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CORNISH DANCE SOCIETY
Saturday 20th March
The CDS is holding a Day of Dance for its members on March 20th. This will provide a rare opportunity for all Society members to get together and enjoy a dance event for themselves.
If you are involved, or would like to be involved, in traditional Cornish dance and are not already a member, the CDS would love to hear from you! Membership is open to individuals and groups.
Information about the Cornish Dance Society can be found on its web site.
Falmouth Canoe Club held its annual charity ceili on Saturday 23rd January. This year the beneficiary was the local charity Shelter Box, heavily involved in the Haiti earthquake disaster relief.
This was a great evening, thanks to an audience who really knew how to enjoy a ceili!
To find out what we've got coming up, see 'Forthcoming Events' above.
Hevva runs open evenings in Redruth and St. Austell, where anyone interested in learning or practicing traditional Cornish dance or music is welcome. For further details please get in touch by any of the means given on the 'Contact Us' page.
Kekezza is a Redruth based youth dance group affiliated to Hevva. For more information ring 01209 211990 or email kekezza@live.com, or visit the Kekezza web site.
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Events over the last year:-
Falmouth Canoe Club
Falmouth Canoe Club held its annual charity ceili at the
Watersports Centre, Falmouth, on Saturday 23rd January.
The chosen beneficiary this year was Shelter Box, a fortuitous choice as it turned out, as by the time the event took place this local charity had become heavily involved in relief work in Haiti after the Port au Prince earthquake disaster.
The evening was a great success, due in large measure to an audience who really knew how to enjoy a ceili!
Garage music in fowey!
Fowey Christmas lights switch-on
Fowey celebrated the switching on of its Christmas lights on Friday 4th December with a visit by Santa Claus, a band led parade through the town - and music by Hevva. On an evening when the weather was not sympathetic to the occasion we were saved by the offer of a sheltered position in a private garage fronting the street. This was the first time that Hevva has played garage music! Nevertheless, we enjoyed being back in Fowey for this occasion, a town that's lovely in any weather.
Curnow School
Curnow School in Redruth is a special school catering for students with severe learning difficulties. Hevva was approached by one of its teachers who is carrying out a project on Cornish dance with some of the students, which will hopefully culminate in an and of term performance in front of the rest of the school.
We were pleased to assist by providing a couple of members to give a workshop at the school on 24th November, and they were rewarded with an enthusiastic response from the students who rapidly managed to master three different dances. We wish them well with their project!
Illogan Feast
The Wednesday after Lowender Peran, 21st October, saw us at Illogan School performing a Cornish troyl arranged by the local WI. In a hall decked with black and gold, and with Cornish fare to tempt us, we provided a mix of music, display dances, a costume presentation, and of course participatory dancing for all.
Photo: Mark Lawrence
Lowender Peran
Photo: Dominic Lamb
Lowender Peran is Cornwall's annual Celtic festival and took place at Perranporth over the period 14th-18th October. With groups from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and the Isle of Man joining those from Cornwall this was a hugely enjoyable few days, with opportunity to both reunite with old friends and make new ones.
Hevva played a full part in the events, providing a Cornish troyl with display and participating in the street pageant and dancing. Now we can't wait till the next one!
Godolphin Autumn Food Fair
The grounds of Godolphin House were the setting for an Autumn Food Fair organised by the National Trust over the weekend of 19-20th September. Hevva were there on the Saturday playing and dancing in glorious sunshine. It was a real joy to perform in this lovely setting on such a day, not to mention sampling the goods on offer!
Camelot Castle Hotel, Tintagel
On Saturday 12th September we were in Tintagel to perform a troyl at a handfasting ceremony. It was a pleasure to play and dance in this romantic setting, and to get everyone joining in some Cornish dances.
Gorsedh Kernow
The Gorsedd of Cornwall took place at Saltash on Saturday 5th September, and Hevva were among the performers on the Gorsedd field providing entertainment ahead of the main ceremony. This is one of the major dates in the Cornish calendar, and we were pleased to be invited by Esedhvos Kernow (the Eisteddfod of Cornwall) to take part.
