Diss Museum and marketplace is the setting in 2014 for a commemoration of the start of the First World War in 1914. The scenario is a wedding on the eve of the war with dances, songs and live music before the men suddenly march awayThe eve of World War 1 is the scenario for NHD’s presentation at the Early Dance Circle Festival, near Oxford. The all women Poppy Farandole evokes the women left behind after the men have marched away and the sacrifice in the fields of Flanders in this poignant tribute.Edwardian England and a parish tea dance sets the scene for a performance of ‘When the Lights Went Out’ performed at Swaffham Assembly Rooms with music and songs from the era plus both the traditional tea dances and the new couple dances which were becoming more popular, all to be halted by the tragedy of 1914The wildly popular new dances of Norwich-born Vernon Castle and Ragtime are part of ‘”When the Lights Went Out”, a commemoration of the start of the Great War in which Castle, an RFC pilot, was amongst those many who died
The dancing is drawing to a close as war looms and the men are about to march away
