2020 is going to be a transitional year for one of not just the North East’s but the country’s best-loved and most respected international festivals.
The organisers of Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance (BIFF) have announced that, as of 2020, the festival will be staged in its entirety every TWO years.
After 55 years of entertaining the masses and inspiring generations of young and aspiring dancers, BIFF is shedding its skin and taking a different approach, which means enjoying an exciting two-year cycle of activity – by harvesting new ideas with the culmination being the festival at the end of the 24-months.
BIFF’s rekindling will explore the festival’s appeal and influence across the whole of Teesside and beyond.
“This is going to be an exciting opportunity to ensure that the Folklore Festival is around for another 55 years,” said artistic director, Olga Maloney.
Olga adds: “We want this to be a refreshing way to rejuvenate a formula that has been at the heart of Billingham’s cultural calendar for over five decades. We are celebrated the world over by dance companies and artists who recognise Billingham as being a global player in international dance.”
The new festival format will see BIFF gather creative influences in the form of one-off monthly events and community education showcases. These events will be a celebration of dance and what it means to the people of Billingham, young and old.
The ‘one year on, one year off’ way of working will ensure the dancers and audience members are left wanting more. The non-festival year will be a crucial way of nurturing ideas and preparing for an explosion of fun, creativity and world dance.
A series of monthly events will be taking place throughout 2020 and details will be announced on www.billinghamfestival.co.uk or on the festival’s social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) @BillFest.
The next festival date for your diary is 7th to 15th August 2021 which promises to be amazing!
Let’s all join hands, tap our feet and get involved!
