Chatteris people can roar into the 1920s with the help of a tea dance and the chance to learn the Charleston
An afternoon tea dance could have added appeal to Strictly Come Dancing fans keen to learn one of the show’s most popular dances – the Charleston.
Yes it’s time to learn to swivel those feet and flap those hands as guests at the tea dance dance being hosted by Chatteris Museum as part of its Chatteris 20s project get in the swing of things and learn this fun dance.
The afternoon tea on June 11 will include a workshop with the chance to learn a basic Charleston routine in time for the town’s annual Midsummer Festival when a ‘flashmob’ will perform the fun dance to kick off the afternoon on Saturday June 24.
Experts from Take the Lead Dance School will put the wannabe dancers through their paces from 3pm in the Bricstan Room and it is all free of charge – but you need to sign up by emailing chatteris20s@yahoo.com.
Chatteris Town Council clerk Joanna Melton, who is one of the leading organisers of the Midsummer Festival, explained the dance is part of the celebrations of Chatteris in the 1920s, a project that has been funded by the National Lottery aimed at looking at what the town was like 100 years ago.
Local school children have already been busting some moves and learning the routine ready to perform in the main arena at around noon, when the Midsummer Festival parade arrives at the Furrowfields playing field.
Joanna said anyone can join in the ‘flashmob’ dance and she is hoping that participants will dress the part too and join in the walking parade.
She said: “We already have the local schools signed up to join the parade, but we are still looking for more local organisations to join in, and we are also opening the parade up to anyone who would like to take part, but we would like them to be dressed in the 1920s style.
“We chose the Roaring 1920s as the the theme for this year’s festival after being approached by the museum and we thought it would make an ideal choice.”
The parade will be gathering in Church Lance from about 10.30am ready to march through the town to Furrowfields.
Leading the way will be a jazz quartet playing music that fits this year’s theme. However, there will also be other bands joining the parade to keep the party atmosphere going and these include a Samba band, and a Reggae group.
The Midsummer Festival will run over two days on June 24 and 25. Saturday (24) will not only include the parade and the Charleston performance, but also an aerial circus performance by Fenland-based Gorilla Circus.
There will be stalls and other entertainment throughout the afternoon and then in the evening there will be the party in the park with more live music.
On Sunday (25) there will be the annual dog show, the tug of war contest,more live music from a ukelele band and a picnic in the park.