Rye Festival toshowcase dance

On Sunday September 14 leading Argentine Tango instructors Alan Mitchell and Ella Sharp will be holding an afternoon workshop which will be open to all abilities, including complete beginners.

In the evening there will be a Tango Milonga, with Los Mareados, the UK’s top tango quintet and dancers will be able to go through their paces as Rye Community Centre becomes a night club.

On Wednesday September 17 there will be a similar format for Flamenco dancing.

In the afternoon there will be a workshop held by Duende Flamenco, a troupe comprising guitarists, percussion, dancers and singers.

Unlike the argentine tango programme, the evening will be strictly for the professionals as Duende Flamenco will be performing ‘Lament for Lorca’ – a celebration of the life of 20th century Spanish poet and playwright through dance, song and music.

Geoff Boudreau, who is organising the events for the 43rd annual Rye Arts Festival, says: “Rye has a great dancing tradition.

“Jo Fletcher is holding her annual Rye Dance Centre Showtime as part of the Festival, which will once again showcase the talents of our youngsters.

“Jo has been teaching in Rye for 33 years, so I am sure there will be many of her dance alumni who will want to come along and take part in the flamenco and argentine tango workshops and performances.”

The full programme and ticket booking details for the 2014 Rye Arts Festival, which runs from 12th to 28th September, will be available soon on the website www.ryeartsfestival.co.uk . The box office opens next month.