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Supported by
Dear Sword
Dancer, INTERNATIONAL SWORD SPECTACULAR FESTIVAL –
28-31 MAY 2004
Thank you
for showing interest in being part of THE sword dance event of 2004. There is a
link to a Booking Form for the Festival, and so perhaps this is the
time to point out some important points about the Sword Spectacular.
Not only is it the world’s biggest sword dancing event of
2004, we have also been able to hold the prices at the same level as
for the last event in 2000. By
booking for the Festival, you are helping to make it happen – the
event costs approaching £20,000 to put on and it is only through your
bookings that it can take place.
Without this support, there would be no overseas teams, evening
entertainment, campsite, workshops or conference – in fact, no
festival. So thank you,
we value your support. You will
also see that the prices are discounted for those who book early. We have put the deadline back from the date in our original
letter – to 28 February – but we would be grateful to
receive your bookings as early as possible. The key
features of this year’s event are: -
It will be based
at Eskdale School, at the south of Whitby.
As this is further from the town centre than previous events,
we are arranging a regular, free shuttle bus service to and from the
school, including after the Late Night events at the Pavilion. -
A good, flat
camp/caravan site at the school, with outside water and showers (see
“Accommodation”). Catering
is being arranged at the site. -
Opening reception
and gathering at Eskdale School, with late real ale bar and informal
music, singing and dancing. A
shuttle bus will be on hand to take those of you staying in Whitby
centre back to the town. -
Street
performances in Whitby on Saturday and Sunday.
All teams will also be given the opportunity to visit the
surrounding villages of the North Yorks Moors – “Heartbeat
Country” on one of these days. -
Late night dance
at the Pavilion featuring Bedlam, one of the country’s top young
celeidh bands, plus floor spots. -
Sunday
afternoon/evening displays by all teams present on the day in a Gala
Concert at the Pavilion, followed by a Late Night Celeidh. -
Saturday and
Sunday mornings will feature a Conference on Sword Dancing.
There will also be workshops for adults and children. -
Sunday’s dancing
will open with a mega parade through Whitby. -
The Festival will
close with informal dancing at Goathland on Bank Holiday Monday, home
of the Goathland Plough Stots and “Aidensfield” of tv’s
Heartbeat. -
We are also hoping
to organise a schools event, with dance performances in local schools
and in Whitby, during the day on the opening Friday. The Sword
Spectacular is unique in that it is organized by sword dancers for
sword dancers, so it’s a unique opportunity for us all to have a
great time with like-minded people. By kind
permission of his family and Dansgroep Lange Wapper, this festival is
dedicated to the memory of Renaat Van
Craenenbroek, an invaluable
member of the Millennium Sword Spectacular organisation.
A leading light in the revival, performance and teaching of
traditional sword dancing, Renaat is sorely missed. To date, the following teams have registered their interest or confirmed their attendance:
De Michielen, Tongeren (Belgium) Lange Wapper (Belgium) In de Kring (France) Gay Blades (USA) Boston youth teams (USA) Lippische Schwerttanzgruppe (Germany) Dithmarscher Schwertertänzer (Germany) Volkstanz Neckarteilfingen (Germany) Komna (tbc – Czech Republic)
Markina (tbc – Basque Country, Spain)
UK Teams: Addison Rapper Black Adder Rapper & Step Black Boy Rapper Black Swan Castleford Longsword Clydeside Sword & Step Coventry Morris Coventry Mummers East Saxon Sword Fallen Angels Flamborough Longsword Gift Rapper Goathland Plough Stots Green Velvet Outlaws of Sherwood Handsworth High Spen Blue Diamonds Mabel Gubbins Rapper Maltby Phoenix Newcastle Kingsmen Pengwyn Rapper Redcar Sword Dancers Red Rose Rapper Ryburn Longsword Ryknild Rabble Sallyport Sword Dancers Seven Stars Sharpe Sword Short Circuit Southport Swords Stevenage Sword Stone Monkey Sullivans Sword Triskele Valknut Rapper Whip the Cat Wype Doles Whitby is
an excellent and friendly home to the festival.
The ancient harbour was once the home to explorer Captain James
Cook and, for the first time, the replica of his Bark Endeavour
will be in port during the festival.
The town has many beautiful old buildings including the ancient
abbey and the beauty of the surrounding North York Moors National Park
– “Heartbeat Country” – is legendary. Accommodation:
Our main campsite will be open from the Friday evening until Monday
afternoon, with plenty of space for tents and hard standing for
caravans (sorry, we don’t have hook up facilities), plus showers,
toilets, water, etc. For
those who prefer something more comfortable, Whitby offers a wide
range of self-catering, hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation –
for more details, please contact Whitby Tourist Information Centre on
01947 602674. Catering:
The famous Moor & Coast food tent will be at the festival campsite
throughout the weekend to provide breakfasts and late night nibbles.
Snacks are available at the Pavilion, or take your choice from
the town’s eateries including Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisine
plus, of course, Whitby’s incomparable fish and chips. A little
extra involvement?
We are also looking for teams willing to get a little more
involved with our guests. From
our past experience, some overseas teams can be a little bewildered by
our culture, so we’d like to give each of them a UK team as a
minder. In addition to
helping our visitors enjoy their festival more, we hope that this will
bring teams closer together and foster a greater sense of community
within the event. We are also
looking for two or three UK teams who would like to arrive early, from
Wednesday or Thursday, and make more of a holiday of it.
This would allow us to do some extra dancing, possibly further
afield, and some work with local schools, several of which have their
own dance teams, predominately longsword.
This would be based in Goathland, where indoor camping
accommodation is available and was, for us organisers, one of the high
spots of the millennium event. Please
let us know whether you are interested in taking up this invitation.
We look
forward to hearing from you soon – don’t forget the 28th
February for reduced ticket prices.
For more information, please contact us at:
Stuart Higson,
Tel: 01609 760749
Email: stuart.higson@virgin.net
Vince Rutland, Tel:
01609 780536 Email:
svrutland@onetel.net.uk Best wishes, Stuart Higson
& Vince Rutland
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