The carnival celebration of live music, dance and costume held in West Park, Newton Aycliffe on Thursday 12th July was a great success. Over 1000 people came out to see this colourful extravaganza.

Over 250 primary school and secondary school students performed in this vibrant carnival event. All of the students made their own props each week in our cutting loose shop in the town centre with local artists Sarah Churlish and Jilly Greenwood directed by professional arts organisation Bravura.

They worked with Choreographer, Ali Dixon, to perfect their carnival moves and Greenfield’s BTEC dance group performed the final dance piece as NWSI’s butterflies on stilts appeared from the trees. Musical director Ken Patterson worked with Woodham and the Music Service who composed a piece of music which they performed at the event as well as Jazz in my pants, Brassy B and Band de la Maria from Spain.

The costume and props brought colour to West Park, Boating Lake in Newton Aycliffe and even the sun came out and shone for us. Greenfield Community and Arts Centre who managed the project would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved including DCC Councillors who funded the project from their neighbourhood budget, to GAMP APP for their support, the Great Aycliffe Town Council, the Rotary Club for donating the iPad prize, the town centre management who provided our shop in kind, to all of the staff and students of the schools in Newton Aycliffe and a thank you to our volunteers who supported the project.