Dance, music, and drama were an important part of the very first festivals. They were ways of honouring the gods. The first drama festivals grew out of religious festivals held in Ancient Greece. Competitions were held for the best plays. Today in Wales, poets, writers, musicians, and singers all compete with each other at festivals called 'eisteddfodau'.
All kinds of art play important roles in our lives. Special festivals celebrate sculpture, painting, crafts, poetry, folk dance, ballet, and every kind of music. Arts festivals may feature the work of a particular artist or group of artists, or they may aim to bring artists together from different parts of the world.
The mood of fun and celebration spreads far beyond the concert halls, theatres, and galleries. On the 'fringe' of arts festivals there are often unofficial performances, with acting, music, or dancing in the streets. | | Actors performing a play by Shakespeare |
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