Love Found at the Billingham International Folklore Festival

Strategic Insights -

A chance encounter at the Billingham International Folklore Festival in 1997 has led to a lifetime of love and adventure for Wendy Batby (née Harding). As a French teacher at Manor College of Technology in Hartlepool, Wendy was volunteering as an interpreter for a visiting French dance company when she met Vincent Batby, a French stilt dancer. The whirlwind romance saw Wendy leave her roots in the Tees Valley for the Médoc region in Bordeaux, France. Two decades on, Wendy and Vincent have two grown children, Thomas and Alex, and Wendy continues to teach English. This year, the festival is celebrating its 60th anniversary, with over 20,000 performers from 97 countries and an audience of over 1.8 million people.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Billingham International Folklore Festival has welcomed over 20,000 performers from 97 countries since its inception in 1965.
  • The festival has attracted an audience of more than 1.8 million people over the years.
  • The festival's 60th anniversary celebrations include a nine-day showcase featuring visiting dance companies from Indonesia, Mexico, Montenegro, Puerto Rico, Ukraine/Canada, and the USA.
  • The festival has played a significant role in bringing people together, as seen in the story of Wendy and Vincent, who met at the festival in 1997 and are now married with two children.
  • The festival's impact on the local community has been profound, with many people developing a lifelong love for languages, culture, and dance.
  • The festival has also provided opportunities for people to explore new horizons and experience different cultures.

Statistics:

  • 60 years: The number of years the Billingham International Folklore Festival has been entertaining audiences.
  • 20,000: The number of performers from 97 countries that have participated in the festival over the years.
  • 1.8 million: The number of audience members that have attended the festival over the years.
  • 9-17th August: The dates of the festival's 60th anniversary celebrations.
  • £1: The minimum cost of tickets for some of the festival's shows.

Sources:

  • Billingham International Folklore Festival website (www.billinghamfestival.com)
  • Interview with Wendy Batby (née Harding) by the author.
  • Interview with Olga Maloney, Artistic Director of the Billingham International Folklore Festival, by the author.
  • Stockton Borough Council.
  • Arts Council's National Lottery Project Grants programme.
  • The National Lottery Heritage Fund.