A celebration of dance and musical theatre
Showcasing a wide range of dance styles, ages and abilities reaching far beyond Berkshire whilst providing exciting opportunities to watch, participate and engage in the world of dance.
Dance professionals, students of dance and audience members come together for this annual extravaganza of cutting-edge performances, dance masterclasses, Dance on Screen cinema screenings, and stunning community showcases.
Initially founded in 2001 by Auriole Wells (South Hill Park Dance Officer) and Jeannette Brookes (Dance Facilitator for Bracknell Forest Council), South Hill Park took full ownership of the festival under the artistic direction of Lena Dee from 2009.
Each year the festival hosts several dance performances by the local community and professional dance companies, alongside a variety of dance workshops, cinema screenings, live dance performances broadcast from around the globe, and dance-inspired exhibitions.
Professional dance companies who have performed their own evenings’ work during the festival include; StopGap, Tavaziva Dance, Sonia Sabri, Jasmin Vardimon to name but a few.
The festival has grown in size and ambition since its inception and the galas now not only showcase local dance talent from Berkshire but also dancers from Surrey, Hampshire and London and surrounding areas. The galas include performances and workshops led by professional dancers and choreographers so participants and audience members get to see where years of hard dance training can lead – helping to inspire and give insight into the world of professional dance.
Each year, new elements are added to the festival to widen the appeal for those learning, performing or watching the events. This includes the recent addition of broadcasting live ballet performances from prestigious opera houses around the world.
Whether you are a seasoned performer or theatre goer, or new to the world of dance, there is something to interest all tastes. It’s a truly great way to experience the art form.
Please contact Lena Dee at liftoffdance@nullgmail.com for information on how to take part in the festival or for more information on this year’s event.
Lift Off Festival 2026
Shows and Performances
Youth and Community Gala 1
Sat 7 March 7pm | Wilde Theatre
£17, good and best friends £14, U18s £13
The Gala will include performances by Dance Inspired – The Hop Steppers & Royal Steps, Diamond Dancentre, Dance Scottish, FuzzyLogic Male Youth Dance Company, Guildford Dance Company, Indigo Movement Company, OFLAC Dance Troupe, Senior West Berkshire Youth Dance Company, Silver Swans @ South Hill Park, Stage Troupe, Starlet Dance School, St Andrew’s Berkshire, St Josephs Catholic School Bracknell, The Brakenhale School, The Jenny Thomas Jazzettes Camberley, The Laura Henderson Dance Academy.
Youth groups, community groups, schools and special guest professional dancers come together to present an evening of dance entertainment for families and dance enthusiasts alike.
Book your tickets online or through the Box Office on 01344 484123.
Youth and Community Gala 2
Sun 8 March 7pm | Wilde Theatre
£17, good and best friends £14, U18s £13
The Gala will include performances by Chance to Dance Stars CIC, Dance Phaze, Dance with Sonia Brown, Drishti Dance, Elibah School of Dance, Farnham Youth Company, Hall Grove School, Hampshire Youth Dance Company, Maggie Monk School of Dancing, ORB Youth Dance Co, Platform YP Seniors, PCK Dance Collaboration, Prodigy Dance Studios, School Of The Arts (SOTA), Shimmy Cafe Barefoot Dance Fusion.
Youth groups, community groups, schools and special guest professional dancers come together to present an evening of dance entertainment for families and dance enthusiasts alike.
Book your tickets online or through the Box Office on 01344 484123.
Musical Theatre Gala
Sat 14 March 7pm | Wilde Theatre
£17, good and best friends £14, U18s £13
Our Musical Theatre Gala on Saturday 14th March promises to be a fantastic evening of song and dance celebrating numbers from the musicals Hadestown, Paddington, Sister Act, The Great Gatsby, Matilda, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Copacabana, Mary Poppins Returns, 9-5, RENT, Mean Girls, Kinky Boots, She Loves Me, Fantastically Great Women, Newsies, Funny Girl and Death Becomes Her
Performances by BAM Productions, Chance to Dance, DancAYers Company, Dani Harmer Academy, EBOS Musical Theatre, Everyone Deserves The Chance to Dance, Garth Hill College, Noa Shakhar, Platform YP Juniors, School Of The Arts (SOTA), Stage Troupe and Will D’Avino
Expect an uplifting, feel-good evening of entertainment for all ages.
Book your tickets online or through the Box Office on 01344 484123.
Berkshire’s Got Talent Gala
Sat 25 April 7pm | Wilde Theatre
£17, good and best friends £14, U18s £13
The best talents in Berkshire come together to showcase a wide range of entertaining acts in this family friendly gala. South Hill Park’s very own Bracknell’s Got Talent Winner from 2013, and recent Britain’s Got Talent Semi-Finalist, Felix Clements, will also come home to give an exclusive street dance performance back on the Wilde Theatre stage, where it all began.
Book your tickets online or through the Box Office on 01344 484123.
Dance Masterclasses
Sat 7 – Sun 8 March | Dance Studio
A series of dance masterclasses, taught by professional dancers and choreographers, covering a range of styles including: contemporary, ballet, commercial, street dance, jazz and more. Open to all ages and abilities.
More information coming soon…
Cinema | Dance and Opera on Screen
A season of live and recorded opera and musical theatre screenings, and ballet performances by The Royal Ballet.
£22, good and best friends £20, under 15s £12
The Royal Ballet – Giselle
Tue 3 March 7.15pm LIVE
140 mins, 1 interval
A tale of love, betrayal and redemption.
For more information, click here. Book your tickets online or through the Box Office on 01344 484123.
The Met Live in HD – Tristan und Isolde
Sat 21 March 4pm LIVE
310 mins, 2 intervals
Wagner’s transcendent meditation on love and death.
For more information, click here. Book your tickets online or through the Box Office on 01344 484123.
The Royal Opera – Siegfried
Tue 31 March 5.15pm LIVE
330 mins tbc
Sung in German with subtitles
A young man embarks on an epic journey.
For more information, click here. Book your tickets online or through the Box Office on 01344 484123.
The Royal Opera- The Magic Flute
Tue 21 April 6.45pm RECORDED
185 mins, 1 interval
Sung in German with subtitles
In the quest for love, nothing is as it really seems.
For more information, click here. Book your tickets online or through the Box Office on 01344 484123.
If you would like more information about participating in the festival, please either complete the form below or email Lena Dee directly.
Please check back to this page for updates as the program is finalised.