Launched by Ken Livingstone, it received support from Tessa Jowell, the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Led by the Culture team at the Greater London Authority as part of the Mayor of London's office, the programme was delivered in partnership with Arts Council England and received a commission by BBC One for a 90-minute programme, Dancing in the Street, which was a live broadcast from Trafalgar Square on the evening of 22 July 2006.

There were over 400 dance events in parks, on bandstands, in shop windows, tube stations, schools, museums and even at the top of Nelson's Column.

This also included the 'Longest Riverdance Line' attempt with 116 dancers, and the 'Most Swing Flips in One Minute' by Russell Sargeant from the Jiving Lindy Hoppers.

[3][4] Many dance organisations, artists, and teachers arranged open classes and workshops, performances in local public spaces.

The festival was launched on Millennium Bridge, with the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, Erin Boag and Bruno Tonioli from (Strictly Come Dancing) surrounded by over 50 dancers ranging from jive and Latin enthusiasts, to Flamenco dancers and representatives from the English National Ballet and the Society of London Theatre.

Other events in the festival included performances in shop windows on Oxford Street and Regent Street, alfresco dancing in Regent's Park, and performances on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral by students from London's dance schools, choreographed by Shobhana Jeyasingh.

Presenters Lesley Joseph and Christopher Biggins were also in attendance, and the day culminated with a 'silent rave' to a DJ set by BBC London 94.9's very own Jazzie B.

Legacy Trust UK provided funding of £2.89million, which was agreed in June 2008 to deliver the festivals in 2010 and 2012, as well as an ongoing programme of development.

This exclusive performance was choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, whose work includes Love Never Dies and Legally Blonde the Musical.

The 2010 programme also featured 850 events such as workshops, photography exhibitions and various performances around London in heritage sites such as Kensington Palace, an underground bunker in Dalston, many shopping centres and included projects such as the Big Dance Schools Pledge, an international partnership project with the British Council which aims to: encourage schools in the UK and across the world to do an extra 20 minutes of dance a day during Big Dance Week and join in a world-record attempt.

The choreography was created by Hakeem Onibudo, artistic director of Impact Dance and the music was composed by Mikey J, Boy Blue Entertainment.

In addition, the Bus made an appearance on the beachside in Hove, Brighton to launch Big Dance South-East.

Designed by raumlaborberlin and produced by Up Projects, this Portavilion Bubble made five stops in London parks each one commissioned by the Big Dance Hubs.

The Big Dance Pop-Up Cinema also made its debut with its inflatable screen which displayed Billy Elliot in Walpole Park, Ealing, Strictly Ballroom in Potter's Field by the Tower of London with a workshop by Strictly Dancing star, Karen Hardy and Hairspray in Hornchurch, Havering.

The Largest Tea Dance world-record attempt by the Royal Opera House was successful with 254 couples, although this record has now been overtaken.

The 2012 plans were announced to the press on 4 May 2011 at the Royal Opera House and included an interview of Wayne McGregor, artistic director of Wayne McGregor / Random Dance and also Resident Choreographer at the Royal Ballet, by Jacqueline Rose, Director of Big Dance.

The programme aims are to be fully accessible and open to all age ranges and communities i.e. under 5's, schools, students, young and older people.

The students performed Anna Buonomo's choreography to a mix by Michael Floyd of M.O Creatives Ltd. Additional dancers were brought in from Creative Academy, Middlesex University, London Contemporary Dance School, Havering Schools, The Turbelles and Ultimate Dance NRG making a total of 130 dancers.

The aim of this programme was to explore the benefit of creative dance projects taking place in or through the workplace which improves the physical, mental and emotional health of employees.

A celebratory event at the Lilian Baylis Studios, Sadler's Wells, brought participants together from across the projects to perform their dance works, watch the films and socialise.

with the aim of increasing young people's capacity in the skills, understanding and outlook required to live and work in a global society.

Wayne McGregor as the Creative Director for Trafalgar Square created a large-scale dance piece for 1000 participants from across London who performed alongside professional dancers from Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, English National Ballet, community groups and vocational schools across the capital.

They support a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts.

It also has the independence, legal, financial and administrative structures needed to support the programme, to ensure it operates with transparency and fairness, and that it complies with the responsibilities of public funding.

"[13] As the major funder of the Big Dance programme, Legacy Trust UK offered the opportunity to help create lasting and life-changing benefits from London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

All organisations, whilst different have experience in working with local authorities and other partners, and expertise in learning and participation, possibly providing pathways for progression from initial encounter to high-level performance, participatory programmes for particular groups, or host youth dance companies and outreach activities.

The success of the London Big Dance Hub network has provided a suitable structure to build upon for a national programme.