Folk Dance Display Team

Bognor Regis International Dance Ensemble

The display team is made up of interested adults and children from different West Sussex international folk dance groups. The display team gives the children a chance to dress up and perform in a national costume (as well as the added enjoyment of visiting fetes in West Sussex). Being part of the display team is a great confidence builder for the children.

Janet Douglas provides the costumes for the children in the display team which she either borrows from the Society for International Folk Dancing (SIFD) costume collection or makes herself. The display team has benefited from a number of donations of cloth from supporters and is financed through the international folk dance workshops held in Bognor Regis.

Cloudia in
Vlaski Costume

The most that the children are asked to provide for displays are suitable coloured socks and shoes and possibly a white blouse - though any help from parents is appreciated.

Every year Janet Douglas arranges a number of performances usually during July and August in West Sussex. The performance is a nominal 30 minutes made up of dances by adults only, children only and both together. A selection of photos of these tours can be found on our 'photos' pages.

Last year they joined other SIFD groups at the Victoria Embankment in London to take part in the Big Dance Week. They will be performing again in the Embankment Theatre this year. 2005 was slightly different as the main events were Jumpstart at the Hawth Theatre and the CCPR Show at the Royal Albert Hall. The children performed a set of Serbian dances dressed in Vlaski costumes. Though these moments of fame lasted only 7 minutes each, appearing at large venues was daunting and we concentrated on those events.