This summer Cardiff Council are teaming up with organisations across Cardiff to bring you Summer of Smiles - children's activities from 25 June - 29 August.
We're got loads of exciting, mostly FREE activities lined up for the whole family down in Cardiff Bay, from dancing dinosaurs to drag aerobics, slapstick magic shows and more so just turn up and enjoy! Unless otherwise started, all our activities are happening right outside the building under the overhang. Here's what's coming up...
Friday 6 August
Outside the front of our building, 11am - 12pm: Mr Ruffles is in town and he wants to have fun so come and join him for his spectacularly silly magic show with plenty of slapstick comedy, games, dancing, singing and more. Perfect for special needs children and their friends.
Outside the front of our building, 3pm - 4pm: Dolly Trolley Drag Aerobics brings you the most fabulous, outrageous and sassiest family-friendly exercise. Expect lashes, lunges, swish-bishing and grape vines, all to Dolly Trolley’s favourite dance classics, such as The Pointer Sisters, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Lizzo and Walt Disney.
Saturday 7 August
Outside the front of our building, 11am - 12pm / 2pm - 3pm: George Orange’s circus skills show Man on the Moon is unique and hilarious in equal parts. George is an eccentric clown who mimics, slack-rope dances, juggles, and contorts all the while spreading his infectious joy from performer to spectator and back again.
Outside the front of our building, 3pm - 3.30pm: Afrodance with Reuel. From a young age, dance has been a major part of Reuel’s life. Starting out in performing arts doing theatre, featuring in shows such as 'Cats' and 'West Side Story' before going on to training street styles with 'The Project' and becoming part of Jukebox Collective. He's also appeared on CBBC, was runner up on the hit dance show, 'Got To Dance' and appeared in countless theatre performances. He now teaches as part of Jukebox Collective and pursuing a career in music.
Sunday 8 August
Outside the front of our building, 11am - 12pm and 1pm - 2pm: RSVP Bhangra Dance Workshop will get everyone on their feet, and leave audiences breathless with excitement. Every show comes with an introduction to Bhangra dance with an emphasis on partying Punjabi style. This is the ultimate celebratory Indian music.
Outside the front of our building, 2:30pm - 3.30pm: Bobby Singh - premier Bollywood and Bhangra artist will be singing 'Churaliya' and 'Mundian Toh Bache Ke' (Panjabi MC) alongside Amruta Garud performing Bollywood classics. Also featuring performances by students from Amruta's music school.
9 - 11 August
Sessions will be held from Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 August, 11am – 5.30pm from outside Caffi. *This is now fully booked.*
Thursday 12 August
In the oval, outside the Red Dragon Centre, 11am - 11.30am and 2pm - 2.30pm: The Great Insect Games! are coming so flex your muscles and practise your lunges, it's time for The Great Insect Games! Hosted by our gym junkie grasshoppers you can take part in the hare-brained events so come and join us for the gloriously bug infested opening ceremony at this fun-packed, bilingual family show!
Outside the front of our building, 12.30pm - 1.30pm: Join Connie Orff for Drag Queen Story Time. Why not spend a summer's morning with the Queen of the city as she shares some heart-warming, fabulous stories.
Outside the front of our building, The Greatest of Shows is a live interactive sing-long show Starring Donna Marie, Gavin Sheppard and Louise Halliday. Our outstanding cast will have you up on your feet singing and dancing along to songs from some of the greatest musicals and films of all time.
Saturday 14 August
In the oval, outside the Red Dragon Centre, 11am - 11.30am and 2pm - 2.30pm: The Great Insect Games
Outside the front of our building, 3.30pm - 4pm: Afrodance, a dance workshop presented by the brilliant Jukebox Collective with Plamedi Santima-Akiso. Plamedi was born in the Congo and was the founder of AfroJam which teaches Afro Dance to share the beauty of African culture and to help others to express themselves fully.
Outside the front of our building, Organised Kaos bring the heat to summer with their anarchic fire display. Evening time TBC.
Sunday 15 August
In the oval, outside the Red Dragon Centre, 10am - 10.30am and 1pm - 1.30pm: The Great Insect Games!
Outside the front of our building, 2.30pm - 4pm: Street Dance Workshop. Learn to Street Dance with internationally renowned dancer and choreographer Leighton Wall, supported by the Welsh Ballroom Community.
In the oval, outside the Red Dragon Centre, 12pm - 12.30pm and 4.30pm - 5pm: Splatch Arts and Leyton John give a playful, heartfelt and family friendly account of Leyton’s own experience of multiple sclerosis; and perceptions of disability as two mischievous circus performers act in turn, as devil’s advocate and the voice of reason. Alter Ego explores social perceptions of disability in a light-hearted and authentic reflection of real-life events.
Friday 20 August
Outside the front of our building, Sparklettes - All day fun!
Outside the front of our building, 10am - 10.30am and 2pm - 2.30pm: It Don’t Mean a Thing bring the glitter and sparkle of the 1920s to this this routine featuring the freedom and exuberance of the Charleston with a modern twist.
Outside the front of our building, 10.30am -11am and 2.30pm - 3pm: Looking for a new party trick? Stay after our performance for the Hula Workshop and learn all the skills you need to become a hula hero.
Outside the front of our building, 12pm - 1pm and 4pm - 5pm: Dino Disco - open the door, get on the floor, come and dance Disco with the dinosaurs. Currently on their time warp tour, our prehistoric party arrives this summer Join in our Dino disco and party like it’s 65 million BC.
Saturday 21 August
Outside the front of our building, 11am and 1.45pm for 30 mins: Qwerin is a contemporary dance performance that extends the boundaries of traditional Welsh folk dance. Taking inspiration from Queer club culture and the weaving, flowing patterns of folk dance, Qwerin is a Welsh folk dance with a twist.
Qwerin is rooted in community. It highlights the value of shared experiences and the importance of having a space that brings people together. Commenting on notions of Queerness and Welshness, Qwerin aims to unite people in a joyous performance of music and dance to celebrate culture, identity and community.
Outside the front of our building, 12.30pm - 1.30pm: Voguing Workshop - Learn to Vogue Femme with Aysha Tea from the KiKi House of Tea, supported by the Welsh Ballroom Community.
Outside the front of our building, 3pm - 4pm: Lady Gaga Tribute - Experience the magic of the Multi Award Winning Lady Gaga tribute impersonator Donna Marie. The show is a true celebration of Lady Gaga’s biggest and most memorable hits and Donna Marie delivers an unbelievable impersonation of Lady Gaga with outstanding sound alike vocals, jaw dropping replica costumes, amazing Gaga choreography.
There's plenty more to come too - including abseiling off the Wales Millennium Centre, technical tours inside and all kinds of fun workshops to take part in.
Keep an eye on the Summer Of Smiles website for the full schedule.