BEIRUT: Nijmeh Square in downtown Beirut broke into dance Friday afternoon with BIG Dance 2012, sponsored by the British Council.

The downtown pedestrian plaza saw over 2,300 students from all over Lebanon perform a dance that celebrated physical fitness and the spirit of internationalism.

This year’s dance was created by Wayne McGregor of Random Dance in the U.K. and spotlighted the upcoming London 2012 Olympics by simulating the movements of Olympic sports.

In addition to Lebanon, 152 other countries participated in BIG Dance 2012.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher was in attendance and described the show as, “Amazing. They blew us away with their noise and energy.”

Fletcher added that despite the “difficult situation” Lebanon currently faces in Tripoli and other areas, he was “filled with hope” by today’s performance and “optimistic for the future.”

“[The students] are first and foremost Lebanese,” Fletcher said. “Today represents coexistence and hope.”

Fletcher added that the positive atmosphere reminds him that, “Lebanon is an idea worth fighting for; not fighting over.”

BIG Dance 2012 was also attended by school principals, teachers, the President of the Center for Educational & Research Development Dr. Leila Fayad and the President of Al Makassed Institutions Amin Daouk.