Dance Festival ‘showcases all the island’s talent’

Staging of the show dates back some 80 years. It originally started as an annual event but now runs every two years. This year’s is the 46th festival.

All six members of the organisation committee have been working towards this year’s festival since the 2023 event ended, booking Beau Sejour theatre immediately at the conclusion of the previous festival.

‘It’s a chance for students to showcase their skills,’ said Catherine Webster, principal of Gate and festival committee member. ‘It is a huge amount of work but I’m very excited about it.’

The festival gives local dancers the chance to shine and develop confidence on stage in a competition setting, she said.

Two adjudicators have travelled over to Guernsey for the event. Kay Ball is the adjudicator for the Greek classes, and Tracey Lee is the main adjudicator. Both have had significant achievements in dance in their own right.

All the island’s five main dance schools are involved and every single student, aged from three to 20 years old, gets the chance to dance in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, Greek and contemporary style.

‘For dance events like this in the UK children are selected, so many never get the chance to perform and compete.

‘Here every child is included, it’s very special and unique to Guernsey,’ said Mrs Webster.

‘It showcases all the island’s talent.’

Sessions are ticketed. The car park at Beau Sejour is expected to be very busy throughout the festival from today until it concludes on Saturday.

The Guernsey Festival of Dance is at Beau Sejour’s Theatre and begins today with Greek Day, with the main event running from tomorrow until Saturday. To book go to guernseytickets.gg.

The Guernsey Press is the official photography partner of the Guernsey Festival of Dance and photographs of all sessions will be on sale from later today.