A children’s dance group from Zimbabwe have come roaring into the Llangollen Eisteddfod thanks to a local Lions club.
The newly-formed North Marches Lion’s club teamed up with the Lions Club International to bring over youngsters from the Pathway School, Chitungwiza.
They donated £1000 to the group to help pay for their food and lodging.
The dancers, aged between 8 and 12, are at the Eisteddfod for the first time strutted their stuff in the E2 dance competition at 10:30am on Thursday.
Dance group member Rumbidzai Kanjanda, 9, said: “I feel very proud to come here to show my country’s traditional dances.”
Fellow dance group member Anold Magoga, added: “I think the Llangollen Eisteddfod.”
Music teacher George Tamisai, said: “We are very grateful to the Lions for their kindness.
“It’s our first time here and my reaction when I arrived at the Llangollen Eisteddfod was just wow. It’s hard to explain – the colours just everything.”
“The children have been practicing very hard.
Chair of the North Marches Lions, Lyn Pinel, said: “We delighted to help them with their hospitality. They’re very polite and courteous. Every year we help bring a group over to the Llangollen Eisteddfod.
“I’ve been coming to the Llangollen Eisteddfod for years. I love the colours, the songs, the dancing the costumes.
“This is one of my favourite weeks of the year.”
Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “We’re very grateful to the Lions Club for making this possible.
“The key word in the title of this wonderful event is International because it brings together people from all over the world and we’re delighted that these young people from Zimbabwe are here for the first time this year.”
