Bettws Childrens Folk Festival

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Bettws Childrens Folk Festival

Bettws Childrens Folk festival. Celebrating the music and dance of the 4 home nations. To participate, please DM us.

Bettws Childrens Folk Festival is an annual event held in Bettws Shopping Centre, Newport.

14/08/2024

We are a go for 2025!
Put the date in your diary as it's all confirmed and approved!

01/08/2024

We have a green light!
The 2025 Bettws Childrens Folk Festival is a go!

02/03/2024

Massive thank you to all who attended our first event today.

To all the dancers, teachers, caregivers etc thank you.

Thank you to Gwent Police for loaning us CO Steve to assist. Thank you to BPC Medics for sending Ben and the team and thank you to the staff of Newport Music & Theatre School .

29/02/2024

Less than 48 hours to go.
We still have space for more schools so get in touch if you'd like to come and dance with us.

www.newportmts.uk
[email protected]

21/02/2024

The history of Welsh Folk Dancing

Welsh Folk Dancing is a really important part of Welsh culture.

Before the 18th Century, Welsh Folk Dance was performed outside and at festivals during the summer months as entertainment for workers whilst their wealthy bosses were at balls. It was a great way for people to spend time with each other outside their long work hours. These events were also a brilliant way to strengthen the community, and also for people to make new friends or potential husbands or wives.

These performances were the highlights of the summer for many people, as they were one of the few times when they could break their routine. This kind of communal celebration was really important to help keep cultural traditions going.

In the 18th Century, there was a rise in Nonconformist churches throughout Wales. The Nonconformists followed a very strict set of rules which kept them committed to the Christian message. This meant that lots of aspects of traditional Welsh culture, such as Welsh Folk Dancing, were viewed as sinful.

The pressure from the church, ministers, and followers was huge. It led to the performances and festivals being stopped, and the only way people could practice the dances was in their own houses. Fortunately, some people realised that the dances would be forgotten and decided to write the steps down on paper, so they could be performed again.

The turn of the century saw the hold of the church loosen for a lot of communities. Throughout the 20s and 30s, a lot of effort was put into learning the routines and performing them once again. The steps for the routines would be printed on pamphlets, so people could practice them wherever they were.

Welsh Folk Dancing was introduced to the Eisteddfod in the 60s and 70s and the popularity of barn dances grew. This meant that more and more people from different generations started learning and taking part in the dances, as well as finding out more about the history of the dance.

During the 80s and 90s Welsh Folk Dancing was taught in most Welsh schools and there were regular festivals for schools to get together and dance.

This is what we're trying to set back up starting with this years Bettws Childrens Folk Festival.

21/02/2024

Calling all singers and musicians on my fb.

We need performers for our performance stage during the break of our inaugural Bettws Childrens Folk Festival.

The performance stage is 12:30 - 1:30pm and performers are required to do 2/3 songs.

You can be acoustic, singer/ guitarist or just a singer with tracks and there is no age limit on performing during this time.

Let me know if you'd like to perform.

Please share this around performers you know in the local area.

18/02/2024

There's still time to sign your school up and join us for a day of dance and music celebrating St David's day and the home nations.

Contact us for more information

www.newportmts.uk

14/02/2024

We're still looking for anyone who would like to advertise in the program.
From SME, to multi location ... however big your business is DM us to buy some advertising space.

14/02/2024

Here we go, a page for the first of many events ...

Welcome to Bettws Childrens Folk Festival.

Address

NMTS, Unit 22 Bettws Shopping Centre
Newport
NP207TN

Website

http://www.newportmts.uk/

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