DANCERS have done their best to inspire the footballers of Billingham Town FC, as part of the build up to a major dance festival.

Young dancers, all members of the Billingham-based Tapshoes and Tutus group, and the footballers were doing their bit to publicise the 50th Billingham International Folklore Festival.

The dancers, all recent graduates of Teesside University’s School of Arts and Media, wore traditional national costumes from France to Mexico to highlight the fact that, just like in the football World Cup, performers from across the world will attend the August festival.

The festival will be held between Saturday, August 9 and Saturday, August 16 and artistes from Chile, Cook Islands, Georgia, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, North Cyprus, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and from across the UK will perform.

Olga Maloney, Artistic Director for the Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance, said: “We are really excited. The event programme promises to be bigger and better than ever before in our special anniversary year.”

Darren Trotter, the manager of Billingham Town FC who currently play in the Northern Football League Division One, said: “Each year the Billingham International Folklore Festival really brings the town to life and provides a great feel good factor.

“Having the World Cup and Billingham International Folklore Festival taking place over the next couple of months will be great fun and something to really look forward to.”

Find out more about the festival by logging on to billinghamfestival.co.uk/