A host of exciting new classes will take place at this year’s Manx Music Speech and Dance Festival.
With less than a month to go until entries close, organisers of the 2019 Dandara-sponsored event are reminding would-be competitors of some new additions.
They include a new Adult Group Dance class; the introduction of a set of News Reading classes, were entrants will be asked to present scripts in the form of a radio news bulletin; a Singing Duet class for years three to six and even a new Adult Stand-Up Comedy class.
The popular Character Study has been renamed as ‘Monologue’, while children’s Manx Spoken Word classes will now include standard English as well as dialect.
The 2019 Festival (the 127th), otherwise known as the Guild, will be held from 27th April - 4th May. The closing date for entries is 9th February.
More than 200 classes will be held during the week covering all forms of music, both vocal and instrumental, solo and group, plus a growing dance section and the ever-popular drama competitions.
Festival Secretary Jacqueline Yates said: ‘We recognise that tastes and styles change and that’s why we constantly look at making room for exciting new additions.
‘The Guild showcases the best of Island talent and we always aim to move with the times to attract new people.
‘We are really looking forward to seeing how the new classes are received, particularly the news reading and Stand-Up Comedy classes which we have added to our drama offering.’
Dandara Managing Director Seamus Nugent added: ‘This is our fifth year as sponsor and we are proud to be involved with the Manx Music, Speech and Dance Festival, especially during a period where the committee is exploring ways in which it can cater for people involved in more contemporary forms of artistic expression, while maintaining its strong tradition.
‘We feel sure there will be a healthy number of participants once again.’