Our Open-Air Performance in Athens!

July 2026

Having toured the local recreational dance gala circuit for 5 years, as well as performing at the Royal Academy of Dance London HQ, our mature performers set their sights on an even bigger goal… going INTERNATIONAL!

On 1^st July, 25 of our dancers performed below the Athens Acropolis in the open-air Dora Stratou Theatre as part of the UNESCO/International Dance Council’s World Congress. 

Alongside professional performances from artists from all corners of the globe (Australia, Japan, USA, Senegal the list goes on), they performed 2 group numbers (one ballet, one jazz), as well as a student-choreographed solo and a silk-flag quartet. The audience’s energy picked up as soon as they stepped on stage and ended in roars of applause in their final ‘Don’t Leave Me this Way ‘number (see from 12mins onwards in attached video). They were the standout performance of the night due to their fun, energetic and age inclusive message!

Most dancers were in their 60s and 70s, but our eldest was in her 80s! It was for one dancer their first time ever going abroad and so she had to get a passport just for the occasion! 

We had dancers from all backgrounds go. Some joined as a novice and got the performing bug, others may have had a professional career in dance, and for several, this opportunity was their debut performance! 

Whilst in Athens, aside from performing for global dance professionals under the stars, we also visited the Acropolis and had a large mezze celebration dinner in a local restaurant (also celebrating a dancer’s 60^th).

A few things our dancers had to say about their experience;

“It really was the most incredible experience in so many ways. To dance in such an amazing place was wonderful - but there are so many other lovely memories too.  For me, it was a chance to reconnect with my 21 year old self (that was the last time l was in Athens) and to rediscover my love of exploring new places and experiencing the past.”

“A wonderblast of the best experiences, I’ve never felt before like on this expedition into Greekness, Worldness Womanness, insatiable Dance and friendships - life at the deep end. Thank you all for the privilege. I have been overwhelmed! “

“What an amazing trip I’ve just had not only did I get on a plane for the first time ever, I got to explore a new country, where I climbed the acropolis, went in to the museum and saw and read all about the history of Athens, spent time with the most amazing group of people who always looked after me and made sure I was safe and never left on my own  but to top it all off I got to dance at the Dora Stratou theatre with all my amazing dancers at Dance with Sonia Brown. I feel so incredibly lucky to have been given this opportunity so thank you.”

We like to prove that it really is never too late to do something big!