Wealden residents enjoy Journey’s Festival of Dance success

More than 450 people attended a unique evening dance performance

It was in Hailsham and over 1,200 revellers enjoyed theatricals, music, dance and family-filled fun throughout the day.

Journey’s Festival of Dance, a three-day event which started in Newhaven before heading to Hailsham and ending in Bexhill, was delivered by local events company 18Hours, in collaboration with Wealden District Council, the Arts Council and other local authorities.

The council fully funded the event in Hailsham through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to ensure the event was free and accessible to residents.

The vibrant event was aimed at raising community spirit by bringing excellent quality dance performance to everyday outdoor space, raising the profile of dance, encouraging participation and reflecting local diversity.

There were workshops featuring the Corina Piatti Tango Trio, a talented group of musicians and singers, who brought the authentic sounds of Argentine Tango to Vicarage Field and in the evening there was a performance of Amor by Compagnie Bilbobasso, which combined tango, fire, and theatre in a spectacular show.

There were also tango workshops led by Caola Degener-Pereira, a professional tango dancer and teacher.

Councillor Paul Coleshill, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Climate Change, Wellbeing and Economy, said, “I attended this wonderful community event and it really was fabulous to see so many residents enjoying the performances, live music, and dance workshops.

“We were very lucky with the weather and though the evening was cool, I think the fire performance warmed everyone’s hearts.”