Welcome to Weymouth Dance Festival 2020
The festival will be held from 24-29 October inclusive
The festival will be held from 24-29 October inclusive
Update 20 September
We are monitoring the situation regarding any announcements from the Government and will keep everyone informed. We have confidence in our robust risk assessment and planning which Weymouth College has also accepted, but any changes will be based on the latest Government evidence and guidance.
Update 9 September - Weymouth Dance Festival is not a social gathering this year
Following today's announcement to update the rules issued we would just like to clarify a few matters:
We hope you understand that this is the only way we can run this year. We will be checking government guidelines issued closely, and if the government issue something which prevents us from running we will comply with that. Please keep checking this page for the new guidelines.
Update 9 September - track and trace - what you need to do now
We will need names of those attending in advance and contact details for one member of the party. Please email us now details of who will be attending for each dance.
We must stress that we will be unable to admit anyone who we have not been notified as attending prior to the event. If you have any difficulties with the restriction of two (which does include children) please can you let us know and we will see if we can work with you to sort this out.
Update 6 September - audience limits
To keep all participants, volunteers and spectators safe this year we need to limit the audience:
Update 6 September - changing rooms
We have completed a full risk assessment for this year's Festival and there will be a few key changes to the way the Festival is run this year.
This year participants will be assigned a changing room according to their age (not their dance school) in order to keep mixing to a minimum. For example, all 9 years olds will use the same set of rooms, and 14 year olds will use a different set of rooms.
Update 5 September - dance teachers
This year dance teachers will be unable to enter the backstage area or the changing areas as we cannot have the extra people in the building and still keep everyone safe. If dance teachers would like to be involved in this year's Festival we would ask them to volunteer, where they will be posted to help in a certain area of the festival. This will include helping all participants, not just children from their own school. If you have any questions about this please email us.
Update 5 September - submit your music as MP3s now
This year we are doing the music for competitors differently to previous years to reduce handling and passing of CDs between volunteers and competitors.
Please submit your music electronically in MP3 format to swaofdance@gmail.com. Please state your child's name on the email and the class the music is for. This should include the part of the class your child has entered, for example, if you entered Class 3 Ballet 9 & 10 years and your child is 9 on 1st September 2020, you would write Class 3a Ballet 9 years. Please note, all ages have been split with the exception of 6 years & under, and 7 & 8 years who remain still as one class. Please check the running order to confirm the letter associated with your child's class. If you have any trouble identifying your child's class, please email us.
IMPORTANT - Back up CDs should still be brought with the competitor on the day of dancing.
Update 1 September - the Festival will run (barring any further Government restrictions)!
Following the committee meeting last week to discuss volunteer numbers, and consultation with Weymouth College, we are able to confirm that we intend to run the Festival this year. This is always subject to government restrictions and local lockdowns but, that aside, we are able to go ahead. We would like to thank all those who have volunteered to enable us to go ahead this year, it really is very much appreciated.
The Festival will look quite different this year. We have done an extensive risk assessment to ensure everyone's safety and so the way it works this year will have changed in some cases. We will be sending updates out regarding this here and on Facebook over the course of the next few days and weeks.
Music
We would now like to invite all entrants to send in their music digitally to swaofdance@gmail.com. Please make sure that you include the name of the entrant and the class for which the music is with each music submission. Please make sure you include the a/b/c part of the class number available from the running order. For example if you to send music for Class 45 Character 9 & 10 years, this is now class 45a Character 9 years or class 45b Character 10 years, so you would now include the appropriate a and b part of the class. This applies to all age groups with the exceptions of 6 years & under, and 7 & 8 years for whom the class numbers have not changed. If you have questions about your class number please email us.
Don't forget you will still need to bring a backup cd on the day.
Update 21 August - without your help there's a danger the Festival won't be able to run
Following a committee meeting to review a risk assessment for this year’s festival we need your help. A huge amount of work has been put into working out how this year’s Festival can be run with COVID restrictions in place. We are doing our best to enable the children and students to dance, but we cannot do it without you.
Due to the added implications of COVID-19 the Festival requires a team of volunteers to make it run. We cannot stress strongly enough that if we do not have these volunteers, there is a very real danger THE FESTIVAL WILL BE UNABLE TO RUN.