Trematon Hall
We couldn't have gone much further without leaving Cornwall for this gig, which was held at Trematon Hall near Saltash on August 30th, but it was worth every mile travelled. The event was a 25th wedding anniversary ceili, held in a marquee in the beautiful grounds of the hall, and it was everything a ceili band could wish for, with a wonderful set of enthusiastic dancers on the floor. This was one to remember!
Hobgoblin Wadebridge Folk Festival
In Cornwall August Bank Holiday weekend means Wadebridge Folk Festival. Hevva performed a Cornish troyl at the Churchill Rooms on the Saturday afternoon, and although not as fully attended as perhaps the organisers might have liked, it was nevertheless a lot of fun. A friendly invasion by the allied army of Tros an Treys added to the enjoyment!
Nansmerrow Farm, Tresillian
Saturday 22nd August was the date for a return visit to Nansmerrow Farm near Tresillian to perform a ceili at a fund raising event for Tresillian Chapel. Held in a barn on the farm, there was plenty of space for dancing and those attending made good use of it.
Fairholme Summer Fair
This event took place on 15th August at Fairholme Nursing Home, Camborne. Unfortunately the sunshine ordered for the day didn't arrive and so events were transferred inside. Nevertheless we were able to give a mixed performance of dance, music and song in the lounge, and it was gratifying to hear residents say how they remembered us from our last visit and were pleased to see us again.
50th Birthday Celebration
Just three days after our return from Brittany, 14th August, we were at St. Erth to perform a ceili at a 50th birthday celebration. There were family members of all ages on the floor, but undoubtedly some of the keenest were among the youngest age group, who knew exactly what they wanted and hopefully we were able to oblige!
On stage at the Espace Marine
Festival InterCeltique, Lorient
For the second year in succession Hevva musicians were in Lorient to support Kekezza, one of two Cornish groups invited to participate in the Interceltic Festival which took place between 31st July and 9th August.
The scale of this Brittany festival never ceases to amaze. In the opening parade, watched by 50,000-60,000 people, Kekezza's turn to join came two hours after the first group had set out, and there were still many groups behind!
For further details, please visit the Kekezza web site.
Joint 140th Birthday Party
On Saturday 25th July we were at Marazion for a joint 140th birthday party, a definite cause for celebration. There was a pirate theme to the evening, enthusiastically endorsed by certain band members who arrived in costume looking like extras from 'Pirates of the Caribbean'!
The birthday couple were keen to show some Cornish culture to those of their guests from up-country, and we were happy to oblige by displaying some Cornish dances before getting everyone onto the floor.
Restormel Concert Band 30th anniversary
Sunday 12th July was a big day for Restormel Concert Band, as it celebrated its 30th anniversary with a concert at Polkyth Leisure Centre, St. Austell. Hevva were delighted to have been among the invited guests, and enjoyed entertaining people with music in the foyer as they arrived, before performing a dance display in the concert.
Wedding Ceilidh
For their second ceili in two days Hevva were at Chacewater Village Hall on Saturday 4th July to play at a wedding function. This was another enjoyable event for the band, with the bride and groom keen to lead the dancing!
Fowey Community College
On Friday 3rd July Hevva paid a return visit to Fowey Community College to perform a ceili at a fund raising event. Based on past experience a fun evening was expected, and we were not disappointed! Several members of the band either attended or teach at the College, and so this is a venue that they are always keen to return to.
Outside Rescorla Chapel
Rescorla Festival
Rescorla Festival, which celebrates the culture and customs of Cornwall's Clay Country, took place over the weekend of 26th - 28th June.
At the opening ceremony
The highlight for us was to see local schoolchildren dancing traditional Cornish dances and singing in their own language.
To learn more about the Rescorla Centre, please visit their web site.
Cornwall Festival of Dance,
Royal Cornwall Show
Saturday 6th June was the only wet day of the Royal Cornwall show, and even then a gradual improvement in the weather during the the afternoon meant that both the stage and audience became considerably drier between our two performances. This was the first experience of the festival for for some of our dancers, and the enjoyment of the day was enhanced by a generous provision of pasties and beer by the sponsors!
Scorrier House
A mid-week booking took us to a new venue for Hevva, Scorrier House near Redruth, on Wednesday 27th May. This wonderful old house was the perfect setting for a wedding reception and we had a great evening performing a ceili for guests from all over, including Wales, London, Ireland and Cornwall.
