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The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals

Sheffield’s free community dance festival Chance to Dance takes place in the city centre each July.

For one day, the festival will fill a bunch of outdoor spots with music and movement. In 2025, Chance to Dance is celebrating its 25th year.

Over 30 dance groups will be performing and leading dance sessions for the public to join in with, on four open stages at the Peace Garden, Winter Garden, Tudor Square and Barker's Pool. The groups reflected the diversity of cultures and types of dance that people can take part in in Sheffield.

Part of the ethos of the festival is to encourage people to join in themselves – with everything from salsa to bhangra, ballroom to modern jive. This year, Greentop’s troupe will also join in with their Uplift circus performance.

Chance to Dance was established in 2000. The idea came from Sheffield’s involvement in the World Health Organisation European Healthy City Movement, when Turku in Finland challenged European cities to organise a dance festival in their streets.

View the full timetable.

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