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N.Y.F.T.E.<br />
Replace a third of a folk display team with<br />
newcomers, to some of whom ‘rapper’ just<br />
means a popular musician, ‘ranting’ is throwing<br />
a wobbly, and ‘hankies’ are things used by their<br />
grandparents to blow their noses. <strong>No</strong>w you have<br />
one week to integrate these people into the team,<br />
and prepare two hours of diverse display items.<br />
It sounds like a brief for a TV reality show, and,<br />
given the challenges involved, you might doubt<br />
that it could be done successfully: but NYFTE<br />
has been doing it for years.<br />
NYFTE (pronounced ‘nifty’) is the National<br />
Youth <strong>Folk</strong>lore Troupe of England. The team was<br />
founded in 1990 with the aim of encouraging<br />
teenagers to discover or maintain an interest<br />
in folk dance, music and song. Always wideranging,<br />
the dance repertoire currently includes<br />
Cotswold, Border and <strong>No</strong>rth West Morris, Social<br />
Dance, Garland, Clog, Rapper and Longsword.<br />
A visit to the website www.nyfte.org.uk gives<br />
photographic evidence of many of these styles in<br />
performance.<br />
The team welcomes members from 10 to 18 years<br />
old, drawn from all over the country. There are<br />
currently thirty-one, including twelve newcomers.<br />
Obviously this raises logistical challenges of how<br />
to gather them all together for rehearsals. This<br />
year has been particularly tricky as the Easter<br />
school holidays varied across the regions, so the<br />
team met for intensive training over a couple of<br />
weekends and the long Easter weekend.<br />
NYFTE are regular performers (and caravan<br />
site stewards) at Chippenham <strong>Folk</strong> Festival, and<br />
this season they also performed at the Chepstow<br />
Two Rivers and Otley <strong>Folk</strong> Festivals. I love the<br />
energy of their dancing; give them a large space<br />
and they’ll make the most of it - all that youthful<br />
spring in their legs ! They really do put us adults<br />
to shame sometimes.<br />
NYFTE has a truly wonderful, dedicated group<br />
of adult leaders, and calls on other experts to<br />
assist with the teaching of specic skills. The<br />
older teenagers are encouraged to participate in<br />
the leadership of the team, and there is a team<br />
council to make sure that any issues are dealt<br />
with or suggestions for changes discussed.<br />
12<br />
Shammick Acoustic Sessions<br />
The Castle Inn, Combe Martin<br />
Second & fourth Saturdays @ 8pm<br />
13th Dec. Open Night<br />
27th Dec. Closed<br />
10th Jan. Open Night<br />
24th Jan. Brian Peters<br />
(daytime: workshop - Sing the song, tell<br />
the story. Evening: concert)<br />
14th Feb. Open Night<br />
28th Feb. Hughie Jones<br />
14th Mar. Open Night<br />
28th Mar. Askew Sisters<br />
Contact: Tom or Barbara Brown<br />
Tel: 01271 <strong>88</strong>2366 or e-mail –<br />
tomandbarbarabrown@umbermusic.co.uk<br />
www.umbermusic.co.uk/shammick.htm<br />
FRIENDLY FOLK<br />
DANCE BAND<br />
<strong>Folk</strong> Dance Clubs<br />
<strong>Folk</strong> Dances Contras<br />
Resident band at Bampton FDC<br />
07<strong>88</strong>5 427116<br />
Enquiries about membership are always welcome,<br />
or perhaps you might be prepared to hold a rafe<br />
or an event in support of the team. There are more<br />
details on the website, or contact Dave Leverton<br />
at ‘Heathers’, Stanton Wick, Pensford, Bristol,<br />
BS39 4BZ. Telephone 01761 490236,<br />
Huw Francis<br />
(This article was originally published in Set &<br />
Turn Single). It’s been several years since there<br />
has been someone from <strong>Devon</strong> in the team.<br />
<strong>Devon</strong> <strong>Folk</strong> Committee are prepared to offer<br />
some assistance to any young person from the<br />
county who wishes to apply for membership of<br />
NYFTE
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