Smallholders' Country Fair & Farmers' Market
Sunday 24th May was a perfect day for this event, organised by the Cornish Guild of Smallholders and held in the grounds of Pencarrow House, it was the warmest day of the year so far, with unbroken sunshine. Hevva were among the entertainers, providing music both morning and afternoon.
Constantine & Gweek Twinning Association
The Tolmen Centre in Constantine was the venue on Friday 22nd May for a troyl arranged for visitors from Pont-Croix, Brittany, and their hosts from the Constantine and Gweek area. The enthusiasm displayed by those attending was both pleasing and rewarding, but it also made us thankful that our insurance was up to date!
Wellbeing Centre, Illogan
On Saturday 16th May we were in Illogan, near Redruth, to perform a double birthday celebration ceili. This was a new experience for several of the guests, and from comments we received after, one that they definitely wished to repeat! That in itself made the evening worthwhile, not to mention the sumptuous buffet!
Children enjoying a Serpent Dance at Fowey
Daphne du Maurier Festival
The lovely town of Fowey is the setting for this well known festival of arts and literature, and Hevva were delighted to be asked to perform on the Town Quay stage on Sunday 10th May.
We performed a mix of music and dance, and also got the audience participating in a few dances. Can't think of a better way, or a better setting, to spend a couple of hours on a sunny May afternoon.
Truro May Day Gras
This event, organised by Truro School of Samba, took place on Sunday 3rd May and culminated with performances by all participating groups on Lemon Quay during the afternoon. Although primarily a samba event, the organisers were keen to show some 'home grown' Cornish culture as well, which is where we fitted in!
There was a good crowd throughout the five-hour show, whose enthusiasm matched that of the performers.
Truro Round Table
On the evening of 2nd May we were at Higher Tresawle Farm near Probus performing a ceili for Truro Round Table Ladies Night. Also present were guests from La Table Ronde de Morlaix, so another Cornish-Breton event, another hugely enjoyable occasion, and the Breton interpretation of the Newlyn Fishermen's Reel had to be seen to be believed!
Fairholme Nursing Home, Camborne
The Saturday of the Early May Bank Holiday, 2nd May, was the date for a return visit to Fairholme Nursing Home at Roskear, near Camborne, where we entertained the residents again with music and dance during the afternoon. The appreciation shown for our performance was very rewarding.
King Edward Mine Museum Open Day
The Sunday after Trevithick Day in Camborne is traditionally King Edward Mine Museum Open Day, which this year fell on April 26th. Hevva were again among the entertainers, and enjoyed performing to an appreciative crowd both in the morning and the afternoon.
Other entertainment included the arrival of a skip lorry that proceeded to bring down some overhead wires before getting itself stuck fast in the exhibitors field! However, the combined engineering knowhow of the members of the Trevithick Society organising the event was equal to the occasion.
Bretons and Cornish at the Penventon Hotel, Redruth
St. Erth Twinning Association
A coincidence saw us arrive back from Brittany on the Wednesday after Easter on the same ferry as a visiting group from Ploulec'h in the north of the region, guests of St. Erth Twinning Association, for whom we found ourselves performing a troyl on the following evening. This event took place in the Penventon Hotel, Redruth, although we had to think hard to remember whether we were in Cornwall or Brittany!
Dancing at Pluvigner. Photo: Philip Hosken
Breizh-Kernow Festival
This Easter weekend festival that we have visited and enjoyed many times before is based in the villages of Brandivy and Bignan, in Morbihan. It is a festival of friends, both old and new, celebrating all things Breton and Cornish.
Performing at Bignan. Photo: Philip Hosken
After the unfortunate loss of musicians and dancers from both Hevva and our travelling companions Kekezza due to a mishap on the first full day of the festival, the two groups decided to join forces with their remaining numbers for the rest of the weekend, performing displays and troyl spots and leading a Cornish dance workshop.
Breton hospitality has to be experienced to be appreciated! A big, big 'thank you' to all our hosts.
Cornish Language weekend
'Dons an Benynes'
What else but the 'Newquay Heva'
in Newquay!
