What an absolute joy to support the Bodmin Heritage Day - The Children's Dance 2016 with such an amazing bunch of children, a fabulous team of volunteers and musicians, and with the support of Bodmin Town Council and Bodmin Lions, a very generous donator, 720 PRINT and all the parents!
This was an extraordinarily special project for Bodmin Town, with a call out for help to revive The Children's Dance, when 1,000 or so children used to learn the dance at school, with schools entering with their banners, and receiving trophies.
Alas the school commitment in this first year was missing . . .
Maybe all that target reporting work means there isn't time to spend on such frivolous activities as helping children learn how to work together, how to dance, and how important heritage is to them.
Fortunately, a good number of young people persuaded their parents to let them join in, so big up the parents!
Rehearsals began in January at the Sheer Dance Academy with the brilliant support of Sam and Sally Deakin and Carly Butler-Hoare, and as the weather warmed up, we took the rehearsals outside to Mount Folly, having had the necessary things in place from Bodmin Town Council.
Alas the school commitment in this first year was missing . . .
Maybe all that target reporting work means there isn't time to spend on such frivolous activities as helping children learn how to work together, how to dance, and how important heritage is to them.
Fortunately, a good number of young people persuaded their parents to let them join in, so big up the parents!
Rehearsals began in January at the Sheer Dance Academy with the brilliant support of Sam and Sally Deakin and Carly Butler-Hoare, and as the weather warmed up, we took the rehearsals outside to Mount Folly, having had the necessary things in place from Bodmin Town Council.
Each rehearsal included The Children's Dance, and a selection of dances from the Cornish dance repertoire, like "Mr Martin's Reel", "Old Hand-in-Hand" and a Serpent dance. Thanks to our trusty musicians for playing so brilliantly each time. Plenty of laughter from both children and adults alike!
Bodmin Town Band warms up . . .
Billy hopes for a Newlyn Reel . . .
Thomas, the extra special drummer leads the dancers . . .
The dancing crew - well done all of you :D
. . . and finally, Justine and Shaun hand out drinks from Bodmin Lions and "thank you" gifts for all the childeren, kindly donated by 720 PRINT in Bodmin (<<check them out for all your promotional needs folks!).
Extra special thanks to the inspirational, work-horse, Justine Stephens for the energy and drive to realise the vision, having been one of the children in the Children's Dance before it stopped a few years ago. Bring yer whistle to Bodmin Folk Club lovely ;)
It would be wonderful to see this come to life again for next year . . . maybe even with a few more of the primary school aged children in Bodmin . . . there's over 2,000 out there ;)
Watch the Bodmin Heritage Day - The Children's Dance page for news!