We have calculated that we'll need 20 volunteers per session (a morning, afternoon or evening) to be able to run. These volunteers will help us ensure the safety of competitors and spectators. Roles will involve manning doorways, helping competitors move safely around the building and helping ensure cleaning is carried out, amongst other duties. Volunteers may need to wear a face covering whie volunteering and will be situated in an indoor space with other people.
If we do not have 20 for each section, we will decide to cancel the sessions for which we do not have adequate volunteers. We will be very sorry to have to do this, but it is key to keeping people safe, and this must be our top priority.
If you are able to volunteer please email weymouthdancefestival@gmail.com and let us know the sessions you are able to volunteer for. Please also let us know if you have a DBS with child barring on it. The deadline for volunteers is 3pm Thursday 27 August.
PLEASE HELP US KEEP THE FESTIVAL RUNNING THIS YEAR.
Update 12 August - the running order has been published
Update 11 August - how to submit your music this year
We are taking a different approach to music this year.
For each entry, we will require a mp3 file to be sent into us, labelled with the name of the child and the class it is for.
This year many classes have been divided, so we will be publishing the running order soon with classes on. Please wait for this before labelling your music so you can use the appropriate class number. We are notifying you now so you can make the necessary preparations to be able to submit this.
Please note, you will still need to bring back-up CDs with you on the day/s of your Festival dance/s.
Update 10 August - cups, shields and awards
Please may we request that all of last year's award winners now begin to return their cups/shields/awards. Each award should have a return address attached. For any concerns please email us.
Update 3 August
Please remember to tell us if you wish to transfer from song and dance. The deadline for movement will be next Friday 14 August.
We also need a lot more volunteers. A running order will be published soon. We would appreciate parent volunteers on the days your children aren't dancing. Without your help we won't be able to run the Festival.
Update 30 July - call for volunteers!
To run the Festival this year with the required social distancing in place we are going to require a much larger number of volunteers to help us do this. Please let us know if you are able to help with the Festival.
Unfortunately, we won't be able to have extra people such as children whilst you are volunteering in the building. This might be an ideal volunteering opportunity for old students of the Festival to come back and help us to keep it running for the younger ones, but of course everyone is welcome to volunteer.
Please email us to let us know your interest and availability. If you might be available depending on your child's dancing times please still let us know and we can work with this once the programme is out.
If we are unable to get enough volunteers there is a very real risk we won't be able to run the Festival.
Update 23 July
Our main priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of competitors, parents/spectators and committee/volunteers at the festival. We are regularly reviewing the current government guidelines and making plans for the Festival accordingly.
We are still hopeful we will be able to run the Festival at Weymouth College this year. We will review this in line with guidelines as time progresses and still cannot promise to run the Festival. As per our last update, only solos will be run (including novice solos).
Unfortunately we must inform you that, in line with government guidelines, we are unable to run song and dance classes and the nursery rhyme class. At the moment the government does not allow singing to an audience by amateurs and we cannot see that this is likely to change for some time.
Re the money you have paid for song and dance classes, you can either:weymouthdancefestival@gmail.com
Please note, cheques/PO's will not be cashed until we know the Festival can go ahead.
We hope you understand this decision was not taken lightly and is in the interest of keeping everyone safe.
The Committee
Update 3 June
The committee has made the decision that due to COVID-19 and the consequent social distancing required, this year’s Festival will only have solos (this includes novice solos).
We understand this may be disappointing for many of you, but we hope you understand that we have taken this decision to ensure the safety and well being of all competitors, audience members, and volunteers.
Please note, the above decision does not mean the Festival will definitely go ahead. We have made this decision to allow the maximum possibility of the Festival going ahead, but we may still have to make a difficult decision to cancel the festival should government guidance dictate it is necessary.
Regarding refunds for duets and trio/quartets, we ask that where possible entrants who have already entered send a new cheque for the amount for just their solo entries with a SAE and we will return the original cheque. The same applies for POs please. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please email us and we will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding at this difficult time,
The Weymouth Dance Festival Committee
We will update this website with any further decisions which are made.
Please carefully read the letter to teachers as this details some different processes to entering this year.
Teachers do not need to sign entry forms this year. Instead, please make sure you have included your teacher's name and contact details on your entry form. The Committee will then contact teachers to confirm entry.
