Marbury and Brook Street

Mid-May saw Ya Raqs and Deva Victrix invited to Marbury Merry Days, a traditional country fair in the village of Marbury, in the Meres district of Cheshire. Sadly, the weather was not kind, and a stiff breeze blowing off the Big Mere meant that at one point some of us were dancing an impromptu set while still wearing our capes!. All was not lost, however, as we were able to take our portable PA system over to the craft and tea tents, and perform for the visitors and stallholders indoors.


The "cape" dance, and the Big Mere

At the end of the month we joined Irish dancers, Roman soldiers and a Chinese dragon at the first Brook Street Carnival, in Chester. The carnival was organized by the Brook Street Traders and Residents Association to bring the community together and show off the variety of the area. Click here to see a clip of one of our performances.


Outside the cafe

In a small way, we made a lasting impression on Brook Street. At the time of the carnival, plans were in place for the creation of a large mural on the gable end of one of the properties on Brook Place, opposite the cafe. The mural depicts buildings and events in Brook Street, both past and present, and if you look at the various design stages, you can see that a dancer in a distinctive red and black costume makes her appearance after the first draft, just behind the black car.

Can't quite make her out? Here's some photographs.

Part of the completed mural


Close-up of the dancer