Review of our trip to the XIII Worldfolkdance festival..by Heather Nelson-age 10
On the 13th of April 2009 The Donna Kimberley school of Highland Dancing travelled to Palma, Mallora (in Spain) for the XIII World folkdance f
estival. When we arrived at Spain we walked to the place where you collect your suitcases. Everyone had got their suitcases except one person, Nicola Ord. Everyone was worried because she had 5 different dancing outfits in her suitcase which altogether costs £1000, but eventually we found her suitcase after about 20-25 minutes. Then after we had the suitcase palaver over with we walked up and down this walkway trying to find our bus.
When we arrived at our hotel the Grupotel Taurus Park it was about 1pm. When all the adults where filling out forms to get their room keys, the kids were running up and down the stairs looking for the indoor heated pool , which they all wanted to go in since they heard about it. On the evening we went to the restaurant to get our tea. On the next day we all got up early for breakfast and then went into the indoor pool, then we had a practice for the competition, then went back in the pool until it was time to go to the opening ceremony. At the opening ceremony some of the local dance groups performed and we got to see loads of different costumes and instruments. When the ceremony had finished most of us were pleased because our feet were hurting. We followed our guide Hilda to the bus and we went back to the hotel to get our tea in our kilts. After tea we got changed and went to the bar and had a disco with loads of dancing. Everyone was really tired after that so we went to bed about 11pm. After a good nights sleep the dancers got up very early for the competition. We have been practicing for this competition every Sunday for about 6 months. Everyone was excited but nervous, especially Donna, our dancing teacher. She was telling everyone not to be scared or nervous, but most people were. 
When we got to the 'Teatro de principal' where the competition was held, everyone was shaking as they were putting their shoes on, and when we were walking to the stage getting ready to go on and perform everyone was whispering to each other saying “I am so scared I will end up making a mistake.” We went on and tried our best and when we came off everyone was sweating because they had tried their best and jumped their highest. After the competition we went to dance in a display. At the display we did 12 dances. After our display everyone was puffed out, hungry, tired and had sore feet. We went back to the hotel to get our tea and then went to the bar to celebrate our hard work at the competition. On Thursday morning everyone went for breakfast then got their hair done and got ready for the busiest day of the trip. We went to dance at a display in front of the Spanish cathedral. Then after that display we went to another display. After that display we went back to the hotel for 2 hours break and then went to the workshop. At the workshop we had to teach the Welsh, Bulgarians, Turkish, Spanish and the Romanians two of our dances and we had to learn two of their dances. We had a fun time especially when we were learning the other dances. When the workshop finished we went and danced at another display. When that display finished we went back to the hotel to get our tea, but we had to wear our kilts. As usual after tea we got changed and went to the bar for a drink(pop for us). We went to bed about 11.30pm that night. On Friday we got up early for breakfast like we did every morning. Everyone ate breakfast then got ready for a display except Donna, me and Brooke who got ready to go and visit the Mayor of Palma. When everybody else was waiting for Hilda and the bus to come me, Brooke and Donna were on their way to meet the Mayor and give her their presents from Scotland. At the mayors meeting 3 people from all the different countries had to go to meet the mayor so their was loads of people there, and they got to see all the different costumes. Brooke and me especially liked this one (pictured below). 
While we were having fun at the mayors meeting the rest of the dancers and the mini band were at a display. During the meeting us 2 kids were getting photos taken with the different countries, meanwhile the other dancers were having fun smiling for their audience while they were showing of doing their fabulous dancing. After all that smiling and dancing they all went back to the hotel and had the afternoon off which meant the indoor pool for the kids and sunbathing next to the outdoor pool for the adults. At one point during the sunbathing and the swimming some of them ate chips or even a huge ice cream with cream and strawberries on top. Then finally they went in, got dried, got changed and went for tea and then went to the bar to have another disco with loads more dancing than the other nights. During a good night of partying the dancers were dancing to nearly every tune. After most people went to bed the rest of them stayed up until about 1am in the morning putting balloons and banners up in the restaurant for Nicolas birthday on Saturday. In the morning everyone except Nicola got up earlier and went to the restaurant and got ready for Nicola coming down. Gary, Gary and Aaron were practicing playing happy birthday on their instruments for when Nicola came down. The dancers went into the indoor and outdoor pool and they also ate ice creams and chips until it was time to get ready for the closing ceremony. At the closing ceremony we all got to find out who won the competition who won best instruments etc. Unfortunately we didn’t win anything but but that didn’t matter because we had a good time and it’s not about winning or losing it’s about having fun. On Sunday we got up for breakfast, got everything packed and went and sunbathed and some of the kids went into the pool. Just before we were going to get ready to leave, Lisa(9 years old) pushed Gary(older than 9) into the freezing outdoor pool in the clothes he was going to travel in. That was the funniest part of the whole trip. Thankyou for reading my review.
By Heather Nelson aged 10
More photos from this trip can be found in the gallery