Over 150 dancers and musicians gathered at Skipton on Saturday 17 July to enjoy Clogfest – the annual celebration of English step-dance.
They came from Surrey, London, Oxford, Carlisle, and Durham, as well as from our local counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Clogfest is now established as an annual party where friends meet to show off their new dances and tunes in the beautiful setting of the Leeds-Liverpool canal basin in Skipton town centre. The backdrop of brightly-painted boats is enhanced by the dancers’ colourful costumes, which range from traditional Victorian shawls to smart modern skirts.
Around 500 people turned up to watch the free showcase on Saturday afternoon, where each team performed their party piece on a stage. To everyone’s delight, a special guest turned up – Wallop, the clog-dancing horse from the Forest of Bowland, performed his four-legged waltz.
Despite the rain, it was a happy occasion, as everyone swapped news and gossip. Master of Ceremonies, Martyn Harvey, reminded the audience that clog dancing was difficult to learn, and hard to perform on a stage in front of other dancers who watch every move intently. But this is not a competition; it’s a celebration of the rich variety of regional dancing styles.
Paul Hudson, organiser, said “We’re delighted so many dancers and musicians come to Skipton year after year. They always enjoy themselves and put on a good show. And we’re grateful to our sponsors, who help us with the cost of the festival – Craven District Council, Copper Dragon Brewery, Skipton Castle, and Trefor Owen Clogs. Their community spirit is much appreciated. We’re all looking forward to the BIG 10th Clogfest next year on 8 – 10 July 2011.”
Programme details are on the web at www.clogfest.org/
