A SUNNY town was filled with music, banter and energetic dance, as Kendal offered a stage to dozens of rap dancers from as far afield as Denmark.

The 2017 Dancing England Rapper Tournament (DERT), hosted by Crook Morris, featured dancers and musicians from across the country, including Bristol, Newcastle and Bath. 


Moa Shamir, from Denmark's Red Mum team, said: "Nobody else does rapper dancing in Denmark, and we are in complete isolation most of the year. This is our chance to meet other dancers who share the same passion.

"Denmark is very flat, so we have been in awe of all the fells since we arrived on Thursday. It's so beautiful, and everyone has been so friendly to us." 


Hosted by Kendal's Crook Morris team, competitions were taking part in five Kendal pubs throughout the day, with each competing team having to perform once in each. 

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Peter Austin from Birmingham Rapper team said: "The response has been very positive from the local community, a lot of people have been showing their support throughout the day." 

Teams were also performing at Westmorland Shopping Centre in the town, competing which team would raise the most money for the Great North Air Ambulance. 


Jack Savage from the Northgate team said: "I took up rapper dancing because to me it was basically the manliest form of folk dancing.

"It's been a great day, and it's wonderful to be here honouring the tradition of rapper dancing."

Competitions were also hosted at Kendal Town Hall. 

The rapper dance is a fast traditional English dance, which originated in the mining villages of the Northumberland and Durham coalfields.

The dance involves five people connected by short, two-handled, flexible swords, called rappers, forming a chain.

Without breaking this chain the dancers weave in and out of one another, twisting the swords to form locks and breastplates, sometimes jumping or even somersaulting over the swords.

The day ended with a showcase and awards ceremony, held at the Kendal Leisure Centre.