In-depth details of Billingham's international festival of dance

A scene from a previous festival. Photograph by RJ Photography.

A week-long schedule of performances has been lined up for this year’s Billingham International Folklore Festival.

And it all gets under way on Saturday when the opening ceremony begins at 2.30pm. It will feature all of the international dancers at the open air arena.

Later on Saturday, at 5.30pm at the Billingham Forum swimming pool, there will be a synchronised performance by the Balbir Singh Dance Company.

The day’s entertainment concludes at 8pm at the Forum Theatre with a guest performance by the BBC Young Dancer 2015 winner Connor Scott and Vidya Patel, winner in the South Asian Dance Category. The show will also feature dance companies from Chile, Martinique, Mexico, South Korea and Bashkortstan in Russia.

The schedule continues on Sunday with a family concert at 4pm at the open air arena.

The same venue provides the base for shows at 2.30pm and 8pm next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with dancers from Chile, South Korea, Martinique and Mexico all on stage.

Thursday’s line-up includes an international concert at 2.30pm at the Billingham Festival Open Air Arena, and the World Dance Gala Concert featuring all the international dance companies at 7.30pm at the Middlesbrough Theatre.

Dancers from Mexico, Egypt, South Korea, North Cyprus, and Russia will perform on Friday, August 19, at 2.30pm at the open air arena in an international concert.

Another World Dance Gala Concert is planned, this time on Friday, August 19, at 7.30pm at the Forum Theatre in Billingham.

On Saturday, August 20, at 5.30pm, the Balbir Singh Dance Company will feature in the Forum Atrium in a free event called Painting the Indian Gods.

The festival comes to a conclusion with the farewell gala concert which is planned on Saturday, August 20, at 2.30pm at the open air arena. It will be followed by a mini gala concert at the arena followed by the closing ceremony at 7.30pm

For more details including the cost of events, visit www.billinghamfestival.co.uk/billinghamfestival/billfest/