Colsterworth Festival of Performing Arts kicks off 25th year with a week of dancing at Grantham College
A performance arts festival returned for the first time in two years following the pandemic and kicked off with a week of dancing.
The Colsterworth Festival of Performing Arts hosted a week of dancing at Grantham College between Monday and Friday last week after last year's festival was called off by Covid.
Chairman and founder of the festival, Julia Kerby, said the week of dancing went "really well" adding: "We were really pleased with it."
Last year would have been the festival's 25th anniversary, but was unable to go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions. Instead, Julia celebrated the 25th iteration this year, with around 1,200 dance certificates given out across the five days.
Dancers from as far as Loughborough, Nottingham and Peterborough took to the stage, as well as plenty of performers from the local area.
Adjudicator, Jayne Wing, chose 12 dancers to perform again for the chance to win a bursary.
The 12 dancers were: Mia Bowman, Lakye Crofts, Lola-Mae Hodgkinson, Matthew McCaul, Isla Niblett, Millie Oaten, Isabelle Perks, Leila Fletcher Smith, Adreanna Steventon-Todd, Jasmine Wesson and Maizie Whitbred.
Lily Yates was named the winner of the bursary after the dance-off.
Julia said: “It was [special], because I think if we hadn’t done it this year, I’m not quite sure whether it would have picked up again with missing two years.
"[We've had] amazing feedback from parents. They were just so pleased that there was an opportunity for their children to dance, because there’s been nothing.
"We’ve always been called the friendly festival, and as they were leaving, people were saying thank you so much, it’s been so friendly from the minute they walked in to the last dance. They’d really enjoyed themselves."
Having previously hosted the festival at local schools, it was the first time the event had been held at Grantham College, and Julia was delighted with how it went.
She said: "The college was amazing. I can’t praise them highly enough!"
Next up for the festival is the music and drama section, set to take place this weekend.
However, Julia has unfortunately had to cancel the school showcase, as schools are still in Covid bubbles until Friday.
To find out more about the festival, visit: https://colsterworthfestival.co.uk/2022-festival/