The Chalk Legends

The Chalk Legends is the largest Dorset community-based music and dance project inspired by London 2012 and led by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. With the 2012 Olympic Sailing events to be held in Weymouth, the BSO wanted to find a way of also making the year memorable in music and dance.

A large-scale music, dance and multi-media project culminating in spectacular performances at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy saw thousands of  performers from across Dorset and beyond play, dance, sing, act and design over the course of two years.

The Chalk Legends - Villages

Throughout 2011 and 2012, approximately 60 villages have engaged with The Chalk Legends project. BSO musicians have worked with residents young and old on creative music projects, leading to concerts in Litton Cheney, Tarrant Gunville, Bridport, Corfe Castle, Ashley Cross, Sturminster Newton and Portesham amongst others.

The Chalk Legend - WPNSA

The culmination of the BSO's cultural Olympiad project saw over 350 musicians, singers, dancers and actors of all ages and abilities perform in Stephen McNeff's The Chalk Legend at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. Spectacular costumes, dramatic lighting and a JCB digger all contributed to three performances that The Times hailed as "a definite marvel of collective endeavour, involving 17 organisations, topped by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra".

Congratulations to all the performers from Dorset Youth Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Chorus & Youth Chorus, 2BU Youth Dance Company, Portrait Youth Dance Company, Drama Centre London, Voiceworks schools choruses and BSO's Kokoro.

A gallery of photographs from the event can be viewed here.