This week marks the beginning of the 58th Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance (12-20 August), and to represent the global flavour, a group of stunning dancers and musicians from Mexico will visit Preston Park Museum and Grounds in Stockton-on-Tees as part of its ‘Mexican Celebration Day’.
The performers from Ballet La Grana Beatriz Ramirez in Mexico look to enthral and entertain gathered crowds with their breath-taking costumes, make-up and dance-techniques all accompanied by a traditional Mariachi band.
The theme of the performance will be the ‘Day of the Dead’ which in North America is seen as a celebration of life, where local people remember the lives and times of their ancestors.
The Museum is the perfect location for our Festival preview as it has a beautiful array of clocks and time pieces, which ideally links to this year’s BIFF theme…’The Dance of Time’ inspired by the works of Salvador Dali.
It will be an ideal curtain-raiser as the Day of the Dead will feature in the main festival programme as a special show is being staged at the Festival Arena in Billingham Town Centre on Thursday 17 August.
Olga Maloney, Artistic Director of the Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance, said: “The Day of the Dead is an ideal way for the Festival to introduce to local audiences its sprinkling of magic and world class performance, and show people just what they can expect throughout this year’s cultural showcase.
“Visitors to Billingham and surrounding areas of Tees Valley including Darlington, Middlesbrough, and Stockton can enjoy a rich selection of international culture and new commissions but at affordable prices.
“We’ve brought together an eclectic mix of entertainment, education, story-telling and visual art for everyone to savour. Dance, music and performance are the perfect combination for escapism as people can come to one of our shows, and in a blink of an eye, can be transported in their mind to another country around the world to experience their customs and traditions.”
There will be performers jetting in to Billingham from all over the globe including Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, India, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, and of course the United Kingdom.
This year’s festival received support from Arts Council England (National Lottery Project Grant), Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Tees Valley Community Foundation, the Billingham Legacy Foundation and Billingham Town Council.
Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said: “It’s great to welcome the performers from BIFF to our ‘Mexican Day’ at Preston Park Museum and Grounds – the dancers always prove a great hit with visitors to our premier visitor attraction.
“The performance whets the appetite before the beginning of BIFF and they will be sure to also wow visitors with their ‘Day of the Dead’ performance next Thursday in Billingham.”
The featured shows being staged over the nine-days of BIFF 2023 include Juanita’s Magic Quest; The Two Fridas; Mexican Day of the Dead; a World of Weddings; and the World Dance Gala.
There is also a collection of new pieces being especially commissioned with support from Arts Council England; and are being created by Newcastle-based Eliot Smith Dance with local performers. These works can be seen at the World Dance Gala on Friday 18 August at the Forum Theatre, Billingham.
There’s BIFF’s Children’s Club, International Youth Dance Workshops and Adult Dance Workshops plus children’s poetry sessions and the exciting Time Trail for Kids.
All of the Festival details including an online box office and full festival programme are on the official website www.billinghamfestival.com
‘Pay What You Decide’ pricing deals are also being trialled for the Town’s Festival Arena dates to try and make arts and culture affordable for everyone.
Tickets can be purchased for selected shows at the box offices of Forum Theatre, Billingham and Middlesbrough Town Hall, and from the online box office.
The Festival officially kicks off with the Parade of Nations on Saturday 12 August as the performers will march through the town centre from 1.30pm.
