Get up and Dance
Darren and Lilia’s Get Up & Dance
Have a go at salsa, learn how to jive and get to grips with the rumba. And if you master the footwork, you could find yourself stepping in time with the stars of Strictly…
Last year’s Destiny Dance Fever was such a hit that we’re teaming up with Strictly Come Dancing champs, Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova, once again to launch a brand new event. This time round we’re inviting you to Get Up and Dance on Thomson Celebration. Every week during January and February there’ll be a series of Latin dance classes covering salsa, jive, rumba and the cha cha cha. There’ll be at least two sessions every day, led by Brazilian supremo, Alex de Oliveira, who’ll be flying in from Rio, the dance capital of Latin America. And as the name suggests, we’re encouraging everyone to have a go, whether you’re a complete novice or you’ve already got the full complement of sequins hanging in your wardrobe. But there’s a chance to get competitive, too. At the end of each cruise there’ll be a qualifying heat to win a place in April’s grand final. The final will be hosted by Darren and Lilia, back-to-back winners of the hit BBC show and the former British champions of Latin dance. Not only that, we’ll pay for your place in the final so you get to cruise for free - even more reason to get up and dance.
Rumba in the morning, salsa your way through the afternoon – and if you’re lucky, hotfoot it to the final in our celebrity dancing spectacular.
So, we’ve already told you what you can expect from our all-new dancing competition but how does it actually work? Firstly, the spotlight shines on Thomson Celebration and, more specifically, on cruises that start on the following dates…
- January 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th
- February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
In terms of who it’s aimed at, the answer is simple – everyone. There’ll be classes for beginners as well as those for people with a bit more experience. Two sessions will be held every day except Friday, which is the main embarkation day. Where we can, we’ll plan the classes around the main
entertainment programme and the trips we offer so you get to enjoy as much as possible.
If you decide to sail from Gran Canaria or Madeira, you can still join in, however please bear in
mind the qualifying competition will be held every Wednesday.
As for Darren and Lilia, they won’t actually be onboard during the Get Up & Dance cruises. Instead, they’ll be making an appearance at the grand final, which takes place from the 3rd to the 10th of April 2009, again on Thomson Celebration. They’ll actually be on board for the entire cruise to personally tutor finalists, hold openclasses, and to judge the competition. They’ll also
hold a masterclass, during which they’ll take to the floor to show you exactly how it’s done. Plus they’ll take part in a Q&A session so you can quiz them on their dancing know-how.
We’ll cover the cost of all our finalists’ cruises. That means we’ll pay for flights and accommodation in a standard cabin on a full board basis. We’ll do our best to arrange flights from your local airport but we’re limited by what’s available. You’ll be expected to arrange your own insurance and settle your onboard account as normal.
There’s no need to register your interest in Get Up & Dance in advance. You can sign up for all your classes once you get onboard. And last but not least, if Darren and Lilia are unable to join us onboard for reasons beyond their control, we reserve the right to replace them with a suitable alternative.
If you have any questions, please drop us an email at getupanddance@thomson.co.uk.
Colourful Coasts Itinerary
So, you know about the dancing, now for a bit on where you'll be going...
Choosing between the Canary Islands isn’t easy, we know. And with this cruise you won’t have to. In fact, you’ll get to holiday in four of them. Starting and finishing in Tenerife, enjoy a little island-hopping that takes in Gran Canaria, La Palma and Lanzarote. It’s the perfect opportunity to find your favourite among islands whose popularity never wanes. First up is Gran Canaria’s cool capital, Las Palmas. When you’re not making the most of the city’s stellar shopping scene, lose yourself in the backstreets where tradition seeps from every corner. La Palma’s up next, a much more reserved affair. Here, life operates on a go-slow and it’s more about jaw-dropping scenery than it is the buzzing beach resorts. Then it’s on to Madeira, Europe’s floating garden. The air smells so sweet you’ll wish you could bottle it up and wear it for perfume. Morocco, meanwhile, is the place to kick back on the beach. Agadir’s sandy stretch is magnificent. A huge ribbon, dotted with sunloungers, parasols and the odd camel taking holidaymakers on a shoreline tour. Leaving Agadir behind, sail back to Tenerife, stopping at Lanzarote on the way. Take a look at Timanfaya National Park, a crater-crammed moonscape, it’s like nowhere else you’ve seen.
Find out more about the Colourful Coasts Itinerary and see our Excursion Guide.
