PlumptonFestival.html

EAST SUSSEX PRIMARY SCHOOLS

TRADITIONAL DANCE FESTIVALS.

CHAILEY PRIMARY SCHOOLS CLUSTER

TRADITIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL 2010

MAY 21ST 2010

The whole 2009 festival event 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 taking part!

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.

For further information contact SEFAN through J.Bacon (Trustee) on 01273 843938, or Festival Director Dave Johns at Plumpton Primary School on 01273 890338.

If YOU would like to donate or become a sponsor for 2011-12 to enable the Schools to
continue to teach Traditional Dance and/or support their Dance Festival Day -
please contact SEFAN.

YEAR 2009 REPORT

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

2009 FESTIVAL

Classes were taught by Ditchling Morris, SEFAN and Tradamis together with the schools' Teachers themselves.

All children received a certificate for taking part.

Marquee at Plumpton Racecourse - In rehearsal

social dance

Maypole

Cotswold Morris

Molly Dance

During the early evening the children from the schools performed floor spots much to the enjoyment of the parents present.

At the early evening Ceilidh - parents get to have a go as well!

North West Morris

pupils perform their own social dance created
'in the tradition' to a pop tune ... plus cool shades!

UPDATE: PLUMPTON SCHOOL's Morris Club is now dancing out in its own right - joining Ditchling Morris (and other guest Sides) on May 2nd and performing at Lewes Garland Day on May 3rd.

If YOU would like to donate or become a sponsor for 2011-12 to enable the Schools to
continue to teach Traditional Dance and/or support their Dance Festival Day -
please contact SEFAN.