By Milan Perera, News Writer
University of Bristol medical students danced before a sold-out audience in their annual charity strip show at the O2 Academy on Saturday, March 11, to raise funds for the charity Young Lives Vs Cancer.
150 medical students from different year groups shed their inhibitions and danced through the night in a myriad of routines with references to popular culture. This year marks the 30thanniversary of the event and the organisers originally set a target of £50,000 and so far they have raised over £60,000, surpassing their final tally last year.
The theme for this year’s performance was ‘The Only Way Is Clic’, a mischievous reference to the ITV reality show. It also included dance routines based on hit TV shows such as The Apprentice, I’m Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Love Island, Below Deck and Great British Bake Off.
CLICENDALES is an all-medic, annual charity dance show fundraising for Young Lives Vs Cancer which provides help and support to children, young adults and their families going through a cancer diagnosis. It has raised over £400,000 over the years for the charity.
Bristol alumni, former CLICENDALES participant and Instagram sensation Dr. Maddy Lucy Dann kept the proceedings moving in full flow as she made a guest appearance as the compere for the evening.
Charlotte Nichols, a fourth-year medical student who took part in the much-loved Granny Dance routine pointed out that: ‘Performing at Clic was the most exhilarating experience, and for the best cause! It was so great to see all of our hard work pays off to create an amazing show and raise loads of money! I was part of the Granny’s dance which was so much fun, all of the directors and Choreos did so well, and everyone should be so proud of themselves!’
The dances ranged from all-male, all-female, mixed, and half-strip (underwear) to two all-male and all-female full strip routines at the end of the show.
Epigram also spoke to George Pack, another fourth-year medical student who took part in the Love Island themed mixed routine. As someone who took part in the event several times he explained the importance of the annual event: ‘Getting your kit off on stage in front of that many people is certainly a unique experience. Each year it seems that the quality of dancing gets better and better and this year felt incredible. It feels extra rewarding to know that all the work we have put in goes towards raising money for such an important charity.’
Speaking exclusively to Epigram, Liam Carly-Howe, one of the Managing Directors of the event pointed out that: ‘Clic is such a spectacular night which raises an incredible amount of money for a really important charity. The whole cast have worked so hard throughout the year and have helped to raise more money than we have raised before; in excess of £60,000! These fundraising efforts will make such a massive difference to so many families and everyone involved should be immensely proud of what they’ve achieved. Bring on Clic 2024!’
In the central committee for this year’s event, Carty-Howe was working alongside Tilly Gardener, Joint-Managing Director and Georgia Hall and Cerys Mack, the Artistic Directors. Apart from his administrative duties Carty-Howe also choreographed and danced in a routine based on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here with a cheeky reference to the former Health Secretary Matt Hancock who took part in the reality show in Down Under last year.
The organisers are already planning for the CLICENDALES event for 2024 which they hope would be even bigger and better than this year's sold out show.
