The hugely popular Bradford Mela returns this year with a full day of music and dance from all over the world.
This free event organised by Bradford Council on Sunday, 12 June has always been an opportunity to celebrate different cultures bringing a truly international flavour to Peel Park in Bradford.
Coun the Rev Paul Flowers, Portfolio Holder with responsibility for culture, said: "We have an amazing programme with artists coming from all over the world staging breathtaking performances and there will be the usual wide range of activities to enjoy and stalls to peruse.
"It will be a family orientated day bringing together the communities of the district and we are really looking forward to it."
The mela will open earlier at 10am to fit in even more performances and give people the chance to wander around the usual fantastic stalls selling delicious foods from across the globe and exotic gifts, paintings and crafts. Community information will also be available.
Alongside the stalls will be lots of activities for children and their families from story-telling to crafts and costume-making workshops. There will also be a chance to do interactive sports and dance routines.
The colourful performances will take place on two main stages and marquees around the Park. Visitors can enjoy Polish dancers, Pakistani qawwali singers, break-dancers, and as usual the best in Bhangra and Bollywood. One of the highlights will the appearance of Bhangra group DCS, a well established British Asian band with a worldwide reputation for their live performances.
The international troupes are Siddi Dhamal, an African inspired tribal drumming and dance group from the Gujerat, Chhau dancers from West Bengal with fabulous masks and acrobatic routines and Jaipur Maharaja Brass Band from Rajasthan.
Hilarious street theatre performers will also entertain families as they wend their way around the fair.
A spectacular 'Dance Dhamaka' will provide a dramatic finale to the day's events starting at 5.15pm on the Mango stage and continuing on the Guava stage at 7pm. This is a dance showcase bringing together a variety of dance styles from around the world including Bollywood dance from Desi Bravehearts, classical and traditional Indian dance by students from Kala Sangam and Shakti Arts, Bhangra from Nachda Sansaar, street dance by Lloyd Thompson and routines by Irish and Chinese dance troupes. The last act finishes at 8pm.
