her late grandfather.

That's Ruby when she was tiny, sat with Grandad there.

That's the age that you started watching Asian films.

This last few months, within our family, we've had a tough time.

My dad recently passed away,

and it's been really hard.

One good thing that's been quite uplifting is me and Ruby,

this bonding we've had to do, this dancing together.

It's been amazing.

It will be a lovely memory for us to treasure.

There's not been many good things in the year.

You and your mum are going to have a duet.

-No, we're not!

-Yes, you are.

Really? I didn't know that!

A duet? We're going to be practising 24-7.

-I'm going to get bossed about.

-Yeah, she definitely is!

I want you to think which direction or what story you want to say.

Is it a mother and daughter relationship,

is it Ruby showing you her traditional Punjabi steps?

So have a real conversation with each other

-and what you'd love to...

-Really discuss it.

Yeah, and what you want to say through dance.

A good challenge, you've given us a challenge there.

That's what I want. I want us to go to the next level.

I'd love to take them on a journey

and really bring out something special for both of them.

I think they deserve it, actually.

They are a great pair together.

Steve's got one more stop before he leaves Huddersfield.

I'm putting together three dancers

who stood out in the Huddersfield performance.

I want them to lead the way.

Driving the Huddersfield section forward as it gathers momentum.

The trio is made up of 23-year-old club dancer Tyrone ...

I would describe myself as very sassy. Very...in your face!

..24-year-old Paige who leads a local carnival troupe...

I'm a very bouncy dancer, I like to put a lot of energy into things.

..and 14-year-old Tia.

Tia has this ability,

but she has in the past suffered from self-confidence issues

and you can see she's still shy.

I can see Tia really coming out of herself,

because she is going to have to.

There are two strong personalities in there.

You either match them or you sink.

There is a toughness about that girl which I need to push more.

Tia, meet your trio. Paige is an independent...

-Doing it for the girls!

-Power woman, yeah!

So you can learn a lot from Paige.

Not her gobbiness, though!

And also I want you to dance with Tyrone,

because Tyrone is a strong dancer.

-What do you think, bringing you three together?

-Yeah?

-Excited.

OK, I want you, each of you, to come up with 32 counts

which best expresses you...

as a dancer.

But I've got no music.

-Don't worry about the music.

-The music will determine what style.

Just go with your heart, yeah?

Just go for it!

-You go first.

-Who, me?

-Yeah.

You show me what you've got, and if it goes pear-shaped,

just gypsy turns.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,

and one, two, three and four and five and six, seven, eight.

APPLAUSE

OK. Brilliant. Tia.

I don't even know what mine is.

It's five, six, seven, eight, or a little bit quicker.

I'm not sure.

So we just...

You count yourself.

Yeah, you count yourself.

(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.)

-Bravo! OK.

-APPLAUSE

Steve wants to combine Paige, Tia and Tyrone's different styles

and personalities into a single routine.

Five, six, seven, eight,

one and two and three, four,

five and six and seven and eight,

one and two, three and four,

five and six and seven, eight,

One and two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight,

One, two, three and four,

five, six!

Brilliant. That's fine. You'll be able to do it.

Thoughts, first time working as a trio?

You've all got strengths and weaknesses, which is brilliant.

Dancers always focus on the weaknesses.

Focus on your strengths first! Brilliant, thanks, guys.

It's been a long day. Thank you very much, see you soon.

-Bye.

-Bye!

I think they are going to be brilliant for each other,

just to help each other, nurture each other, and to improve together.

I didn't want to do it at the beginning

because it's not my style of dance.

I didn't feel confident, felt like I couldn't do it,

but now, oh, God, I'm well happy!

I enjoyed that so much, yeah. It's good.

Steve is returning to Barnsley

who last week jumped at the chance to dance again

when he unveiled his plans for York.

He's meeting 19-year-old Danny

who had a lead role in his town's performance.

MUSIC: Rebel Rebel by David Bowie

He has no idea how talented he is.