If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
We are monitoring the situation regarding any announcements from the Government and will keep everyone informed. We have confidence in our robust risk assessment and planning which Weymouth College has also accepted, but any changes will be based on the latest Government evidence and guidance.
Update 9 September - Weymouth Dance Festival is not a social gathering this year
Following today's announcement to update the rules issued we would just like to clarify a few matters:
- The rules from government have not changed at the moment with regards to dance festivals.
- We must stress that the dance festival is not a social gathering.
- We will be issuing updated guidelines following our risk assessment about how this year’s Festival will work.
- It will look very different to previous years.
- Elements such as the cafe have been removed, and unfortunately so has any social element of the festival there may have been previously. The guidelines which will be issued will reflect this.
We hope you understand that this is the only way we can run this year. We will be checking government guidelines issued closely, and if the government issue something which prevents us from running we will comply with that. Please keep checking this page for the new guidelines.
Update 9 September - track and trace - what you need to do now
- This year we will be operating a track and trace process for all attending.
- We will only allow two people per entrant to sit in the auditorium so we can maintain social distancing.
We will need names of those attending in advance and contact details for one member of the party. Please email us now details of who will be attending for each dance.
We must stress that we will be unable to admit anyone who we have not been notified as attending prior to the event. If you have any difficulties with the restriction of two (which does include children) please can you let us know and we will see if we can work with you to sort this out.
Update 6 September - audience limits
To keep all participants, volunteers and spectators safe this year we need to limit the audience:
- This year we will be allowing 2 audience members per competitor for each class.
- Tickets will be sold by the class.
- Audience members will be unable to watch classes that they do not have an entrant in.
- The 2 audience members for each competitor must be able to sit next to each other, either because they live in the same house, or because they have formed a bubble.
- We will be operating a track and trace system for all people entering the building. We will therefore be shortly asking for the names and contact details for all audience members and which classes/entrant they will be watching.
- We will also be asking all audience members to wait outside prior to the class they will be watching so strongly encourage people to dress for the weather and bring umbrellas etc.
Update 6 September - changing rooms
We have completed a full risk assessment for this year's Festival and there will be a few key changes to the way the Festival is run this year.
This year participants will be assigned a changing room according to their age (not their dance school) in order to keep mixing to a minimum. For example, all 9 years olds will use the same set of rooms, and 14 year olds will use a different set of rooms.
- Participants will be unable to enter other changing rooms besides the one they have been assigned.
- One parent/guardian will be able to enter the changing room with them but no other family/friends.
- Boys will still be assigned separate changing rooms.
- All participants must arrive dressed for their first class of the day (including hair and make up) to minimise the amount of changing required.
Update 5 September - dance teachers
This year dance teachers will be unable to enter the backstage area or the changing areas as we cannot have the extra people in the building and still keep everyone safe. If dance teachers would like to be involved in this year's Festival we would ask them to volunteer, where they will be posted to help in a certain area of the festival. This will include helping all participants, not just children from their own school. If you have any questions about this please email us.
Update 5 September - submit your music as MP3s now
This year we are doing the music for competitors differently to previous years to reduce handling and passing of CDs between volunteers and competitors.
Please submit your music electronically in MP3 format to swaofdance@gmail.com. Please state your child's name on the email and the class the music is for. This should include the part of the class your child has entered, for example, if you entered Class 3 Ballet 9 & 10 years and your child is 9 on 1st September 2020, you would write Class 3a Ballet 9 years. Please note, all ages have been split with the exception of 6 years & under, and 7 & 8 years who remain still as one class. Please check the running order to confirm the letter associated with your child's class. If you have any trouble identifying your child's class, please email us.
IMPORTANT - Back up CDs should still be brought with the competitor on the day of dancing.
Update 1 September - the Festival will run (barring any further Government restrictions)!
Following the committee meeting last week to discuss volunteer numbers, and consultation with Weymouth College, we are able to confirm that we intend to run the Festival this year. This is always subject to government restrictions and local lockdowns but, that aside, we are able to go ahead. We would like to thank all those who have volunteered to enable us to go ahead this year, it really is very much appreciated.
The Festival will look quite different this year. We have done an extensive risk assessment to ensure everyone's safety and so the way it works this year will have changed in some cases. We will be sending updates out regarding this here and on Facebook over the course of the next few days and weeks.
