August Bank holiday weekend, 25th to 27th, saw us at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, where the weather was mainly very kind apart from one short monsoon like downpour. Amongst other high profile dance displays, we found ourselves with a 10 minute spot in the ‘Global Dance Project’ show on the main stage, a 90 minute dance show featuring English, Scottish, Irish, African, Caribbean and Bhangra dancers as well as some knockout drummers. Despite minimal rehearsal time on the stage we were able to put together a good 3 dance spot (Princess Royal, Cavalier with swords and Coconuts) as well as take part in a frenetic finale with everyone crowded on stage attempting to do something (anything) in time to the drumbeats. But with Hammersmith and Windsor also taking part the Cotswold flag was flying high, though the other dance traditions were also very well represented including Declan, the Irish stepper with feet considerably faster than Usain Bolt’s. Apart from the dance show, over the 3 days we also had good spots on the Village Stage and in the town, as well as a procession and other impromptu stuff, though sadly Alun lost out in an unoffical leapfrog contest with Chris Campbell of Hammersmith (yes, thanks Hammersmith, but we knew we weren’t singing any more – in fact, we hadn’t actually started).