The annual Cornish Language Weekend (Pennseythen Gernewek) took place this year at the Sandy Lodge Hotel, Newquay, 3rd-5th April. Hevva were invited to perform a bi-lingual troyl on the Saturday evening and provided entertainment by way of display dances, music, song, a costume presentation, and called dancing for all.
Also on stage between our sets and to round off the evening were Cornish language band Skwardya, celebrating their 10th anniversary.
Cornish Pirates St. Piran Festival
Sunday 8th March was the date of the St. Piran Festival put on by the Pirates in Camborne Park ahead of their fixture with Bedford Blues. Hevva were among the groups who played and danced in the performance marquee, and despite the efforts of rain, hail and high wind to detract from the event, there was an appreciative audience of hardy souls braving the elements.
St. Piran ceili
The Cornwall and Devon Caravan Club held a St. Piran Rally that included,
With a pasty supper preceding the event, and the hall decorated throughout in black and gold, there was no escaping the fact this was a truly Cornish celebration!
Falmouth Canoe Club
The day after St. Piran's Day, we had another fun evening at the Watersports Association Centre in Falmouth, performing a ceili for Falmouth Canoe Club. This is a gig we have done a couple of times before, and always enjoyed. Proceeds went to the R.N.L.I.
By the way, if anyone who was there wants to try some Cornish dancing, get in touch!
St. Valentine's Day ceili
February 14th, Valentine's Day, saw us at Bethel entertaining the St. Austell Adventist Church Group with a ceili. This was a most pleasurable evening, enjoyed in equal measure by the participants and the band. Buoyed by the dancers' enthusiasm we worked them hard, but judging by some kind comments at the end not too hard!
Tolmen Centre
Cornish Talk and Taste Day
This annual event took place at the Tolmen Centre in Constantine on 24th January, where various aspects of Cornish culture and arrays of Cornish goodies were there for the sampling. Our display was performed outside in the forecourt to an appreciative audience, and the organisers were even able to arrange for the showers to hold off for the duration. We do like Constantine!
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Some private engagements are not listed, to check our availability please contact us.
Saturday 20th March
The Cornish Dance Society will be holding a Day of Dance for its members on 20th March, and Hevva will be there to take advantage of this rare occasion to get together with other members and enjoy dancing purely for ourselves!
The Cornish Dance Society is open to individuals and groups involved with or interested in traditional cornish dance. Further information can be found on its web site.
Sunday 4th April
As part of the Cornish-Breton Aberfest festival, Hevva will be hosting a party evening and anchoring a troyl on Easter Sunday for all those involved in the festival.
For further details of Aberfest, click here to visit the festival web site.
Saturday 10th April ~ Pennseythen Gernewek
The Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek has invited us to perform a bi-lingual troyl at the Pennseythen Gernewek, Cornish Language Weekend, to be held at the Sandy Lodge Hotel, Newquay, on 10th April. This is a return visit, and we are pleased to be asked back.
For details of this event please ring 01344 424105, or email kowethas@hotmail.co.uk.
Sunday 2nd May ~ Godolphin Spring Food Fair
The National Trust are holding a Food Fair in the grounds of Godolphin House, Helston, over the early May Bank Holiday weekend, and Hevva will be performing on the Sunday afternoon at 2.30 p.m.
For further details please ring 01736 763194 or email godolphin@nationaltrust.org.uk. To visit the web site, click here.
Saturday 22nd May ~ Cornish-Breton Twinning Troyl
Calstock Parish Twinning Association will be hosting and entertaining guests from St. Thuriau, Brittany, in May, and Hevva will be providing a Cornish troyl for them on Saturday 22nd. We are very pleased to have been invited by the Association for the second year running to perform at such an occasion.
Sunday 27th June ~ Rescorla Festival
Rescorla Festival, organised by the Rescorla Centre, will be taking place in June to celebrate the culture and traditions of the 'clay villages' of mid-Cornwall. Hevva will be providing music and dance on Sunday 27th June, and joining in the Snail Creep procession.
For further details please visit the Rescorla Centre web site.
Saturday 21st August ~ Smallholders' Country Fayre
The Cornish Guild of Smallholders will be holding their annual Country Fayre and Farmers' Market on the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge, on Saturday 21st August, and Hevva will be providing musical entertainment during the day.
Further information about the Cornish Guild of Smallholders can be found on their web site.
