Every pupil in the school of over 400 children had the chance to try their hand at rapper, clogging, morris dancing and song over the 5 day in school.

30 children were chosen by the school to work intensively with the group and to practise and develop their skills, with the aim of being part of a full Demon Barber Roadshow concert performance at the Music Hall at the end of the week.

In particular the 30 children were split into groups of 10 and worked on the following elements.

Rapper

Rapper is the most exciting traditional dance to originate from the British Isles; five dancers joined by flexible steel 'swords' weave around and over one another at speed to create patterns and figures.

Traditional to Northumberland and County Durham, the dance was originally performed by miners in the pit villages of Tyneside and in recent years has gradually spread with revival groups in the UK and across the world.

Often fast, physical and acrobatic, Rapper is a fantastic sight and growing in popularity, Damien recently organised the U12s Rapper Championship!

Further reading
Rapper Online
Wikipedia

Clog Dance

While there are clog dance traditions around the world, English clogging developed in the Lancashire cotton mills where wooden-soled clogs were worn at the machines, and men working would tap to the rhythm of the looms.

Through the 1800s Clog Dancing developed into one of the most popular forms of entertainment, with national competitions and competitors being judged on precision, footwork and technique.

As part of the schools’ project, the festival is buying 20 pairs of clogs that will be available to local schools or individuals for after school clubs etc.

Further reading
Wikipedia
EFDSS

Song

Our song group worked on ‘Byker Hill’, like many traditional songs, the origins are stepped in mystery, but with this song there’s lots of discussion as to the exact subject matter!

It’s obviously a song about coal mining, and Byker Hill and Walker Shore were both pits, but internet discussion groups are still active in debate as to whether it’s ‘Walker Shore’ or ‘Walk Ashore’!

If I had another penny
I would have another gill
I would make the piper play
The bonny lass of Byker Hill

Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more (2x)

The pitman and the keelman trim
They drink bumble made from gin
Then to dance they do begin
To the tune of Elsie Marley

When first I went down to the dirt
I had no cowl nor no pitshirt
Now I've gotten two or three
Walker Pit's done well by me

Geordie Charlton, he had a pig
He hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig
All the way to Walker Shore
To the tune of Elsie Marley

Further info
Mudcat Discussion
Lyrics & Tune

Photo Gallery

Images from this event can be viewed here.