A former Bradford school pupil who has gone on to become the world triathlon champion was back in the city to stir people out of their comfort zones.

Alistair Brownlee, 22, is not used to dancing in front of a crowd in Centenary Square, but that was the whole point of his sway in the sunshine with dance group Step Up Bradford yesterday.

The former Bradford Grammar School pupil, of Horsforth, was one of four London 2012 Olympic hopefuls to take on a cultural challenge across the north of England to promote this year’s Open Weekend.

The three-day event, held in Bradford in Centenary Square on July 23-25, challenges people to do something active in the run-up to the Games in two years time.

The free programme of events will begin on the Friday at 4pm with an open-air tea dance where professional dancers will recruit enthusiastic amateur to strut their stuff.

Dance workshops will continue on Saturday, featuring Bradford’s biggest ever outdoor dance, Yorkshire’s 2,012.

Over the course of the weekend there will be a number of daring performances to take in, including circus and aerial acts, and bicycle ballet.

Both Friday and Saturday evenings will finish with a show by Australian performers, Strange Fruit – a fusion of theatre, dance and circus.

There will also be a show entitled In the Spheres which sees seven performers perched on giant, illuminated orbs.

London 2012 organisers hope people will use the third annual Cultural Weekend to set a new personal best by trying something new or taking their current hobbies or interests to the next level.

Lord Coe, chairman of the London 2012 committee, tried out freerunning in Westminster.

He said: “Open Weekend will lead the nation into the two-year countdown to the start of the London 2012 Games with new personal bests being set right across the UK.

‘‘It is another opportunity for thousands of people to join in with the London 2012 Games.”