Highlights of the annual occasion which stands out compared to any other new year celebrations.
The NYE Fest is the biggest and one the most recognised New Year salsa dancing events in the UK & Europe. The event took place from Saturday the 30th December through to many years day Monday 1st January at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel at the heart of the NEC organised by Latinmotion provides a family of workshops, classes, social dance and exclusive live performances. The event attracts attendees from around the UK and beyond.
As well as an attendee I was a volunteer and participant behind the scenes.
Volunteering
My volunteer incorporates many different roles including monitoring the appropriate response or when visitors and participants are entering the event area of the venue. Also, I assisted in setting up party items during the New Year's Eve celebrations and helping to dismantle the equipment and items after the event closed. Wrap my volunteering roles I was available to provide assistance or guidance facilities and to help direct visitors and participants to the appropriate locations of the event.
This was my fifth time volunteering but this event and I used my experience to say my suggestions several months beforehand to make sure the volunteering team had a coordinated and supportive working environment with respect throughout.
Innovation during my volunteering
This year's team role was the most innovative and groundbreaking ever as I introduced using an interactive touch digital volunteering organiser. This was used on a custom use tablet device for this role. Enables me to be organised and resourced for all the important information of the events along with guidance and procedures depending on the information required or if a challenging situation occurred.
The digital interactive organiser was designed and developed by myself to find out more click on the following links below
Presenting surprise
This was not the end of the story because my role expanded One special involves surprising the founders of Latinmotion to acknowledge the achievement of more than 30 years since both founders started the organisation way back in 1993. Despite I made one minor error the audience approved and appreciated this special surprise moment.
Digital Signage trail
I offered to provide a unique solution after the venue hosts of the event organisers to access their large green digital signs to promote the event the programme and additional information. So before the event began I was developing prototype digital signage. This involves a lot of research and consultations with organisations that use digital signs regularly.
What I have developed is designed to help people welcome to the event and now all the essential information including the event map and the events schedule.
Sadly because of information that was not brought to our attention my specialty-designed digital signage was able to be used at this year's event. However but what I have developed there is a possibility that will have developed could be used in future events
My insight
As expected the event brought in some of the finest dances from all over the UK to put together one of the brightest New Year's events out there. But it doesn't stop there, I can become an innovative participant with an interactive organiser and the prototype digital signage for future events.
Towards Inclusivity
Within the past year, I have developed my dancing awareness Project inclusive to dance which provides information and guidance to enable inclusivity regardless of abilities. This was sad to the event leaders and some of the visitors and participants. Beyond the event I have decided that the detailed suggestion documents for embrace dancing environment and convinces is to be fully developed for everyone for the first time.
In the past it was limited to the team leaders of Latin Motion and London's Mambo City and in 2022 these documents were featured on the UK's most important awareness campaigners for Anna Kennedy OBE.
The dancing inclusivity documents are now available to view and download by visiting the "Embracing Direction" page
Party night and daytime matinee
The parties took place on Saturday the 30th of December, New Year's Eve and the daytime hours of New Year's Day.
Within the four different rooms, the dance floors were full of dancers throughout. Each day also presented exclusive dance performances from professional dancers. The countdown towards the midnight celebrations on New Year's Eve concludes with the midnight celebrations moment, combining the traditional cheers and hugs along with the energetic and vibrant dancing demonstrations.
The event concludes on New Year's Day (during daytime only) with classes, social dances and a bonus of a live band performing.
Visit the mini feature for details of my involvement in dancing projects & events
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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 are involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions twice a year at Birmingham's NEC for Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity.
In 2022, Keith become a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the commonwealth games
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