THE three-day Dartmoor Folk Festival held at South Zeal, near Okehampton last weekend, has been hailed as a ?resounding success?. The crowds arrived in their hundreds and enjoyed traditional music, song, crafts and dance at the 28th festival, which ran on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visitors were treated to a packed programme of entertainment which included performances from some of the top artists from the folk world playing alongside the best local musicians and singers. Held immediately after the close of the celebrated Sidmouth Festival, music fans desperate for more folk jumped on the wagon and headed to Dartmoor. The acclaimed Dartmoor Pixie Band got the festival off to a flying start with an opening concert on Friday night. The next morning there were song and music sessions and workshops teaching the Dartmoor stepdance and broomdance. The stepdance competition involves dancers trying to out-step one another on a 15-inch square board, to win a place in the competition?s final which is held on an old hay wagon. Adult winner was Sarah Crofts, of Lewisham, London, who said winning was a ?dream come true?. She explained: ?When Bob Cann was still alive he encouraged me to enter the competitions to make up the numbers. I took part in the first one in 1987, and have taken part in many since.? Junior winner was Zoe Davies, 12, of Starcross, Exeter, a member of the Exeter-based percussive dance team, Firestone. The broomdance competition sees dancers forsake their traditional human partners to strut their stuff with a broom. Winner was Emily Boother, aged nine years, of Townend, South Zeal. Emily learned the correct dance moves at workshops held at the festival and at classes held at South Tawton Primary School. West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox, the Deputy Mayor of West Devon Cllr Peter Hill, Exeter Morris squire Mark Bailey, and the festival president Mrs Joyce Cann, widow of the late Bob Cann, presented the trophies. Bob Cann founded the festival in 1978 and received the British Empire Medal for his service to folk music before his death in 1990. At other concerts and ceilidhs during the weekend, artists included Roy Bailey, The Sultans of Squeeze, Dangerous Curves, Hanging Johnny and Ben Campbell. Festival chairman Jason Rice said: ?All the events, from workshops to concerts were full to capacity and everyone had a great time. ?The artists put on a magnificent show. It all went very well and it is a credit to the association of members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters. ?It all contributed to the unique friendly atmosphere that is the Dartmoor Folk Festival.? Dates of the 2006 festival were announced as August 11-13 and further details can be found at http://www.dartmoorfolkfestival.co.uk">www.dartmoorfolkfestival.co.uk
