The third edition of Pallaam Art’s free multicultural dance and movement festival, International Spirit Fest ’25, is set to take place in the city centre of Wrexham on 19th July.
A Unique Opportunity
This year’s festival programme will entertain people of all ages and abilities in the community, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience different styles of dance and movement in an accessible outdoor setting. Performances by professional individual artists, theatre, and dance companies will take place in Queen’s Square.
The festival also includes a programme of workshops in local schools. It has received funding from the Arts Council of Wales, the Wrexham Council Community Cohesion team, the Multicultural Hub, and Community Foundation Wales. International Spirit Fest ’25 is part of the European Festival Association, a community of arts festivals that brings people and organisations together to exchange, create, and act.
Dancers and performers will fill Wrexham’s main square for a colourful and vibrant event for all to enjoy in a fun, accessible and inclusive environment.
National Eisteddfod
Performers this year will include international artists, dancers and actors from across the UK, as well as performances by dance groups from the local community. Visitors will witness spectacular performances by companies such as Hijinx Theatre, No Sleep Dance Theatre, Le Physical, and Krystal Lowes Daughters of the Sea, among others, as well as Paallam Arts artists. International artists will also feature, including Roseta Plancia from Spain and the Kalaripayattu artists’ team from Ayodhana Kalaripayattu Gurukkal, Bangalore, India.
The National Eisteddfod has also commissioned new work from festival producers Paallam Arts that it will perform at the International Spirit Fest ’25 Festival and the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham in August. Paallam will announce details shortly.
The festival not only highlights dance and movement but also creates a high-profile platform for cultural exchange and community connection. The outdoor setting offers audiences who might not typically visit traditional art venues the opportunity to enjoy and engage with dance.
An Informal and Relaxed Environment
The festival will host local street food vendors, including The Little Food Company and Koffee King, amongst others. It will also provide an opportunity for visitors to the square to meet local groups, such as Refugees Kindness, North East Wales Multicultural Hub, and Edible Wrexham.
Volunteers from Wrexham University will also play a part in providing a warm welcome for all visitors to the festival as part of the events team.
Festival performers will be on hand throughout the day to speak to festival visitors following their performance, answering any questions they may have in an informal and relaxed environment, thereby creating a completely integrated event. The festival is accessible to wheelchair users and their families, and dedicated relaxation spaces are available for people to take a timeout from the action.
Workshops for Young People at Tŷ Pawb
In addition to the main festival events, a programme of workshops for young people from local schools will take place in partnership with art venue Tŷ Pawb for two days on 11th and 14th July. The workshops will promote well-being and movement, offering an early experience of dance and movement to create and foster a love of the art form at a young age. Children will have the opportunity to participate in workshops, including Welsh clog dancing and the martial art of Kalaripayattu, at the venue.
Festival Producer and CEO of Paallam Arts, Krishnapriya Ramamoorthy, said, “Spirit Fest ’23 and ’24 proved that art has the power to unite, inspire, and uplift, making it a cornerstone event for Wrexham and beyond. Creating and providing free, high-quality experiences to the public outdoors in the centre of their community is the perfect way for people to enjoy dance and movement without any barriers.
“The festival is a celebration of dance and movement with artistic excellence at its core. At Paallam Arts, we aim to build interest around the art of dance and movement and presenting this accessible festival each year takes us one step closer to our mission.”
“A Privilege”
Jo Marsh of Tŷ Pawb said, “Spirit Fest is a unique part of the cultural landscape in Wales, bringing together exceptional artistic talent in dance and movement art from across the world, alongside local and regional performers. It is a privilege for Tŷ Pawb to partner with Spirit Fest as part of our core aim of championing multicultural participation, artistic excellence, and togetherness. We are so glad to see the festival continue to grow from strength to strength each year, benefiting the audience and the creative community. Paallam Arts, led by visionary leader Krishnapriya Ramamoorthy, is an asset to Wrexham”.
For information on the Spirit Fest ‘25, visit paallamarts.org.
Featured image courtesy of Prem Vision Photography
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