South Wales News
May 2015
Dear Member
This communication may seem to be a bit soon after the last one but it fulfils a couple of needs, firstly to tell you about the newcomers dance (See the report from Alison), secondly to remind you about events coming up in June and beyond.
NEWCOMERS’ DANCE, LLANGENNECH, 25 APRIL
Well, the 28 pioneers who struck out into uncharted territories on the evening of Saturday 25 April were certainly rewarded. I’m not referring to the dance programme, or even to the company (though I hope both of these were enjoyable), but to the lovely hall we’ve discovered. In Pat’s words: “A real find!”
Llangennech Community Centre offers a number of rooms, including the main hall, which is a light, bright space with a good sprung wooden floor and a curtained stage area. The facilities (kitchen, toilets etc) are clean and modern. It’s not far from Junction 48 of the M4 and just behind the main road through Llangennech – but don’t believe your sat nav, or you’ll arrive at the station (as Conor did) or in a potholed back lane further up the road (as I did). Aim for the Bridge End Inn on Hendre Road, and the Community Centre is well signposted a short distance from there.
Returning to the dancing itself, numbers were somewhat disappointing, but we do seem to have managed to reach a fair proportion of those we had hoped to tempt along, i.e. less experienced dancers who don’t yet venture to attend mainstream social dances. One relatively new dancer explicitly commented on how good it was to have a dance tailored to the needs of that group.
Thank you to those newer dancers who attended, and also to all those others those who came along and supported them so helpfully. We hope that you’ll all come back for more!
On this occasion we didn’t quite manage to have dancers from all parts of the branch – but the West was very well represented. Thank you to the teachers in Swansea and West Wales who encouraged their class members to come along.
Thanks, too, to Tony Harland, who for the first time as a committee member co-planned the programme and took on his share of the recapping.
On a personal note: one dancer asked me whether I prefer dancing myself or re-capping for others to dance. In some ways, the answer is obvious, but equally, there is enormous pleasure in helping dancers to learn and develop.
I always relish introducing dances that are enjoyed elsewhere, but which we don’t often do in South Wales. One of these was “The Falls of Rogie”. I overheard a few mutterings at the beginning: “Never heard of it”, “Haven’t a clue”, and then an equal number of surprised comments at the end about what a good dance it is, how well it had flowed, and how buoyed up dancers felt at getting it right!
Maybe one legacy of this year’s Newcomers’ Dance will be that “The Falls of Rogie” will regularly feature on South Wales programmes from now on …..?
Alison Jackson
I’d like to thank Jean Elliot for passing on the detail for the hall. Does anyone else have a hidden gem that they would like to share??
Conor
The Branch AGM will be held on 20th June at the Swansea Scout and Guide Head Quarters. The agenda will be out early June with details of the topics to be discussed. If you are interested in joining the committee please let us know. You would be made very welcome by the other committee members.
South Wales Festival This will be held, weather permitting, at the Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor Centre otherwise known as the Brecon Mountain Centre. The evening dance will be held at Bishop’s Meadow Brecon. (This will also be the venue in the event of inclement weather.
Dancing in the afternoon will be between 2pm and 5.30pm as usual dancing will be interspersed with Demonstrations from local and some not so local groups.
The evening dance will start at 7pm until 10.45pm. Full details will be sent out shortly.
The Radyr Dancers will hold their annual dance at Morganstown Village Hall on Saturday 6th June. This year the music will be from Phill Jones of Ceol Na H-alba.
A flier is attached and tickets are available from Conor Farmer 20920813766 or email .
Narbeth Scottish Dancers will be holding a dance on 18th July at Whitland Town Hall, King Edward St. Whitland, Carmarthen, SA34 0AGThe music is provided by IAIN MACPHAIL
The event is ticket only please contact Jean on 01994 419505 or email her for tickets.
Pontardawe Festival
This will take place on the 15th August A small team of Dancers from South Wales will be taking part giving some displays at various locations in the town. If you are free go along and support, cheer. If you’d like to take part contact Alison Jackson who is organising the Scottish dancing or Tony Harland.
Welcome Dance
Many people have said how good it the dance was and why didn’t have another next year. Well we have organised one. It will take place 19th September at St Paul’s Parish Centre, De La Beche Road Swansea SA2 9AR and will start at 7.00p.m.
Details will be sent out as soon as possible.
Finally I have attached the diary for next seasons dancing. If you know of something else please let me know via the usual contact details.