The Commonwealth Dance Relay Brings Glasgow to Life

There was excitement in Kelvingrove Park on Friday 24th July as vibrant dance teams gathered to perform as part of the Commonwealth Dance Relay at the Glasgow 2026 Festival.

The Commonwealth Resounds played a key role in the Kelvingrove Parade, wonderfully named ‘Finnie’s Welcome Promenade’ (after Finnie, the Commonwealth Games mascot). Supported by funding from the Glasgow 2026 Festival, the event brought together performers, community groups and schools for a joyful celebration of dance, music and cultures from across the Commonwealth.

The parade began with the stirring sound of bagpipes and a spectacular display of Scottish dancing. The first Commonwealth group to perform was Dance 360 Company, whose lively and energetic breakdancing immediately captured the crowd’s attention. Their performance led into a thrilling BMX display and a playful ‘Unicorn Dance’, setting an exuberant tone for the rest of the promenade.

Next came The Beats of Polynesia, representing six Pacific countries through music, dynamic dancing, vocals and spectacular costumes. Their performance quickly drew a large crowd, who followed the group through Kelvingrove Park towards further performances by local schools and community groups.

The third group, Dance Ihayami, brought elegance and colour to the parade with a beautiful performance inspired by Indian classical and contemporary dance. Their journey led the crowd towards the Medal Area, attracting considerable attention from the press and media along the route.

Finally, Dance HQ performed a wonderful selection of Scottish and European dances as the procession made its way towards the stage. Their infectious energy encouraged the whole crowd to follow, bringing performers and spectators together for the conclusion of the parade.

Once everyone had gathered at the stage, all four groups united to present the Commonwealth Dance Relay as a glorious finale to Finnie’s Welcome Promenade. It was a fitting conclusion to a remarkable event, celebrating the rich variety of traditions found across the Commonwealth while demonstrating the extraordinary power of music and dance to bring people together.

The Commonwealth Resounds was delighted to help share these performances with the people of Glasgow and to see each group receive such an enthusiastic response. We are enormously grateful to all the dancers, musicians, organisers and supporters who made this colourful and uplifting celebration possible.