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CHAILEY PRIMARY SCHOOLS CLUSTER
TRADITIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL 2010
MAY 21ST 2010
The whole 2009 festival event (see 2009) and tutored classes were so popular that
Plumpton School received requests that it simply had to be repeated in 2010 ...
this time with the whole NINE schools in the Chailey Schools Cluster!
All nine schools in the cluster took part this year, involving some three hundred children.
The event started at midday at Plumpton Racecourse and was attended by
SEFAN's Patron Shirley Collins MBE. Present of the EFDSS
Rachel Elliott. Education Director of the EFDSS
Brian Tusker. Squire of the Morris Ring
The South East Folk Arts Network believes that all children should know about our folk art heritage, and since early January 2010, the schools have been learning the traditional dances of England.
The tutors have been SEFAN, Ditchling Morris, staff members from Plumpton Primary School and
Traditional Arts Development South East (TRADS).
The dances include all forms of Morris dance, Molly, Maypole and social dancing, and no more than two schools performed the same style.
The children were entained by storyteller Jamie Crawford during the morning
The day ended with a traditional Ceilidh in Plumpton Village Hall with local band, The Unreel Ceilidh Band.
The whole event, including tuition, the festival and ceilidh, was sponsored by Sussex Community Foundation (through SEFAN) Ditchling Morris and the Plumpton Racecourse.
SEFAN also received a kind donation from the Estate of late Mr. George Pheby for this project.
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APRIL 1st 2009
Four East Sussex Primary Schools take part in a Festival of Dance
sponsored by SEFAN.
Children from Plumpton, Chailey, Wivelsfield, and Newick Primary Schools took part in a day-long festival of Traditional Dance on April 1 at Plumpton race course, ending with an evening Ceilidh at Plumpton Village Hall dancing to the Ditchling band "Unreel".
The Festival was the culmination of 4 years of collaboration between Plumpton School and Ditchling Morris (SEFAN members) who have been introducing the traditional dances of the British Isles to the children. Some 250 children took part during the day, and dances ranged from all forms of Morris to Maypole and Social dancing.
Plumpton Primary School were key to the organisation of the Festival and they encouraged the other schools to take part, both in the Festival and the evening community event.
The whole day was sponsored by the SEFAN through the Heritage Lottery Fund, Awards for All scheme.
The wider benefits of the Award enabled the Community to take part and experience many of the traditional dance styles of this country. They may not have had this experience beforehand, and not only did this support
the aims of the Heritage Lottery Fund, it also supports the aims of SEFAN.
The event benefited the whole community and, in addition to the children who attended, the parents swelled the numbers to an
estimated total of up to about 1000 people.
Ann and John Bacon
SEFAN and Ditchling Morris
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Classes were taught by Ditchling Morris, SEFAN and Tradamis together with the schools' Teachers themselves. All children received a certificate for taking part.
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Marquee at Plumpton Racecourse - In rehearsal
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 Maypole |
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 Cotswold Morris |
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 Molly Dance |
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During the early evening the children from the schools performed floor spots much to the enjoyment of the parents present. |
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At the early evening Ceilidh - parents get to have a go as well! |
 North West Morris |
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 pupils perform their own social dance created 'in the tradition' to a pop tune ... plus cool shades! |
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social dancecontinue to teach Traditional Dance and/or support their Dance Festival Day -
please contact SEFAN.