Damhsafest, Cork's celebration of traditional dance, encourages everyone to join in, as Louise Roseingravediscovers
THE WEATHER gods smiled on Cork yesterday for an impromptu street-dancing jam that put strangers in each others’ arms for a little pre-lunchtime fun.
It was as if the clouds were part of the performance, as they parted dramatically, right on schedule, at 11.30am. The sun blazed down for all 45 minutes of the performance before disappearing once more behind a thick blanket of clouds.
The interactive performance featured two groups of dancers, from Belgium and France, in Cork for Damhsafest 2010, a one-of-a-kind folk-dance festival that runs until Sunday.
First up were Die Spelewei, Flemish traditional dancers who, with their thick heavy skirts, neat neck ties and caps, caught the attention of curious passers-by. Feet began tapping as the music took hold and the crowd swelled, taking over the wide pavement where Patrick Street meets Opera Lane, a new shopping street with a string of UK high-street stores.
In contrast, there was nothing modern about this street performance, as light rhythmical steps tapped old-fashioned brogues off the footpath. Swinging petticoats got the crowd swaying, and it was not long before Astour, a French troupe, were picking their way through the crowd, offering delicate fingers to those wishing to join in.
The performance turned magical for all of 20 minutes as dance enthusiasts from the crowd burst into action, throwing arms in the air and letting loose as spectators clapped and whooped.
I put my two left feet forward and stepped into the circle, holding hands with a French dancer who was decked out in traditional petticoats and had plaits in her hair.
On my left a beaming member of the Flemish group coaxed us along with a set of simple instructions, and for a while everyone flung their daily business to the back of their minds and tapped along in delight.
Now in its 15th year, Damhsafest celebrates folk dancing as an integral part of cultures worldwide. The only festival of its kind in Ireland, it has hosted almost 30 international groups, with performances taking place in Cork city and surrounding towns.
Die Spelewei take part in celebrations around the globe, performing at folklore festivals, where they showcase and exchange music and dance.
Astour, from Brittany, form part of the Celtic Circle of Rennes. The troupe works to develop the heritage of Brittany by staging shows that illustrate Bretons’ everyday life.
Their endearing style and smiling faces drew in young and old to take part. Tourists snapped the unusual spectacle that transformed the street for a few moments of multicultural mayhem.
We tapped and twirled and clapped and whirled while the traffic rolled on by, clasping hands and clapping palms in the blinding sunshine.
Damhsafest’s programme director, Fionan Cogan, hopes yesterday’s event will prompt more dancers to join the street flash mob, which continues daily at the same time and location until Saturday.
“It’s a way to let the public know that this festival is on and that there are various events taking place around Cork from now until Sunday. We are giving something back to the city.
These events are free, and we like for people to get involved. That’s the whole point of it,” he says.
The event proves that you don’t need to know the steps to join the trained groups in their steps. “Dancing is for everyone; nationality and age do not matter. We just want people to come out and enjoy it, because there’s not a lot of this type of event happening at the moment in Cork city. It’s a way to bring the festival to the streets.”
The five-day festival, which has about 40 volunteers on board, features 100 dancers from Ireland, Greece, Belgium, Brittany and the Philippines.
Events continue through to Sunday, with the main concert taking place on Saturday at the Everyman Palace Theatre.
One group of folk dancers will visit Blarney Castle this morning for another flash-mob spectacle; those seeking some preparations can attend a workshop at the Hibernian Hotel in Mallow on Friday at 3pm, followed by a performance in Market Place at 7pm.
A family fun day takes place in Carrigaline for the festival’s closing performances, with a number of open-air performances on Sunday.
Alternatively, you can always sneak out of the office and pop down to Patrick Street for some liberating midmorning movement each day at 11.30am – and bring your dancing shoes.
See damhsafest.ie
