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Mid-week we had a break from dance classes with an afternoon tour Photo: Dale Hyde.
to the National Showcaves Centre.
Although the typical weather of wind, rain and clouds was present most
of the week, the sun would break through occasionally and we would
squeeze in a walk to the beach just across the main road from the
university. The beaches here and at “The Mumbles” a few miles down
the road are said to be among the 10 best beaches in the world.
Accommodations are excellent with each room having its own ensuite
and provided with a small kettle, package of tea, coffee and sugar as
well as milk and these were replenished each day by the house-keeping
staff. The meals always included a choice of fish, meat, or vegetarian
and also a choice of a cold meal. Everything was prepared in a typical
Welsh way so that added to the experience of summer school. In
between the morning classes we had a tea and coffee break with the
yummy Welsh cakes.
I had wonderful memories of the summer school I attended in 2010
and this year was just as memorable. With such a choice of teachers
and the evening dances, I’ve returned to Canada with enough dances
to fill my folk dance teaching hours for the next year.
Unfortunately, this may be the last SIFD summer school. The organizing
committee let it be known at the last summer school that they had
decided that this was their last summer school to organize and that it
was time for a fresh group of people to take over. At the moment no
one has offered to step in and take over a tradition that was started in
1958. Perhaps, in the future, it may emerge in a slightly different form.
I certainly hope so.

Campers dressed for the end-of-course dinner and dance.

Folk Dancer Online — 15 R e t u r n t o Table o f Cont ents www.ofda.ca