Shake, Shake, Shake Danum - St Leger Festival, posted by Meroe

The good people of Danum (Doncaster) welcomed the Romans and Ya Raqs dancers back on the weekend of 8th and 9th September for the St Leger Festival.

We had glorious sunshine on both days – yes you read correctly BOTH DAYS – a miracle. The gods were clearly smiling on us for this event.

Our base for the weekend, in the sunshine

Having set up our little “home from home” we were ready to provide music and dance. We performed two sets each day and ran mini-me workshops for the budding young talent in Danum. The mini-me dress up was overwhelmed again, and there was a steady flow of dancing talent willing to perform with us in the arena. This year they all got a special certificate as a keep sake.

We did children’s temporary tattoos, henna, dancing, dress up and to top off each day there was the gladiator show with more dancing from our gorgeous Gladiator Dancers.

Tameri and Phoenece in their Gladiator Dance costumes

The Ya Raqs girls let their hair down on the Saturday evening after the show by going along to the White Swan and a Rock and Roll evening. Meroe surprised all of them by not only knowing all the songs, but singing along to every single song bar one! Not very Roman, not very Egyptian, but great fun.

Sunday marked another very successful day with lots of people coming along to see the Romans and their camp followers. To round the whole weekend off there was a special impromptu performance by all of the re-enactors – Roman soldiers, Roman women and dancers - and even a few of the stewards, as Aisha got them all up and dancing to Shake, Shake, Shake Senora!

A wonderful event and a great way to round off our summer season. Thank you to everyone in Doncaster for a inviting us back to a wonderful event and also the Premier Inn for keeping us well fed and watered and for the nice comfy beds – beats camping!! Hope to see you all again next year.