27th International Folkdance Festival, May 2008

A weekend festival of traditional dance and music from UK, Europe and beyond

All events will be held at: Langley Park Boys' School, South Eden Park Road, Beckenham BR3 3BP

Here are details of the programme. For a flyer to hand out to your friends, click here (Warning: 7Mb!)

Saturday 24th May 2008

International Folk Dance and Ceilidh
- join in an evening of international music and dance

Your chance to try the following dance styles:

Basque
Belgian
Bulgarian
International
Irish
Scottish, including a demonstration by the Medway Junior team

7.30 to 11.00 pm

Adult £6.00
Concessions £5.00
Child £3.00

Sunday 25th May 2008

International Folk Dance Concert
-sit back and enjoy performances from all the groups

Licensed bar, refreshments, tombola, stalls

Performances by:

Epping Forest Pipe Band
Fiona Ray Highland Dancers
Groupe Primadera
Henaghan-James Irish Dance Group
MacLennan Scottish Group
Sint-Sebastiaansgilde, Kampenhout
Tanec London Bulgarian Dance Group
Upland Junior Dancers

2.00 to 5.00 pm

Adult £7.50
Concessions £6.00
Child £3.00

Note that Family and Weekend Discounts are available. There will be other local performances throughout the weekend. For further details email us or phone 020 8295 1273

To give you an idea of what goes on, here's a report from the 26th festival in 2007.

26th International Folkdance Festival, May 2007

Our two overseas groups arrived on the Friday; Gruppo Folkloristico Agilla e Trasimeno arrived in time for a traditional haggis supper, complete with the address to the haggis. Tahditto-Mat Finnish Folk Dance Group flew into Stansted just before midnight and joined us at the school an hour or so later.

On Saturday, we all met in Bromley for our first performances; it was cold and grey, but at least it was dry. Once we had secured access to electricity, thanks to the local market manager, we entertained the shoppers with performances of Italian, Finnish and Scottish dancing. Folk Dance 2007

Just as it began to rain, we arrived for a tapas supper at the El Patio restaurant before returning to Langley Park Boys’ School for the International Folk Dance. As well as our two overseas groups, we were joined by Millochki Russian dancers, French dancers and the Medway junior Scottish dance team for a fun evening of French, Scottish, Russian, Finnish and Italian dancing (see photo left).

Sunday morning was wet and windy, so we drove directly to Emmanuel United Reformed Church to be welcomed to their Sunday service. The Reverend Bill Bowman had prepared a very appropriate service, with an international and dance theme. The congregation was most hospitable, and after the service we entertained them with Finnish, Italian and Scottish dancing.

The afternoon concert performance was opened by our special guest, Sonja Curtis, President of Bromley Sunrise Rotary. After the opening parade to the MacLennan pipes and drums, there were performances by our Finnish and Italian guests, Millochki, Jenny Barrow’s highland dancers and the Upland Junior dancers. A record audience enjoyed the dancing and also the pipes and drums played by Tony Daniel and Anne Fraser-Reed, the glorious singing of Tatiana Thomas and the lively music and singing of the Italians. Our thanks go to Andrew Kellett for once again acting as MC. As well as the performances, the audience was able to visit the various stalls, and stock up on plants, home made cakes, as well as taking their chance in the tombola and raffles.

After the performance, we all relaxed at the school over a buffet supper and general fun dancing, including a special performance of “The Reel of the 51st” masterminded by Paula Dyke.

Monday’s weather was not promising, but our guests headed to London for sightseeing, including a trip on a London bus and a boat ride on the River Thames. All good things must come to an end, and our Italian and Finnish friends left on Tuesday morning, but found time to take a trip on the London Eye before returning to Stansted to fly home.

Many thanks are due; to all members and supporters of MSG, to all our visiting groups, Sonya Curtis, El Patio restaurant, Emmanuel United Reformed Church, West Wickham, and to Langley Park Boys’ School, especially to Rob and Gareth who helped us throughout the weekend.

We have video footage of this year’s festival; please contact us if you would be interested in ordering a copy once it has been edited. A DVD is already available of the 25th Festival (2005), including the Saturday night Folk Dance, the Sunday concert performance and additional footage from the Festival weekend. The DVD costs £10 including postage and packing. If you would like one, email us.

27th International Folkdance Festival, May 2008

26th International Folkdance Festival, May 2007

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