His passion, his commitment,

really was off the scale

and I was so impressed by him that I really want to develop

a starring role for our next venture into York.

-All right?

-Good to see you. All right?

-Yeah, you?

Good, thanks. Is there anywhere we can have a chat?

Yeah...

It will be interesting to see how far now I can really push him

because I think he's got... everything to gain.

You've got the starring role.

What do you think about that, Charlie Big Potatoes?

I think...

I don't know what to say, I'm a bit speechless, to be honest.

Not going to lie, a bit nervous, obviously,

so, yeah, yeah - I'm grateful, thank you very much. So...!

Before I met Steve, I'd stopped dancing completely.

It has given me a new sense of hope. I suppose!

Danny's self-taught moves are a far cry

from the style of dance he first fell in love with.

I started doing ballet when I was a seven- or eight-year-old.

When I were in school,

it weren't something that many guys did.

It kind of weren't done, so I did get a lot of stick.

They were saying that's the kind of thing that gay people do,

but at the end of the day, whether he is or he isn't, which he isn't,

it shouldn't make a difference anyway.

I remember having a really big over-the-top mental breakdown

in the front room, crying my eyes out.

I can remember it went on for over two or three hours,

and then I woke up next morning and I didn't get out of bed,

I just said I didn't want to go to school.

So he struggled, but he pushed through it

and he's proved them all wrong, which suits me.

So got a two-way pull all the way,

that is there.

Somebody else is pulling you that way.

Danny's routine is very intricate.

He wanted a challenge, and I'm going to give it to him.

It has a lot of classical elements which he is not au fait with,

he hasn't danced like that since he was a child,

so that's what it's about.

It's about getting him out of his comfort zone and pushing him.

And one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Two, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

One and two and three, four,

five, six, seven and eight!

Good. We're getting round.

There's a lot of pressure on Danny to front Barnsley,

and I'm not taking my foot off the pedal.

He has to get it, full stop.

It's hard, so what we'll do now

is get a studio with a mirror for the two of you.

Because Danny has such a key role in the Barnsley section of the dance,

Steve's assigned him a mentor - professional dancer Leon.

Danny is very similar to how I was when I was his age,

very similar energy.

That's fine.

I've had to learn to contain it, and if we can get that with Danny,

he'll look brilliant.

There's seven jumps to the dance part I've got

and we only managed to just get through two jumps today

and we did it for about half an hour, 45 minutes,

so it is a little bit worrying -

but with Steve and Leon by my side, coaching me, I can't wait for it.

I'm a little nervous,

but I definitely can't wait to get to York.

On a flying visit to York...

Right from the beginning, five, six, seven, eight...

..Steve's finalising routines for the city's groups...

Five, six, seven, eight.

..including Chilli Bon Bon.

What I want you to do, guys, is one, up, down, down.

Up, up, down, down.

-How are you feeling about that?

-Great! I lost five stone!

Chilli Bon Bon.

Then we walk into the straight line.

Go, go, go. Into the straight line.

That's it. Give us another pose. That's it.

Slide. Loving it.

Let's go from the beginning. Excellent, guys.

It's great rehearsing with Chilli Bon Bon.

They are just a joy.

Dance crosses over many boundaries.

Some of them find it hard to express themselves,

but they don't need that when they dance.

They can tell stories and communicate with their bodies.

I'm proud of Chilli Bon Bon.

I love dancing in York and everybody can't wait. Thank you.

Across town, Steve's got just enough time

before he leaves York to rehearse Fossy's Flossy's,

a volunteer group who banded together

to help those hit by the floods of 2015.

Morning. I can see you are already rehearsing the finale.

I like your commitment and passion - or is it just fear?

Michaela is the group's founder.

You go away last week feeling, "Yeah, I can do this!"

Then a couple of days in you're like, "I can't remember any of it."

Today, Steve has more than just steps for the group to master.

Now we are adding some props, ie, the umbrellas,

so batten down the hatches.

What's the saying - never work with animals or children

and props - especially umbrellas.

