Rapper Events
DERT
DERT - the Dancing England Rapper Tournament - is the main rapper competition in the UK. It runs annually and the venue varies from year to year, as does the organising committee, usually based around a rapper team. Next year's competition will be held in Manchester on the 12th March. The following links provide more information:
- DERT 2016 - Manchester
- DERT 2015 - Bristol
- DERT 2014 - Leeds
- DERT 2013 - Burton on Trent
- DERT 2012 - London
- DERT 2011 - Oxford
- DERT 2010 - Derby
- DERT 2009 - Newcastle upon Tyne
- DERT 2008 - Liverpool
- DERT 2007 - Nottingham
- DERT 2006 - York
- DERT 2005 - Preston
- DERT 2004 - Bath
- DERT 2003 - Glasgow
- DERT 2002 - Sheffield
- DERT 2001 - Masham
- DERT 2000 - London
- DERT 1999 - Newcastle upon Tyne
DART
There is now the Dancing America Rapper Tournament, a rapper competition based on DERT to be held in in October or November. The first event was in Boston in 2010, and most recent was also in Boston this year.
Sword Spectacular
The Sword Spectacular was an occasional event covering all forms of linked sword dancing, including the rapper and longsword dances, as well as linked sword dances from Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the Basque Country. It was first held in Scarborough in 1996, and has since been held in Whitby in 1998, 2000 and 2004. The most recent was in York in 2008.
- Sword Spectacular 2008
- Sword Spectacular 2004 (Yorkshire Folk Arts site)
- World Millennium Sword Spectacular
- Sword Spectacular 1998
Folk Festivals
Rapper teams are found performing at Folk Festivals in the UK throughout the summer, and also more occasionally at Folk Festivals in the USA. Festivals where you are almost certain to see one or more rapper teams include:
- Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival - 15th to 17th January 2016
- Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering - 1st to 3rd April 2016
- Holmfirth Festival of Folk - second weekend of May 2016
- Shepley Spring Festival - 20th to 22nd May 2016
- Beverley and East Riding Folk Festival - 17th to 19st June 2016
- Warwick Folk Festival - 21st to 24th July 2016
- Sidmouth Folk Week - 29th July to 5th August 2016
- Broadstairs Folk Week - 5th to 12th August 2016
- Whitby Folk Week - 20th to 26th August 2016
- Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing Festival - 3rd to 4th September 2016
- Bromyard Folk Festival - 9th to 11th September 2016
If you are organising a festival at which a rapper side will be performing, and you would like a link here, then please contact webmaster @ rapper.org.uk