London mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled his ambition to see 3 million people participating in dance by 2012 after helping to launch this year's T-Mobile Big Dance.

The mayor was joined by dance champion Camilla Dallerup; Legally Blonde star Sheridan Smith; and choreographer Jerry Mitchell at the London Palladium to launch the cultural festival. Over the next nine days, 850 events are scheduled to take place across the capital. Events include The Big World Dance, which will see a cast of Londoners dancing through city streets.

T-Mobile Big Dance 2010, which is funded by Arts Council England and Dance Champions alongside the mayor, will be delivered by a number of London-based arts organisations. Johnson said: "You might be the coolest of hip-hop dancers or an ardent balletomane - the beauty of Big Dance is it gives you the chance to experience these and everything between.

"London is one of the world's greatest centres for dance, with enormous creative talent to be found here. But it's also about getting more active, or simply having fun - and it's a brilliant way to bring people together. So be inspired, get moving and let's get three million involved by 2012." Image: (c) Getty Images