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IVFDF stands for 'Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival' it is an exciting and dynamic festival held at a different university each year. IVFDF has been running since 1951 and is the country's longest continually running folk festival. The tour so far spans over 20 locations as far apart as Exeter in the south and Glasgow in the north. You don't have to be a student to go, just vaguely young or energetic. The Festival is particularly aimed at students, but it is open to everyone and caters for a wide range of ages and interests with numerous ceilidhs and workshops covering a wide range of dance styles - Scottish Country, Highland, Morris, Rapper Sword, Irish, and Playford are typical examples, with plenty of more exotic workshops varying from year to year.
The keyword is FESTIVAL: basically, hundreds of people attending for three days and two nights of intense dancing, playing music and singing, until they are unbelievably exhausted; A non-stop weekend of music and dance from the British Isles and beyond - there is the option of sleep for those who can bear to miss something.
In general the answer is anyone with an interest in lively, young, energetic folk music and dance. Because the festival is aimed in particular at universities it is attended by large numbers of students, ex-students and staff from all around the country - although in some cases ex-student means 30 years or so. But just because it is aimed at students does not mean that we limit who can attend. Anyone who is willing to enjoy and participate is welcome.
If you would like to find out more details on participating organisations can be found on their individual web sites or a full list of members who attended the last reps meeting can be found at the start of the minutes for each IVFDF Representatives meeting.
This site contains prolific quantities of information about the festival including a complete history, photos and details of the constitution however if that is not enough for you there is also a mailing list available that you can join and an archive of postings to the mailing list is available on the site.
The next IVFDF to be held will be 24th - 26th February 2006 in Cambridge (Festival WebSite).
| 5 March 2005 | IVFDF Central is expecting to more to a new host "sometime soon" which should mean that there are some updates and improvements to this site, and the archives. Watch this space ..... |
| 2 March 2005 | Another year another festival. Norwich did an amazing job this year despite last minute workshop cancellations and snow still managed to produce an amazing festival. |
| 1 March 2004 | Recovering after another excellent Festival in Exeter, where the new constitution was approved. |
