North East dance festival receives £73,000 from National Lottery

Published: 1 February 2025
Reporter: David Chadderton

China at BIFF Credit: Danielle Cutler

The Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance will use the funds to deliver a series of community heritage projects in 2025, its 60th anniversary year.

BIFF will host events across Tees Valley including a catwalk-style extravaganza at Preston Park Museum and Grounds and Billingham Town Centre of costume stage wear showcasing fashion designs from countries including Africa, Bolivia, England, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, India, Mexico, Montenegro, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Ukraine and USA.

There will be a digital World Map of Memories and Scrapbook of stories from festival goers, Tees Valley residents, volunteers, dance companies and performers, are invited to share their stories and festival artefacts from the last sixty years.

Olga Maloney, Artistic Director of BIFF, said, “what better way to celebrate our 60th birthday than with the people who make the festival so special, our audience, performers and local people.

“Folklore dance theatre has been a proven way to break down cultural barriers for over six decades and enable people from across the region to experience global cultures on their doorstep.

“We are privileged that with the help of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and thanks to National Lottery players, the Festival will be able to document and deliver a series of celebratory projects that showcases and encompasses what BIFF means to so many people around the world. We want people to share their memories with us so that we can combine these stories and create a lasting archive that will live on forever.”

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