Dance Festival Hailed a Huge Success
Northumberland Sport would like to congratulate Castle Morpeth Borough Council on their successful Dance festival which took place over the weekend 15th - 17th June 2007.
Dance Morpeth, which boasted 263 performers and 31 different styles of dance, attracted an estimated 4,000 visitors.
The styles ranged from tea dancing to contemporary, funk rock, line dancing and clog dancing. International act Shikisha brought traditional Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa and Shangaan dances, chants and drumming from West Africa, with street dances and original songs set to township music. Jaleo from Seville added flamenco, with explosive footwork, haunting singing, virtuoso guitar playing and percussive hand-clapping from southern Spain.
During the daytime performances were also given at an open air stage area and tennis court marquee, and a series of free taster workshops were held at a marquee behind the pavilion.
Councillor Glen Sanderson, executive member for communities, said: "This is the first year we have held the festival entirely in Carlisle Park. Having such numbers attend is superb, especially considering the sun didn't really come out until Sunday afternoon. There was a huge variety in the festival programme, offering something for all ages. "Dance Morpeth has become a key fixture in the Council's annual events calendar and this year's has undoubtedly been the biggest and best festival yet."
Find out more about Dance in Northumberland by visiting our dance pages or contact Louise Smith, Community Dance Coach louise.smith@castlemorpeth.gov.uk
