Motion City 2024: the Highlghts

Volunteering

My main role is to make sure visitors to the event have the appropriate wristband when entering the event area of the venue. Also, my role is to stop anyone who doesn't have an appropriate wristband and other Hilton visitors away from the events area. I had to provide extra support as there were some challenges at certain locations of the venue. For my volunteering role I used the interactive digital organiser for the event which contains, events information, guidelines and procedures. This is an expansion when it was developed for Latinmotion's NYE which happened in December and early January.

To find out more in developing an interactive organiser for volunteering, visit the creative page

Extra participant
This is my 6th time, I have participated in this event from when I started seven years ago. Because of my experience being part of this event, I have provided guidance and advice to the leader of the volunteering team, especially for the volunteering meeting on the opening day before the event begins. This is to make sure certain standards with the conduct and procedures by certain volunteers. During the event, I reported back to the volunteer leader if there were challenges with volunteers with visitors or if certain standards were not met during volunteering.

On the closing day of the event, I was required to be involved with a surprise "Baby Shower" party for teacher and professional dancer Jayne Emily Turpin with her baby soon-to-be-born. The surprise was arranged by professional dancer and teacher Sophie. During & after my volunteer duty I had to look after a surprise box of gifts and written greetings. Then I assisted Sophie in getting different items, including asking the Hilton bat staff to borrow the ceramic bowls for the party food. With an update with volunteer Ken, I can provide an update to party attendees when Jayne arrives at the venue and reminds everyone to get ready. The surprise went well.

My event experience

Because of planned commitments elsewhere, my experience as an attendee was limited to the late-night parties and the daytime classes on the third day (Sunday). The classes I attended featuring José, Sophie, Andree and Lavinia.

One Friday night I spend extra time with an attendee who was leaving the UK permanently and was a regular attendee in the local classes the past few months.
On Saturday and Sunday I attended the parties at the later hours. Additionally at a live band performance as party of the party hours on Sunday night.

In summary, a lot dancing vibes from all different backgrounds at one place and hopefully my involvement maintain visitors and crew members positive experiences during the event.

Explore further
Visit the "Dancing Direction" feature to discover my dancing related developments & involvement

Visit the online special "Embracing Dancing" and discover different projects and documents to downloads to improve inclusivity at dancing environments.
(Developed with my awareness website "Plus Value Awareness"

Useful Links
Visit the Active & Participation index pages for more of my involvement and when experencing events and places of interest

Visit the Dancing Direction index for my dancing related projects and developments

Linked with

Notice to editors
Keith Mckenzie
Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant

With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations.

Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also am involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. I also have participated in major dancing conventions at Birmingham's NEC, including Motion City (created by Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity) during the summer and Latinmotion's NYE Fest during the New Year public holiday.

In 2022, Keith became a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the Commonwealth Games