That's going to be a challenge.

So, obviously they are big,

so they'll designate how much space you need.

Brilliant. You stay put as the centre,

we stay like so.

Can they do more than one step, cos one step with the brollies...

It does work.

THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER

Hang on, guys. One voice, singing in the darkness is here.

You can do it.

You just need to give yourself more space.

It was carnage, there's no other way to say.

It was carnage on the dance floor.

One, two, three, four, go five, six, seven, eight

-We'll get there, brilliant. Stay put there.

-Wakey-wakey!

Stop! Hang on, guys, stay where you're put.

They come with great passion and commitment

and there's nothing wrong with that.

It's just about containing it and knowing when to let it go

or knowing when to shut up.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

Front and back. Change, front and back.

As they're coming in, we're moving forwards.

They go one, two, three and four and five.

That's fine, that's cool!

So here we go, from the top again.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,

umbrella, umbrella, umbrella, umbrella, hello!

Yes!

The story now is really clear and I love the visuals with the umbrellas

and just fighting against that and then going into celebration,

which I think is everything about what the Flossy's are.

I can't dance without a few vodkas here and there

and a lot of people were like, "I can't dance, I can't dance,"

but it's good that he's brought with him the umbrellas

to represent the floods, it's absolutely fantastic.

There is actually meaning behind it, isn't there?

With just under two weeks to go,

Steve is on his way to the last town he needs onside, Skipton.

When he was last here,

Steve set out to reunite the two pillars of the town's community -

farmers...

I'm looking for volunteers, I can't do it without you.

Simple as.

It's just dancing and farmers don't get on.

..and market traders.

-I don't personally like dancing.

-At all?

-At all.

Initial reluctance gave way to heartfelt enthusiasm,

and the two factions were joined by war veterans,

hotel staff and groups from the thriving local dance scene

as over 300 people took to the streets in celebration of Skipton.

When it came to rallying local farmers for the town's dance...

..Steve found an ally in Amos.

Do I look a prat like that in that flat cap?

It wouldn't be the same without Amos.

Amos has to be in the finale in York, full stop.

Kicking or screaming, he's going to be there.

Amos, I am back in Skipton to catch up with friends.

But I'm going bigger.

-In stature.

-No, not in stature!

I'm going smaller. No, there's a one-off final performance...

..and I'm calling on some representatives

from each of the towns to join me in York.

So what do you think?

I thought I'd finished!

Well, I'm not a quitter. I never have been a quitter, Steve.

Shake on it.

You worry me, you do.

Lovely Skiptonians, walk this way.

Steve's called a rehearsal

for groups who've jumped at the chance

to play their part in celebrating Yorkshire.

I loved working with Skipton, they were all a bit mad,

and I'm mad, so I felt I was surrounded by good company.

Smile, it's not that bad. Not yet, anyway!

So this is the whatever step.

A-five, a-six, a-five, six, seven, eight...

On board so far, the local cleaning firm,

farm shop workers and hotel staff.

We have two ponies.

Pony, pony, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Handbag, handbag, handbag.

And you want to think those bags have got a brick in it.

Don't mess with me, sucka, all right?

Then I want you to do monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey.

In among the returning groups is hotel receptionist Elizabeth.

Steve discovered Elizabeth's talent by chance

at Skipton's first rehearsal.

-You've danced before.

-Mm-hm.

-OK, cos I could see that.

Nine years earlier, a promising dance career was cut short

when doctors discovered she had a brain tumour.

It is gut-wrenching to think that all that effort,

all that hard work is just gone.

Elizabeth got an unexpected chance to dust off her dancing shoes

when she was given a lead role in the Skipton performance.

Steve wants to harness Elizabeth's talent

in a solo for the York dance.

How was your comeback?

It just put a nice ending to everything for me.

I think after everything that happened

along the way them years ago,

it was a nicer full stop than what I originally had,

so, yeah, I'm really glad I took part.

You thought Skipton was big?

-Yeah?

