As Santa leads the annual Christmas parade from Regent Arcade shopping centre to The Brewery,
Cheltenham High Street will magically come alive with twinkly lights
and with street entertainment including VIA, GDance's inclusive adult dance company, a marching band and Everyman Theatre panto characters will all add to the festive family experience.
The lights will be switched on at Regent Arcade at 5.15pm; followed by Beechwood Arcade at 5.30pm; the town lights as the parade passes by; and The Brewery at 6.15pm.
From 3.30pm in the afternoon, disabled and non-disabled dancers will bring some participatory fun to the celebrations. Audiences can warm up with a few moves and enjoy a newly created performance by Cheltenham based artist Nicola Wildin.
Nickie, an Associate Director and Actress with Graeae Theatre Company in London, is famous for her high flying appearance in the Paralympics Opening Ceremony and as an ambassador for Arthritis Care.[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2195503/Nicola-Miles-Wildin-Disabled-radio-actress-joined-Sir-Ian-McKellen-uplifting-Shakespeare-tribute.html]
This is a return visit for Nickie as VIA's Guest Director; she also worked with the company choreographer and manager Karen Perrins on 'Wheels on Broadway', created for the 2012 Torch celebrations at Cheltenham Racecourse.
VIA is managed by Gloucestershire production and training charity GDance, and welcomes a broad range of abilities and disabilities. Anyone aged 14+ is welcome to join the weekly Monday sessions at the National Star College which will give them access to a range of future performance opportunities and professional guest artists, such as Nickie.
“ I have learnt to listen to my body, rest when needed and enjoy the life I have” Nicola Miles-Wildin
VIA will be performing on the Prom opposite Cav House at 3.30pm and again outside the Beechwood at 4.30pm and will also be part of the parade as Santa leads the annual Christmas parade from Regent Arcade shopping centre at 5.40 after the lights go on and ending at the Brewery at about 6.15pm.
- See more at about VIA at http://www.gdance.co.uk/classes__courses/adult.aspx
All the performance spaces in the town centre are easily accessible. Street entertainment begins at 1.30pm at the High Street at M&S, the High street at the Beechwood and on The Prom.
