Message 2346:
SATURDAY 19 & SUNDAY 20 MARCH (daytime and evening): "DANCE AROUND THE WORLD" (reduced price of 8 pounds each day to "Gordon's friends" on the door, with no booking required - this is less than half the normal price of £17)
The Event: We will attend the 20th "Dance Around the World" Festival of World Dance ( http://www.datw.org.uk ). This was held as an annual event until October 2019, when the 19th event was held. We will be able to watch and/or try for ourselves traditional dances from all over the world. This festival is organised by a small group of dedicated individuals and the organisation is affiliated to the Society for International Folk Dancing. This two-day festival starts at 10am on both days, and runs until 10.45pm on Saturday and 10.15pm on Sunday (more details in the following paragraph), and you can arrive when you wish, leave for a while and return later. Over 40 groups will be participating, and for much of the time there will be a choice of four activities (performances in the main hall on the ground floor, and workshops in two rooms in the basement and in a marquee). No previous experience is necessary if you would like to join in the workshops (and it is not necessary to bring a partner), but you can choose to watch the performances if you prefer. Printed programmes listing detailed times will be available free of charge at the door, and larger versions will be displayed outside each of the four dance venues. Lunch and light refreshments will be available in the canteen in the basement, and there is also a bar in the basement.
The Programmes: There will be traditional dances from many countries, including Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China (including Tibet), Cuba, Egypt, England (morris and clog dancing), Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Myanmar, New Zealand (Maori), The Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, The USA (Hawaii) and Tibet. African dancing will include North African belly dancing. There are too many things happening to list all the timings here, but you can see the detailed programme of performances and workshops on the "Dance Around the World" website. To view the programme, which is subject to revision, click on http://www.datw.org.uk and then on "Programmes". On both days, the event starts at 10am, with the main programme starting at 11am on Saturday and 11.30am on Sunday. On Saturday, the daytime programme will end at about 6.30pm, and, after a short break, the evening programme will run from 7pm to 10.45pm. This will comprise a spectacular Latin American and Spanish Flamenco show, in the main hall (Kennedy) on the ground floor, including both demonstrations and participation. There will also be a Balkan Dance, organised by http://www.balkanplus.org.uk with the band Ygra, from 7.30pm until 10.30pm, downstairs in Trefusis, so you can go between the two if you like. On Sunday, the daytime programme will end at 6pm, and the evening programme will comprise an international barn dance, with Cloudburst International Dance Band, from 7pm until about 10.15pm, in Kennedy. Remember that, if you have attended the daytime programme, you do not need to pay again to attend the evening events, so you could stay, or go away and come back in the evening, as you prefer.
Venue, Transport and Meeting Details: The event will be held at Cecil Sharp House ( https://www.efdss.org/cecil-sharp-house ), 2 Regent's Park Road, NW1 7AY. Please see https://tinyurl.com/47mu8yys for a map. At weekends, there is free parking (if you can find a space) near the venue and to the west, towards Primrose Hill. (There is no free parking in Camden Town itself.) The nearest tube station is Camden Town (Northern Line, Zone 2). You may find it more convenient to use Camden Road London Overground station (Richmond - Stratford line), about five minutes further than the tube station, but note that on Sunday 20 March unfortunately the line will be closed between Gospel Oak and Stratford, with replacement buses running between Hampstead Heath and Stratford. Since the event lasts several hours, I have decided against having a meeting point at the tube station, as whatever time I select will be too early for some and too late for others, and in previous years not many people have met me at the station, whereas many people attended the event. You will find me at the venue from early afternoon onwards on both days.
Cost of Admission: The normal admission price is 17 pounds each day (including the evening), or 10 pounds for the evening only (on either day). However, anyone mentioning my name on the door will get in for 8 pounds at any time during the weekend. If you just come for the evening, you will still need to pay 8 pounds, but this is still 2 pounds cheaper than the normal evening price, so remember to mention my name. If you come earlier in the day, you can stay for the evening with no further charge. If you come on both days, you will need to pay 8 pounds each day (but this is still cheaper than buying a weekend ticket for 30 pounds). Children (under 16 - that is, 15 and below) get in free, as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult. When paying, do not forget to mention my name. It would be helpful if you would give the correct change (8 pounds) if you can, as this will save the door staff time, and help to keep this special offer discreet. Payment by card will also be possible. Please note that the special rate for my members is for payment on the door, with no booking required, and that advance purchase of tickets is not possible. You will be given a wrist band and expected to wear it. Look for others wearing the same colour band as you, as they will also be members of my group.
Covid Secure Venue: You may like to read the venue's guidance at https://www.efdss.org/whats-on/how-to-book/covid-secure , although it may well be updated before the event. Visitors, although asked to take a lateral flow test in the 24 hours before the event, will not be asked about the result. You are requested to wear a face covering when in the building, except when dancing, eating or drinking. Wearing a face covering when dancing is not recommended, as this can cause breathing difficulties.
SUMMARY OF FUTURE EVENTS
Tues 1 March, 6.40pm/6.50pm: Angel tube (near the steel sculpture of an angel) to go to the "finissage" of Hervé Constant's exhibition "Image, Language, Symbolism (Field of Perception)" at Ein Sof Jewish Art Gallery, 1-3 Elliott's Place, N1 8HX, from 7pm to 9pm (free event, with no booking required - click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2344 for details);
Thurs 17 March: art exhibition opening at the Czech Centre's Vitrinka Gallery, 30 Kensington Palace Gardens, W8 4QY, from 6pm to 9pm (free event, but booking through Eventbrite required, and places still available at time of posting this message - click on https://groups.io/g/gordonbeal/message/2345 for details);
Sat 19 & Sun 20 March: Dance Around the World (details above).