Music
We would now like to invite all entrants to send in their music digitally to swaofdance@gmail.com. Please make sure that you include the name of the entrant and the class for which the music is with each music submission. Please make sure you include the a/b/c part of the class number available from the running order. For example if you to send music for Class 45 Character 9 & 10 years, this is now class 45a Character 9 years or class 45b Character 10 years, so you would now include the appropriate a and b part of the class. This applies to all age groups with the exceptions of 6 years & under, and 7 & 8 years for whom the class numbers have not changed. If you have questions about your class number please email us.
Don't forget you will still need to bring a backup cd on the day.
Update 21 August - without your help there's a danger the Festival won't be able to run
Following a committee meeting to review a risk assessment for this year’s festival we need your help. A huge amount of work has been put into working out how this year’s Festival can be run with COVID restrictions in place. We are doing our best to enable the children and students to dance, but we cannot do it without you.
Due to the added implications of COVID-19 the Festival requires a team of volunteers to make it run. We cannot stress strongly enough that if we do not have these volunteers, there is a very real danger THE FESTIVAL WILL BE UNABLE TO RUN.
We have calculated that we'll need 20 volunteers per session (a morning, afternoon or evening) to be able to run. These volunteers will help us ensure the safety of competitors and spectators. Roles will involve manning doorways, helping competitors move safely around the building and helping ensure cleaning is carried out, amongst other duties. Volunteers may need to wear a face covering whie volunteering and will be situated in an indoor space with other people.
- These roles are critical for the safety of everyone attending the Festival, and as such, we must stress we need people who are able to commit for a full session.
- These roles will be unable to view the stage in the auditorium and as such we ask that you do not volunteer in sessions where your child(ren) is/are dancing.
- Due to ensuring the safety of all participating and attending, we are also unable to have volunteers bringing children/dependents with them when they are volunteering.
If we do not have 20 for each section, we will decide to cancel the sessions for which we do not have adequate volunteers. We will be very sorry to have to do this, but it is key to keeping people safe, and this must be our top priority.
If you are able to volunteer please email weymouthdancefestival@gmail.com and let us know the sessions you are able to volunteer for. Please also let us know if you have a DBS with child barring on it. The deadline for volunteers is 3pm Thursday 27 August.
PLEASE HELP US KEEP THE FESTIVAL RUNNING THIS YEAR.
Update 12 August - the running order has been published
- The publication of the running order does not guarantee that the Festival will go ahead. We are still subject to COVID-19 Government restrictions and College health and safety rules.
- The committee will make a decision regarding the running of the Festival nearer the time.
- The committee cannot be held responsible for any plans/reservations you make to attend the Festival in the event it is cancelled.
- Cheques and postal orders will not be banked until the Festival is definitely going ahead.
Update 11 August - how to submit your music this year
We are taking a different approach to music this year.
For each entry, we will require a mp3 file to be sent into us, labelled with the name of the child and the class it is for.
This year many classes have been divided, so we will be publishing the running order soon with classes on. Please wait for this before labelling your music so you can use the appropriate class number. We are notifying you now so you can make the necessary preparations to be able to submit this.
Please note, you will still need to bring back-up CDs with you on the day/s of your Festival dance/s.
Update 10 August - cups, shields and awards
Please may we request that all of last year's award winners now begin to return their cups/shields/awards. Each award should have a return address attached. For any concerns please email us.
Update 3 August
Please remember to tell us if you wish to transfer from song and dance. The deadline for movement will be next Friday 14 August.
We also need a lot more volunteers. A running order will be published soon. We would appreciate parent volunteers on the days your children aren't dancing. Without your help we won't be able to run the Festival.
Update 30 July - call for volunteers!
To run the Festival this year with the required social distancing in place we are going to require a much larger number of volunteers to help us do this. Please let us know if you are able to help with the Festival.
Unfortunately, we won't be able to have extra people such as children whilst you are volunteering in the building. This might be an ideal volunteering opportunity for old students of the Festival to come back and help us to keep it running for the younger ones, but of course everyone is welcome to volunteer.
Please email us to let us know your interest and availability. If you might be available depending on your child's dancing times please still let us know and we can work with this once the programme is out.