-This is times four in York.

-Oh, wow.

-I can't see York being the same if you're not there,

because in my head, you're one of my stars.

-Oh, not again!

-Yeah!

I feel we've just scratched the surface.

I've even got you some...

men to...

-Oh, not men!

-..do some lifts.

Me and men are not good.

THEY LAUGH

I'm not talking about your personal life, love!

Steve has mentioned the lift work, with men,

which has not happened in a lot of years,

and I'm a lot heavier than I was when we last did lift work,

so I hope that they are strong men that he's got in mind!

To prepare Elizabeth for her starring role,

Steve has assigned her a dedicated coach.

Choreographer and ballet teacher Hazel Gold.

He's also enrolled local joiner and willing volunteer Will.

Nice to meet you.

Steve wants really quite high to low lifts,

and William is a lovely tall chap,

he's your perfect partner, really,

exactly what you could want in a partner

and he's about the same height as the room,

so that's going to make it problematic.

That's it, and then as we spin, there you go.

So we're going to have to err on the side of caution

because we don't want to break anybody, that would be a disaster.

One, two, three, up.

Oops!

There we are. That's the going down bit, see what I mean?

-It's the most difficult bit to control. You all right?

-Yeah.

So, turning and pressing down,

great stuff, switch the grip and then roll.

HAZEL LAUGHS

I'm still all in a twist, actually, from that.

It was good fun, yeah, good fun.

There we go, that's a much nicer way of getting into it,

taking her down so you're going to bend your knees, Will, lovely.

The dismount is not quite there, but the rest of it,

I think that'll work nicely.

I think we did really well together,

I think with a little bit of work we'll get there,

and make the lifts look really good.

LAUGHTER

Just over a week to go.

Across Yorkshire, groups are perfecting their moves.

Scissors.

You got it. See what you're missing? There's still room!

From the bars and building sites of York...

You go to t' right, you go to t' left.

One, two, three, four.

Jump.

That's it.

..to the gym halls and playing fields of Barnsley.

Six, seven, eight and one.

Ah! Wrong leg.

In Huddersfield...

OK, so, hi, everyone.

..Steve's called a rehearsal for all the groups.

Here we go, round two.

At the York event, each town has a section where they dance together -

and today Steve wants to teach Huddersfield their routine.

We've souped up the choreography. It's more complex.

It's no Chattanooga Choo Choo, it's much more...

looser.

It's very heavy in the hip, very heavy in the booty,

so for some of our cast, that's going to be alien.

Then it gets a little bit Latin American.

HE SCATS

One, two, three, four.

Five, six, seven.

Well, my brain's sort of taking it in, but I don't know if my legs are,

that's the only problem.

Then you need to move your arms, as well,

so everything's sort of a bit delayed.

Hup, great.

As a first rehearsal, I'm really pleased.

Quietly confident. But like the weather, it can change in a moment!

Across town, Ruby and Mandy are refining their duet.

-Make sure on that bit we're looking at each other.

-That's what I forgot.

I'm supposed to look at you, I was getting carried away.

'At the beginning, Ruby was terrible'

and I thought, "This is not going to work,

"because she is just bossing me about".

So on movements like that you could do your head facing the camera

instead of just keeping it that way.

"You're doing this wrong, it's this, it's that,"

I thought, "Wow, "we're not going to get along at all."

One, two, look at me...

But she's eased off and it's been really good

and I think she's enjoyed teaching a novice,

because that's what I am.

I think my grandad would have been really proud that we are doing

a Punjab dance that relates to his heritage.

I think that's special,

and it's something that has brought me and my mum together,

and the bond we've had between each other

has grown through Punjab dance.

-I think it's in our genes, Ruby.

-Yeah.

So I should be able to do those eye flickers and hand gestures...

-Naturally.

-Yeah.

Grandad would be proud if he'd seen you doing this.

I think he would, too.

He would have been so proud if he had been here.

I think it's helped me with my grieving, to be honest.

I think it has.

