Hundreds of school children head to festival of dance

More than 1,000 children representing more than 50 Somerset primary schools will be celebrating the annual Folk Dance Festival on Wells Cathedral Green this weekend.

Now in its 44th year, the Somerset Schools’ Folk Dance Festival is being held on Saturday 16 June, with 53 schools participating.

The schools meet at St Cuthbert’s Church yard at 2pm, travel up the High Street in Wells watched by friends, families, shoppers, and tourists onto the Cathedral Green where the dancing will start at 2.30pm.

Councillor Nigel Taylor, Somerset County Council’s Chairman will be opening the event.

He said: “This is always a wonderful spectacle. The children work hard on their dance steps before coming together in this popular annual Festival, often watched by parents and grandparents who themselves once took part. I am very proud to open the event this year and look forward to watching the many children from schools across the County dance in this the 44thFestival.”

Lucinda Searle, Executive and Liaison Officer for the Somerset Association of Primary Headteachers and Officers (SAPHTO) and one of the organisers of the event, said: “As always, the Folk Dance Festival is a major date in the annual calendar of the County Council and is a great example of all that is best about Somerset’s Primary Schools as they come together in a celebration of dance.”