Beyond Saint Patrick

St Patrick’s Primary School Burrenreagh, Castlewellan, have hosted the first WOMAD workshop of 2014.

Funded by Down District Council Good Relations Unit in partnership with the Down Arts Centre, school children are taking part in a series of Brazilian Dance workshops which will culminate in a dance showcase as part of the St. Patricks Day Carnival on the 17th March in Downpatrick. The school children will be joined in the carnival by a samba band and professional Brazilian dancers.

Pupils from St Patrick’s School will also be performing the Brazilian Dance at the WOMAD Showcase event, Skainos, Belfast on the 20th June.

Down District Council have adopted the theme World Music & Dance for this year’s festival which promises to a great family day out for everyone. Artists from the Beyond Skin music team will be also hosting an Interactive Music & Movement Experience at the Down Arts Centre supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

www.downdc.gov.uk/Home/Events/ST-PATRICK-S-DAY-CELEBRATIONS-%285%29.aspx

The St Patrick’s Carnival in Belfast taking place on Sunday 16th March will also see some WOMAD action.

In partnership with The Beat Carnival and funded through Belfast City Council, young people in North & West Belfast through a series of workshops will learn & showcase Ugandan and Brazilian Dances as part of the Carnival.

For more information visit www.beatcarnival.com

Beyond Skin have also completed a project exploring Protestant identity and the history of Saint Patrick with a youth group in Portadown as part of the ‘Bric’ Programme supported by The Rural Development Council, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, & TIDES training, funded through the EU Peace III Programme.

A video will be soon online via the Beyond Skin website and social media.

www.twitter.com/womadbelfast

www.twitter.com/BeyondSkin