I think he'd laugh to see us dancing, yeah, he would've giggled.

With just a week left, Steve is back in York

for his first and only rehearsal of their section of the dance.

What we need now is another line here to represent the zebra.

He's mapped out the route to scale on a local playing field.

York is my biggest worry

because it's the first time they've ever performed in such a way.

Huddersfield, Skipton and Barnsley,

they're seasoned veterans now, they understand the process.

The performance will begin at York Minster and snake down Blake Street

before a flyby of cyclists drive the parade

into St Helen's Square

where the dance celebrates York's traditions of chocolate and tea.

York remains the focus until the Museum Gardens

where Huddersfield takes up the baton...

then Skipton, followed by Barnsley,

before the whole company assembles for the dazzling grand finale.

It's a mammoth task. This...

I wanted a unique event and I've got one.

Knowing it's their one chance to rehearse,

York has turned out in force.

It's great, the amount of people who have turned up this morning.

It just makes it easier for me to visualise it

and for them to settle their nerves.

First to be put through their paces, the group who will open the dance -

Romans...

You draw swords and you run past camera.

That's it, that's it, that's it.

..salsa dancers.

Freestyle, that's better.

..and youth group York Dance Factory.

They'll just give an unusual opening -

it's not what people will expect from York, and I like that.

Now, the goal is, we're going to see how far we can drive

doing the skips, OK?

Bah, and a two and a three and four,

five, and a six, and a seven, eight,

nine, and a 10, and 11, 12...

Perfect, brilliant!

Six, seven, eight. Two, two, three four...

On the day, Steve wants to capture the entire dance parade

in one continuous unedited take.

So it's important each group comes in at the right place

at the right time.

I can assure you, on Monday, in the office,

we'll be doing some practising.

We're perfectionists, you see, so we'll have to get it right.

It's huge, the scale is huge.

I think seeing the other groups that are part of this

all together in one place,

we realise just what a big performance it's going to be.

I think we're just a bit worried they might fluff it

or forget at the time - but we're just going to practise and practise

so there's no room for any error.

Keep on moving, keep on moving down.

'As a dress rehearsal, fine.'

As a last performance, no way.

We're getting from A to B, but I need it to be perfect, this one.

This is what we've all been working towards.

Kicking or screaming, somehow, placating, coaxing, cajoling,

I'll get them there.

I will get them there. Don't know how, but I will.

CHEERING

Seven, eight and one, two...

As soon as you took off, you added the feet,

your arms went back to this.

In Barnsley, Danny is focusing on the classical elements

of his solo routine with his mentor Lyon.

Keep that shoulder back, literally pin that back, try and go...

Like that.

It's getting on my nerves a bit, doing my head in,

but you've got to keep drilling it.

It's the classical element that is the issue -

he's not picking it up very quickly -

he keeps reverting back to bad posture,

and anything classical has to remain shoulders back,

it's what you're taught from day one of ballet.

And one, two, three.

-You're doing it really high.

-Aargh.

-Why is that?

'He's starting to get really frustrated very quickly.'

That I can't allow to happen.

Dude, don't stress. It's good, it's good, it's good.

I'm back in Barnsley,

because Leon has expressed a little concern

regarding Danny's solo and his progress.

All right, mate!

LAUGHTER

-How are you doing?

-How are you doing?

-Good, good.

Didn't think you were coming today.

I know. It's always a surprise.

It IS a surprise! Yeah!

Liam was telling me you were getting a little frustrated

with the ballet techniques.

Just one second part of that, I get annoyed with myself.

Classical technique is the fundamental,

it's the basis of all techniques.

And where you are at 19, it's going to be challenge.

Your body is going to scream.

Five, six, seven, eight and one, two and three...

Brilliant - and again, but now, don't distort your pelvis.

Yeah?

Let it be on the body.

So you're going.

Brilliant!

So this again leads you into that, there's no break.

You go up, you land, you come across.

It's the same energy you use when you street dance.

I want it open.

This is complicated, this is technical stuff, and you're there.

