Dozens of schoolchildren from the Burnham-On-Sea area will join more than 2,000 youngsters on Wells Cathedral Green later this month to dance the day away as part of an annual folk dance festival.
Now in its 37th year, the Somerset Schools’ Folk Dance Festival is being held on Saturday 18th June and has over 75 schools participating including Burnham Infants School, Lympsham First School, Mark First School, St Andrew’s Junior School, Churchfield School, St Joseph’s and Wedmore First School.
The colourful, musical event will run from 2.30 to 4.30pm giving local mayors, council leaders and chairmen from across the county the chance to meet up and join in the revelry.
The pupils will be dressed in their specially-designed costumes and each school will be represented by its own banner.
Accompanied by the Mayor of Wells and Mace Bearer, teachers and helpers, the folk dancers’ procession will start at St Cuthbert’s Church at 2.00pm, proceed up Wells’ High Street, entering the Green through Browne’s Gate, and down the path to each school’s designated place.
Each school has its own set dance with all the schools performing at the same time making intricate patterns that is a marvel to watch, especially from a high vantage point.
Cllr John Osman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This is a brilliant event for our local primary school children to take part in and remember. To see so many children dancing together in what must be the largest gathering of its kind in the South West is really amazing.”
“I know the children and teachers spend weeks preparing. It’s such a good example of what our schools are trying to encourage like teamwork, more physical activity, learning a new skill and giving pupils the confidence to perform in front of an audience. But most importantly, the children seem to really enjoy it and have fun.”
