Gone in 60 seconds – that’s what a Senior Lecturer in Dance at the University of Bedfordshire will be on Saturday (24 July).

James Hewison is part of the two 60x60 Dance (London) performances at the Stratford Circus in Theatre Square (3pm and 8pm).

The idea is for 60 new dance pieces to be performed to 60 new pieces of music – each lasting no more than 60 seconds!

Every minute of the hour will bring together dance and electronic music and see a new dance maker and composer collaborate. Dances will span all forms from ballet to hip-hop to salsa to roller disco and contemporary, and the music includes neo-romantic, folk, tech-house, noise and rock.

James is choreographing and performing the piece of work called Crunching Snow by Project Serendipity, with the music composed by Paul Russell.

James said: “The 60x60 Dance event began, unsurprisingly, in New York and comes to the UK for the first time this year.

“I was intrigued by the sense of fun in the idea and I was delighted to be selected as a choreographer and performer from the application process.

“There’s no choice in the music that you work with - you get what you get - but then what you do with it is up to you, within reason, and within 60 seconds!

“The performances will be interesting as the idea is to run all pieces within the hour. I’m the 49^th track, so I’m looking forward to seeing how I fit with numbers 48 and 50!”

60x60 Dance has been a huge success Stateside and its European debut in London is to celebrate the two-year countdown to the 2012 Olympics.

The London event is a partnership between 60x60 Dance director Robert Voisey, dance co-ordinator Adriana Pegorer, producer Silke Arnold, East London Dance and Vox Novus.

Tickets are £9 (£5 concessions) and to book, call 0844 3572625 or you can visit www.stratford-circus.com