Walk, walk, ha!

Ha! OK!

You're coming here, there, I'm up.

One, two, three and four and five, six, seven, eight.

Yes!

You have to do this daily. Just get into that framing.

Look at yourself.

He's come from not doing classical technique

but having a great flair, so he's just got to maintain it now,

it's all about belief, whether he feels

that he's good enough to achieve that.

It is really challenging,

because obviously, muscle memory is definitely gone

from when I did it last,

and in trying to get me to do it over again,

you're going to fall off a few times,

and definitely fell off a few times today, but we got there in the end.

50 miles north,

it's the last coaching session for Skipton's duo Elizabeth and Will.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Two, three, four, five, six...

I don't stop, do I? I'm sorry!

And one, two, three, four, five,

breathe, that's better.

-Foot was better.

-Sorry.

-No, it's all right.

-Do you want to go and get some water?

-Yeah.

-Go on, then.

I just did one of the jumps and landed on my ankle

rather than my foot, so it's just a bit sore,

so I'm having a breather for five minutes.

How are you doing? Have I broken you?

-Only a little bit, I think.

-Oh, no!

That's better than properly breaking you!

I used to do this all the time.

Get the ice on it, and then you know it's not looking worse,

so you can just chill out for a few minutes.

Just give it a minute, that's all it needs.

I don't think we're going to do any more dancing

because I don't want to lose Elizabeth,

that would be a disaster, quite frankly, at this point.

Across the town,

fellow Skiptonians are perfecting their group routines.

One, two, three, four.

LAUGHTER

Even Amos has carved himself out a role.

I must admit I was a little bit apprehensive

when he said he was trying to encourage me to dance,

two left feet and a wooden leg doesn't really, um, do dancing.

I think we've come to some sort of an agreement

that if I take my dogs,

that I can just have a walk around York with two dogs.

As preparations enter the final 24 hours...

One, two, three, four...

..across Yorkshire, from farm shops to front rooms,

dance studios to local parks...

Really fast, through the gaps, through the gaps...

The towns are getting ready to unite

in one final celebration of their home county.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight, straight line.

Straight line. And position.

Excellent. How are we feeling with that?

-Confident?

-Yeah.

I've got a letter for you.

-OK.

-Please read out...

Shall I read it out for you? To you. OK.

"Dear Steve, inside me is music.

"It is like a rhythm, it is good for me.

"I love it when the music falls out of me. This is when I dance.

"Please join me.

"Thank you for making my dream come true, love from Tristram."

'Their cards and their poems mean so much.

'I absolutely think this is, for me,'

the most important job I've had the pleasure of doing.

I feel that what I do means something.

This has been brilliant, a brilliant, brilliant job.

It's performance day.

From across the county...

..hundreds are taking to the streets of York.

The sun is shining upon us at long last.

We're seeing Yorkshire as Yorkshire should be seen.

With the roads closed,

the camera crew are able to rehearse their continuous shot

for the first time.

This is the culmination of everything.

I feel like I'm an expectant father waiting for my...baby.

It's a big old baby!

Yes, there is nervous anticipation, but nerves is what fuels the fire.

-I'm slightly nervous.

-I think we're both slightly nervous at the moment.

I never thought for a minute I'd be stood here in York

with our own miners' banner

and these beautiful surroundings, no, I didn't.

Forget your London.

This is where it is.

Biggest county in England.

Bring it on.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!

Good morning!

Three months ago, I arrived in Yorkshire with one mission,

and that was to get communities dancing.

To show people that dance is more than Lycra,

legwarmers and sweatbands.

It has the power to bring communities together,

it can change lives,

it can build confidence, and it can strengthen bonds.

Now the time must come to hand over this unique dance piece

to all of you.

Let's dance!