If we are unable to get enough volunteers there is a very real risk we won't be able to run the Festival.
Update 23 July
Our main priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of competitors, parents/spectators and committee/volunteers at the festival. We are regularly reviewing the current government guidelines and making plans for the Festival accordingly.
We are still hopeful we will be able to run the Festival at Weymouth College this year. We will review this in line with guidelines as time progresses and still cannot promise to run the Festival. As per our last update, only solos will be run (including novice solos).
Unfortunately we must inform you that, in line with government guidelines, we are unable to run song and dance classes and the nursery rhyme class. At the moment the government does not allow singing to an audience by amateurs and we cannot see that this is likely to change for some time.
Re the money you have paid for song and dance classes, you can either:weymouthdancefestival@gmail.com
- Send a new cheque/PO with instructions to destroy the old cheque/PO
- Send a new cheque/PO with a SAE for us to return the old cheque/PO
- Email us on weymouthdancefestival@gmail.com to inform us you would like to donate the value of the song and dance class.
Please note, cheques/PO's will not be cashed until we know the Festival can go ahead.
We hope you understand this decision was not taken lightly and is in the interest of keeping everyone safe.
The Committee
Update 3 June
The committee has made the decision that due to COVID-19 and the consequent social distancing required, this year’s Festival will only have solos (this includes novice solos).
We understand this may be disappointing for many of you, but we hope you understand that we have taken this decision to ensure the safety and well being of all competitors, audience members, and volunteers.
Please note, the above decision does not mean the Festival will definitely go ahead. We have made this decision to allow the maximum possibility of the Festival going ahead, but we may still have to make a difficult decision to cancel the festival should government guidance dictate it is necessary.
Regarding refunds for duets and trio/quartets, we ask that where possible entrants who have already entered send a new cheque for the amount for just their solo entries with a SAE and we will return the original cheque. The same applies for POs please. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please email us and we will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding at this difficult time,
The Weymouth Dance Festival Committee
We will update this website with any further decisions which are made.
Please carefully read the letter to teachers as this details some different processes to entering this year.
Teachers do not need to sign entry forms this year. Instead, please make sure you have included your teacher's name and contact details on your entry form. The Committee will then contact teachers to confirm entry.
If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our adjudicator
We are pleased to welcome to our Festival this year Miss Deborah Norris MA, BA(Hons), AISTD as our adjudicator
A graduate of Elmhurst Ballet School, Deborah continued her training at the University College of Ripon and York St John, and completed her MA in Dance Studies at De Montfort University.
A graduate of the Jose Limón Institute of Contemporary Dance, in New York, she has worked internationally as a dancer, educator and choreographer in Musical Theatre, Ballet and Contemporary Dance contexts.
Deborah is the Programme Manager of Rambert 2 and faculty member of Rambert School. Deborah is a PhD candidate at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, and is exploring narratives in contemporary ballet.
Deborah is a Board member and adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, and All England Dance.
A graduate of Elmhurst Ballet School, Deborah continued her training at the University College of Ripon and York St John, and completed her MA in Dance Studies at De Montfort University.
A graduate of the Jose Limón Institute of Contemporary Dance, in New York, she has worked internationally as a dancer, educator and choreographer in Musical Theatre, Ballet and Contemporary Dance contexts.
Deborah is the Programme Manager of Rambert 2 and faculty member of Rambert School. Deborah is a PhD candidate at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, and is exploring narratives in contemporary ballet.
Deborah is a Board member and adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, and All England Dance.
About Weymouth Dance Festival
Weymouth Dance Festival was started in 2005 and has gained in strength and reputation since.
It takes place every year in The Bay Theatre, which is part of Weymouth College. Please note there is no Festival parking in the College grounds. Please use the free car park across the road, opposite the College entrance.
The festival is affiliated to The British & International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech and follows its rules and regulations. Our patron is Her Majesty The Queen.
We are a registered charity - no. 1169047.
It takes place every year in The Bay Theatre, which is part of Weymouth College. Please note there is no Festival parking in the College grounds. Please use the free car park across the road, opposite the College entrance.
The festival is affiliated to The British & International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech and follows its rules and regulations. Our patron is Her Majesty The Queen.
We are a registered charity - no. 1169047.
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