DANCE / Louise Levene On Dance

If a steady diet of dance and ballet is proving beyond your budget, why not hitch a lift down to the South Bank and sample a cross-section of modern dance and ballet for free. But if you want to join in the fun, it could get expensive: dance workshops could set you back all of two quid. Free events still to come in the annual three-week season include Peter Badejo (today), Yolande Snaith (tomorrow), English National Ballet (next Tuesday) and Matthew Hawkins. Hawkins has been the choreographer in residence for this year's festival and on Friday 12 Aug he and his dancers will present the work he created with the help of some very young dancers indeed (right).

Meanwhile, this weekend sees yet more outdoor dance when Mind the Gap invites you to follow six choreographers playing hide and seek with their audience in and around the South Bank complex. The choreographers include ex-DV8 phenomenon Wendy Houstoun, Bunty Mathias and bald maestro Javier de Frutos (crazy name, crazy guy). The treasure trail starts at the Royal Festival Hall level two terrace (2.30 & 4pm 6 & 7 Aug). This event is free but numbers on the roof are limited so you should apply for tickets on 071-928 8800.

Ballroom Blitz is every day until Sunday 14 August. Information line: 071-928 3002.

(Photograph omitted)