The Truro Folk Dance Club was started in November 1971 with the St Paul’s Church Youth Club which was run by Rev Ken Rogers who was the curate at that time.
Over the years the venue has changed utilising the Truro WI Hall and British Legion before re locating to the Kea Community Hall at Playing Place in 1990.
There were a number of other Dance clubs in Cornwall run by the English Folk Dance and Song Society representative and the Clubs as a group were known as the Kernow 900.
The County representative also ran competitions for the young people in within Kernow 900 and Truro joined once the Kernow 900 club came into being. The competitions were held at various venues with judges coming from other clubs; later competitions for adults were introduced. These events were always well patronised and the classes were strongly contested by all the teams involved. Music and song also took its place in these events.
The Truro Folk Dance club still holds affiliation to the EFDSS (English Folk Dance and Song Society) with several club members also being full members of the society and are actively engaged in its work. These members regularly organise, attend and officiate at courses, workshops, and other gatherings in Halsway Manor. Westward Ho. Willersley Castle and many other venues throughout the UK. As well as running and or calling at other locally based clubs and gatherings such as private functions, weddings, and parties, the U3A and other clubs.
Past Events
In October 1972 the Truro club hosted a sponsored event for the Church of England Childrens Society, which was well attended by other Dance clubs.
The dance club with the Song Clubs also had a festival at Falmouth over 2 days and there were some demonstrations, general dancing and singing.
The Royal Albert Hall
A festival was held at the Albert Hall on a regular basis when teams form the Counties could send a group. Several of our young people attended notably in 1978 and thereafter these festivals ceased in 1981.
In the early 1970’s an adult group of 16 were filmed in Trelisssick gardens for the BBC when they made the Story of the Carol. They were all dressed in Elizabethan costume and it was shown before Christmas.
The Dance club have also held a club dance on the lawns at Trelissick gardens which was a pleasurable public demonstration.
In 1996, 12 members of the club had a part as dancers in the last Poldark film made, and this was filmed throughout the night. It was a most enjoyable event; there were also some dancers from Devon taking part with us.
In 2001 the club held a celebration dinner dance in Perranporth and since then have made this an annual event, it is now in Falmouth at the Green Lawns Hotel.
The club now meets weekly on a Wednesday which is both our workshop and our dance night where we learn new dances between enjoying those we know.
There is a good rota for our callers and this gives a wide variety of dances for members and friends to enjoy and trainee callers are openly invited and encouraged to try the art.
Charity Dances.
During the year Truro Folk Dance Club, sponsor and hold four charity dances with all the proceeds being donated to the chosen charity of the night. Members can request a charity and the committee also considers requests direct from outside charity fund raisers. These events are open for all comers and are held on a Saturday evening.
The club have held dances for the RNLI, TAG, Macmillan, Womens Refuge. Child Abuse, Shelterbox, Merlin Project, Lullaby Trust and other worthy causes.
Jigs and Reels
In 2010 club member Mr John Skinner with 3 other gifted accordionists formed an accordion band called Jigs and Reel. They have quickly gained a very high standard and a wide ranging repertoire of folk dance music, and we are pleased to have them associated with the club.
Jigs and Reels now play for the club on various occasions and at other venues throughout the county and are rapidly gaining a good reputation, with callers and dancers alike. They are available for hire along with any of our club callers.
Over the years the venue has changed utilising the Truro WI Hall and British Legion before re locating to the Kea Community Hall at Playing Place in 1990.
There were a number of other Dance clubs in Cornwall run by the English Folk Dance and Song Society representative and the Clubs as a group were known as the Kernow 900.
The County representative also ran competitions for the young people in within Kernow 900 and Truro joined once the Kernow 900 club came into being. The competitions were held at various venues with judges coming from other clubs; later competitions for adults were introduced. These events were always well patronised and the classes were strongly contested by all the teams involved. Music and song also took its place in these events.
The Truro Folk Dance club still holds affiliation to the EFDSS (English Folk Dance and Song Society) with several club members also being full members of the society and are actively engaged in its work. These members regularly organise, attend and officiate at courses, workshops, and other gatherings in Halsway Manor. Westward Ho. Willersley Castle and many other venues throughout the UK. As well as running and or calling at other locally based clubs and gatherings such as private functions, weddings, and parties, the U3A and other clubs.
Past Events
In October 1972 the Truro club hosted a sponsored event for the Church of England Childrens Society, which was well attended by other Dance clubs.
The dance club with the Song Clubs also had a festival at Falmouth over 2 days and there were some demonstrations, general dancing and singing.
The Royal Albert Hall
A festival was held at the Albert Hall on a regular basis when teams form the Counties could send a group. Several of our young people attended notably in 1978 and thereafter these festivals ceased in 1981.
In the early 1970’s an adult group of 16 were filmed in Trelisssick gardens for the BBC when they made the Story of the Carol. They were all dressed in Elizabethan costume and it was shown before Christmas.
The Dance club have also held a club dance on the lawns at Trelissick gardens which was a pleasurable public demonstration.
In 1996, 12 members of the club had a part as dancers in the last Poldark film made, and this was filmed throughout the night. It was a most enjoyable event; there were also some dancers from Devon taking part with us.
In 2001 the club held a celebration dinner dance in Perranporth and since then have made this an annual event, it is now in Falmouth at the Green Lawns Hotel.
The club now meets weekly on a Wednesday which is both our workshop and our dance night where we learn new dances between enjoying those we know.
There is a good rota for our callers and this gives a wide variety of dances for members and friends to enjoy and trainee callers are openly invited and encouraged to try the art.
Charity Dances.
During the year Truro Folk Dance Club, sponsor and hold four charity dances with all the proceeds being donated to the chosen charity of the night. Members can request a charity and the committee also considers requests direct from outside charity fund raisers. These events are open for all comers and are held on a Saturday evening.
The club have held dances for the RNLI, TAG, Macmillan, Womens Refuge. Child Abuse, Shelterbox, Merlin Project, Lullaby Trust and other worthy causes.
Jigs and Reels
In 2010 club member Mr John Skinner with 3 other gifted accordionists formed an accordion band called Jigs and Reel. They have quickly gained a very high standard and a wide ranging repertoire of folk dance music, and we are pleased to have them associated with the club.
Jigs and Reels now play for the club on various occasions and at other venues throughout the county and are rapidly gaining a good reputation, with callers and dancers alike. They are available for hire along with any of our club callers.