Merthyr Express column

7 May 09
Global Village
This year’s Global Village festival, celebrating cultural diversity, from Wales to India and from Noth America to Australia, will this year be much earlier in the year. The fourth Global Village event at Cyfarthfa Park will begin at 11am and run until 5pm, this Sunday, 10th May. The day will open with a performance by Ysgol Rhyd Y Grug. Performances will continue with music and dance from Sam Mbogo, African fusion dance from Osa Renren, 3Gs Dancers, Divakar, Welsh harp music from Telynau Teifi, India Dance Wales, Shik martial arts from Baba Deep, Welsh folk music with Pibau Pontmorlais, Jamiloa Dancers, Welsh chior Lleisau Pontmorlais, Rancho Folclorico Portugues em Gales, traditional Australian music from Nigel Mason, naitive American hoop dancing from Malcom Davies, Bhangra from Bobby Singh, Flamenco Gales, Ysgol Santus Tudful, Thai dancers, Welsh folk dancing from Dawnswyr Pen-y-Fai. The event will also have a workshop tent featuring Nigel Mason on the Didgereedo, Sam Mbogo, storytelling, Welsh harp with Telynau Teifi, Divakar and Baba Deep sikh martial arts. There will also be a visual art and craft workshop tent with Chinese calligraphy, Bollywood clothes, a Bulgarian artist, African mask making, face painting and Indian design by Rajee Divakar. There will also be food vendors for refreshments.

Chinese Caligraphy
In addition to all the Global Village activities on Sunday, Arts Council of Walse have also funded workshops at various community venues including Chinese calgraphy at Glamorgan Gates today (7th May) at 10am and tomorrow (8th May) at Enterprise Art and Business, Lower High Street Merthyr Tydfil, at 2pm.

Open Mike
The next Open Mike Night welcomes poets, short story writers, singers and acoustic musicians together with those who would just like to listen and soak up the atmosphere, on Thursday, 14th May, at the Imperial Hotel. The guest author for the night will be John Gimblett. Open Mike nights are supported by MTCBC Arts and Academi. Please contact 01685 725382 or arts@merthyr.gov.uk for more details.

Welsh Singing
For anyone who enjoy’s singing and want’s to meet other Welsh speakers and learners, why not come along and join Lleisiau Pontmorlais (Pontmorlais Voices). The choir is a mixed choir, so everybody is welcome. They meet every Sunday evening at 6-8p.m. in the Canolfan Gymraeg (Welsh Centre), Pontmorlais. For further details on this and other activities for Welsh speakers and learners, please contact Jamie on 01685 722176 or email jamie@merthyrtudful.com.

Punk Night
Another night of fast and furious punk rock music will be hitting The Vault at Merthyr Tydfil College next week. Argy Bargy, The Warriors, Dun2Def and Noise Agents play on Friday, 15th May. Doors open at 7:00pm. Tickets cost £10. For further information and tickets please contact: 01685 726161 / mtheatre@merthyr.ac.uk