# Here we go!

# Let's get loud

# Let's get loud

# Turn the music up let's do it, come on people

# Let's get loud

# Let's get loud

# Turn the music up to hear that sound

# Let's get loud

# Let's get loud

# So right, so fresh

# Top five, no less

# So right, I just flex

# She can't get me out of her head

# So, ya wanna hear TT on the KDA

# With the Katy B And that's it

# Oh, yeah ain't no-one left

# Rumble, go hard, no rest, c'mon! #

# Sweet sugar candyman

# Yeah, yeah, yeah

# Yeah, yeah, yeah

# I met him out for dinner on a Friday night

# He really got me working up an appetite

# He had tattoos up and down his arm

# There's nothing more dangerous than a boy with charm

# He's a one stop shop makes the panties drop

# He's a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man. #

# Just tea for two and two for tea

# Just me for you and you for me

# We won't have it known, dear

# That we own a telephone, dear... #

PHONE RINGS

# I'm in the phone booth it's the one across the hall

# If you don't answer I'll just ring it off the wall

# I know he's there but I just had to call

# Don't leave me hanging on the telephone... #

MUSIC: Ride Of The Valkyries by Richard Wagner

-# I wanna break you down

-Brick by brick

-# I'm gonna reconstruct

-Brick by Brick

# I wanna feel your love

# Brick by brick

# Ahhhhhh

# Brick by brick... #

# Although no-one understood

# We were holding back the flood

# Learning how to dance the rain

# We were holding back the flood

# They said we'd never dance again... #

# The rising tide will rise against them all

# Oh

# Darling, hold my hand

# Oh, won't you hold my hand?

# Cos I don't wanna walk on my own any more

# Won't you understand?

# Cos I don't wanna walk alone... #

# Yeah...

# Lookin' back on the track for a little green bag

# Got to find just a kind or losin' my mind

# Out of sight in the night out of sight in the day

# Lookin' back on the track gonna do it my way... #

# Bingo, Bingo, B-B-Bingo, Bango

Bingo, Bingo, B-B-Bingo, Bango

# Bingo, Bingo, B-B-Bingo, Bango

# Bingo, Bingo, B-B-Bingo, Bango

#Bingo, Bingo, B-B-Bingo, Bango

# Bingo, Bingo, B-B-Bingo, Bango. #

# Sometimes I think they must have wool in their ears

# And when you see a cane I see a crook

# And when you see a crowd I see a flock

# It's sheep we're up against

# Sheep we're up against

# It's sheep we're up against

# Sheep we're up against... #

-# That's why your love

-Your love keeps liftin' me

-# Keeps on liftin'

-Your love keeps liftin' me

-# Higher

-Liftin' me, liftin' me

-# Higher and higher

-Higher

-# I said your love

-Your love keeps liftin' me

-# Keeps on

-Liftin' me, liftin' me

-# Liftin' me

-Liftin' me

-# Higher and higher

-Higher... #

# Turning my heartbeat up

# Ooh, turning my heartbeat up

# I keep telling you you're

# Turning my heartbeat up baby

# You're turning my heartbeat up

# Yeah, yeah, you're turning my heartbeat up

# Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're turning my heartbeat up. #

# Rebel rebel you've torn your dress

# Rebel rebel, your face is a mess

# Rebel rebel, how could they know?

# Hot tramp, I love you so... #

WHISTLE BLARES

BRASS BAND PLAYS

BIG BAND JAZZ NUMBER

Dancing in the street will make me happy now.

This is my best bit.

Because I love dancing in the street and showing people what I can do.

Everybody has got different stories as to why they're here,

but this is a real, it's a real strong feeling for me and Ruby.

It means so much to us.

I'm proud of my roots and where I come from

and this has just reinforced that.

CHANTING: Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire!

I was a little bit nervous, but after we got going,

it was absolutely fantastic,

I'd still do it all day long if I could do it all day long.

CHANTING: Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire!

I did it. And I can't quite believe it. But I did it.

What a rollercoaster.

It was everyone working like one big, well-oiled machine,

to try and get the best performance they could.

And you can't ask for anything more.

Yorkshire did themselves proud.

I feel humbled that they trusted me.

And that's an incredible feeling.