We are delighted that this year’s Pomegranates Festival (25-30 April 2025) is themed around traditional dance and intangible cultural heritage, especially at a time when Scots are soon to be invited to nominate their favourite traditions to be included on an official living heritage list. Later this year, submissions for the list will be encouraged from all sectors … Continued

We are delighted to announce Masks – this year’s Pomegranates Festival exhibition, which features over 20 hand-crafted Venetian and world dance masks created by Edinburgh-based artist Lorraine Pritchard. The exhibition is complemented by a new documentary film by Franzis Sánchez from this year’s Venice Carnival. The exhibition reflects the dual focus of our Pomegranates Festival … Continued

In the lead-up to this year’s Pomegranates Festival of traditional dance (25-30 April 2025), we, at the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland are celebrating Scottish traditional dance alongside world traditional dance practised by New Scots and cultural migrant communities across Scotland, with two more Ceilidh Plus nights on 21 March and 26 April in Edinburgh. … Continued

  Click here https://www.tdfs.org/trad-dance-cast/ to listen  To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Pomegranates Festival (25-30 April) is launching a new podcast episode highlighting the role of women in traditional dance. Released on 8 March to mark International Women’s Day, the episode features dance researcher and new Scot Alena Shmakova discussing her work on dance history in … Continued

The Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland is delighted to announce full details of our fourth Pomegranates Festival which will run from Friday 25 to Wednesday 30 April 2025 at various venues across Edinburgh. The Pomegranates Festival in partnership with TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) and Moray House School of Education and Sport, at the … Continued

Following our recent Get People Dancing initiative, we are pleased to encourage all our members to join the new nationwide Let’s Dance campaign spearheaded by Angela Rippon, CBE. Following her success on Strictly and reaping the benefits of regular dance, Angela is on a mission to get more people dancing on Sunday 2 March 2025! We would be pleased to highlight all the traditional dance activities … Continued

Reflections by Xiaoxuan Zhong Participating in the first-ever Ceilidh Plus was a vibrant and enriching experience that included traditional Scottish Ceilidh dancing, Chinese square dancing and American line dancing. From the moment I stepped onto the dance floor, I felt an energetic and enthusiastic atmosphere. The lively Ceilidh music set the tone for the event, … Continued

Interview by Inesa Vėlavičiūtė   New to the International Festival Fringe’s scene, Yucca Dance presents In the Round – a captivating dance theatre piece that explores the universal symbolism of circles and perpetual cycles. Drawing inspiration from nature, spiritual beliefs, and modern life, the performance weaves together diverse cultural interpretations of these timeless motifs. I … Continued

In spring 2024, the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland – the only charitable organisation of its kind in Scotland, advocating, supporting and safeguarding all Scottish and world traditional dance forms practised across the country – was one of the contenders in the Scottish Charity Awards Partnership of the Year. However, this award-worthy partnership dates back … Continued

Review by Iliyana Nedkova Here we go ‘round the young oak tree on a cold and sprightly morning at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. This resilient seven-year-old Portuguese oak, the centrepiece of our al fresco traditional dance, music and art session, is likely to outlive us and the biodiversity crisis, just like the fabled mulberry bush … Continued