Throughout February and March 2022, BBC Arts and One Dance UK present Dance Passion, a landmark celebration of the world-class dance that happens across the UK. Now in its second edition, Dance Passion shines a light on the country’s unique creativity and innovative approach to choreography and performance.

Suzy Klein BBC Head of Arts and Classical Music TV, said: “Now, more than ever, we need things to celebrate and there’s nothing more joyful and life–affirming than our new, year-long dance showcase. Starting this Spring, we are shining a light on the astonishing wealth of dance talent across the UK, with audiences at home invited to experience the world-class creativity coming out of all four home nations. I really hope that whether it’s watching the highlights on TV, catching up with a box set on iPlayer, or taking the lead in shaping the story of one of our interactive projects, viewers will feel inspired and energised, while taking in all the incredible artistry on display as part of Dance Passion.”

Dance Passion kicks off on Friday 11  February on BBC Arts , with the world premiere of Dance Race [W/T], a specially commissioned film by trailblazing New Zealand-born/Birmingham-based choreographer Corey Baker. Dance Race [W/T] comes hot on the heels of Baker's multi award-winning global viral sensation Swan Lake Bath Ballet, filmed in locked-down ballet dancers bathrooms around the world, and the COP26-inspired Blown, where he imagined renewable energy as movement at Scotland’s wind farms.

For Dance Passion, Baker has created an all-action race to the finish, filmed around the country with spectacular footage of choreography performed while jumping out of planes, with cars driving on two-wheels, and dance of various genres from ballroom (featuring Strictly pros) to ballet (with dancers from Northern Ballet), plus acrobatics, parkour, BMX, and a nod to Coventry’s history of movement engineering.

Pulling together talent across all four nations to bring the best of UK dance to audiences at home, Dance Passion features performances by 32 companies, as captured at “hubs” across the country: the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds; Sadlers’ Wells in London; Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry – the current UK City of Culture; and Theatre Royal Plymouth’s TR2; as well as filming National Dance Company Wales in Cardiff. The highlights of these performances, presented by Josie d’Arby and Karim Zeroual, are broadcast on BBC Four (Sunday 20 February), followed by five hour-long episodes on BBC iPlayer (weekly from Tuesday 1 March).

Among the companies and choreographers involved, both established and emerging across all genres from ballet to ballroom, contemporary to tap, is Birmingham Royal Ballet presenting an excerpt from their latest new work Don Quixote, Ballet Black, Vidya Patel, The Royal Ballet, Motionhouse, Rambert 2, Tap Attack, Akram Khan, Scottish Ballet, Candoco Dance Company, National Dance Company Wales, and Simple Cypher - to name just a few.

Dance Passion also includes 14 BBC Arts and One Dance UK co-commissioned short films, including five interactive experiences which have been made using innovative technology from BBC Research & Development. These films give insight into the creative process from choreographers; the interactive experiences enable viewers to decide the course of a story, or to focus on specific content presented in the work. These films and experiences are the result of an open call launched in Spring 2021, aimed at UK-based professional and emerging dance companies, independent artists, choreographers, and associated technical partners based in dance education. The Dance Passion short films and interactive projects are funded by BBC Arts and Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants programme.

Created using tools in BBC Connected Studio’s MakerBox, the interactive experiences will be available on BBC Taster, the BBC’s dedicated home for new ideas and technologies. They give viewers new and unique experiences of dance – from exploring the science behind the choreographic process, to time travel, a dance murder mystery and stepping into the world of d/Deaf and partially hearing dancers. The short films will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, and explore themes such as dance as an intergenerational language uniting people in the efforts to tackle climate change; choreography as a way of expression in disability; and the relationship between performance space and digital dimension.

Throughout the celebration, BBC Arts and One Dance UK websites and social media channels will present exclusive previews and clips from the series, as well as other examples of excellence from across the dance sector.

Follow the hashtag #DancePassion on social media to see more exclusive content, share your dance stories, discover training and upskilling available and find out other ways you can get involved.