Dance school

The concert proved once again that Newport youngsters when inspired and motivated are among the best in the UK. They sang with passion and danced with panache. From toddlers to late teenagers (and a talented mum or too joining in for good measure) over a hundred talented youngsters gave a performance that they so obviously enjoyed as much as the audience.

Right in the middle of the action was a fair representation of Lliswerry's finest young talent.

Their routines stretched the abilities of each age group to the absolute limit. The response was magnificent and as good as it gets. At times there were scores of dancers moving around the stage at the same time. The many hours of practice were more than obvious as they weaved in and out without colliding.

Both the first half and ultimate finales were a riot of movement, song and colour that left the audience stunned. These were Newport kids at their very best. Shout it out and shout it out loudly.

To me there is no better sight than to see youngsters using the talent and skill they have been taught by adults who care enough about them to entertain others.

This performance certainly did that and some. Once again, thanks to the inspirational Vanessa Clarke for what she does and has been doing for generations of our youngsters. Without people like her hundreds more of our youngsters would be hanging around on street corners looking for something to do.

The icing on the cake was that the entire profit from the performance was donated to charity.

A VISIT FROM HEIDENHEIM: What a fantastic day for the children of Lliswerry Junior School! The day the German dancers came. Or to be more accurate, Swabische Truchtengruppe, of Heidenheim, brought some colour and European culture into their lives. The traditional German folk dancing group called in to the school on a twinning visit to our city. They quickly had all the youngsters enthralled and absorbed in some of their simpler routines.

I don't know whether it was the mesmerising sounds of the accordion and violin that accompanied the dancers, but the youngsters from Lliswerry were as captivated as the children of Hamelin by the Pied Piper by what they saw, heard and took part in.

Our German friends looked magnificent in their traditional dancing outfits. Smart as the youngsters in Lliswerry are, the men in black trousers and red waistcoats and the women in blue dresses and red aprons were a sight the children will hold in their minds for a long time.

The dancers quickly established a great rapport with children, and soon every one of them danced their way around the hall with their new friends. This really was a special day.Watching how the children responded to the dancers was amazing. Even the most macho, sports-loving razor-haired lads among them couldn't wait to join in and didn't want to leave.

Everyone, Jane and I included, simply melted at the sight of beautiful blonde-haired blue-eyed, two- year-old Marie Kloos. Smiling Marie just wandering around the hall dressed in traditional costume and occasionally joining in the dances was a delight to the children.

Germany had come to their school and into their hearts. I hope that it does not take too long until the youngsters from Lliswerry get the opportunity to perform in Heidenheim (these kids can sing, I can tell you). They can make as big an impression over there as the dancers did over here.

We also had the pleasure of seeing the dancers again at Nash village hall, where they danced their way through the night with members of Gwerinw yr Gwent a traditional Welsh dancing group.

Both groups regularly exchange visits and share their passion for traditional dance accompanied by traditional folk music.

I couldn't believe my luck that in among all the colour and movement I was able to enjoy one of my most favourite forms of music in the background. If twinning brings such a fantastic mix of music and culture let's have a lot more of it please.

FAMILY FUN AT THE WETLANDS: Despite the inclement weather the latest family day at the wetlands entitled Mapstick Magic attracted a small but enthusiastic group keen to explore what the wetlands has to offer.

The group were encouraged to see the reserve in a different light by using all their senses. Sound can be as important as sight in identifying many of the creatures that call the reserve home.You simply haven't lived until you have walked across a floating pontoon wearing a blindfold or learned to draw worms from the ground by jumping up and down.

In addition to the many bird species on display, the group also discovered some of the healthy amphibian population on an organised bug hunt. Family days under the guidance of the many experts who accompany the groups are by far the best introduction to the reserve. It is easy for the unaccompanied first-time visitor to the reserve to miss so much and leave disappointed.

Don't miss the next family event, which promises to be both fun and educational. The Winter slumberland walk on October 27 between 11am and 1pm is a cracker. The event focuses on the hibernating places of many of the furry little creatures that make the reserve such a special place, and no, I don't mean the voluntary wardens.

MARY DUNN CLUB: Parents of youngsters living in the vicinity of the Mary Dunn Club might want to have a little look at the activities of some of the cherubs in the evening. A small gang of children around about ten or 11 years of age recently mounted an unprovoked attack on the centre, hurling large stones at the doors and windows, along with abuse at some of the adults asking them to behave.

Children this young behaving like this is disgraceful and a poor reflection on many of the decent kids in the area. If your child is hanging around the area at night, go and pay a visit to see what they are up to. You could be as shocked as everyone else. You could also do something about it before the children find themselves in serious trouble.