West End choreographer and performer will be passing on his expertise to thousands of aspiring performers this April
A West End choreographer and performer will be passing on his expertise to thousands of aspiring performers as part of the UK’s biggest touring dance convention in Coventry this April.
Ryan-Lee Seager will be among the experts hosting masterclasses when the Midlands regional edition of ‘Can You Dance?’ returns to Coventry Building Society Arena on Sunday, April 3.
The 2021 edition was held at the Arena in November and attracted more than 1,300 dancers and 30 dance schools from across Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider Midlands region.
Can You Dance will feature an exhibition, series of competitions and programme of masterclasses from some of the country’s top performers and dancers.
Seager, from North Wales, has been working in showbusiness for 12 years and his next project is as director and choreographer on Like a Butterfly, Muhammad Ali ballet at the Cockpit Theatre, London.
His career has seen him work on a string of major productions, including being assistant choreographer at the Royal Variety Performance, associate choreographer for American Idiot and associate choreographer for the UK tour of Rock of Ages.
As a performer, he has danced for some of the music industry’s biggest artists, including the likes of Justin Bieber, Pixie Lott and Paulo Nutini.
Seager said that attending dance conventions, like Can You Dance, were really helpful in his development as a young performer and helped to give him the confidence to build a career on the stage.
He hopes that he can have a similar effect on the young dancers at the Coventry event in April and says that the standard of dance in the UK is currently stronger that it has ever been.
“I found it really helpful to attend dance conventions when I was younger. It was always good to be around like-minded people and get a chance to see what the talent is like outside of your own dance school bubble,” Ryan said.
“Personally, I always loved the healthy competition and it gave me a good opportunity to see other people dance and see how I could improve my own dance.
“The standard of dance in the UK is really strong at the moment, probably stronger than it ever has been. I love the atmosphere at Can You Dance events. I’ve done four events over the years and they are such a positive experience and are a great chance to see what the next generation of performers have in store.
“I’ll be conducting masterclasses in music theatre jazz. This session will guide people through the style and detail of performances, the dynamics and creating characters.”
A packed schedule of competitions will also take place on the day. Top schools and individuals competing will win the chance to go on and represent the Midlands on the national stage in front of 12,000 people at the Super Convention in Liverpool.
Can You Dance is celebrating its 10th year of conventions in 2022 and dance schools from across the Midlands are being urged to head to the Coventry convention to be a part of the celebrations.
Tom Shilcock, co-founder of Can You Dance, said: “We are very excited to be returning to Coventry Building Society Arena this year, bringing more dance opportunities to the area.”
The convention is for dancers of all abilities from ages eight upwards. Tickets are also available for spectators. To find out more visit www.canyoudancelive.com.