ON WEDNESDAY, July 9, on the Globe Stage between 12noon and 4pm, six dynamic community groups from across Wales will come together at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod to showcase their cultural vibrancy through a unique project called Community Rhythms and Roots Wales. Supported by the Arts Council of Wales, these groups will bring their multicultural and multilingual heritage to life in a celebration of Wales’ diverse communities. This initiative echoes the Eisteddfod’s long-standing tradition of uniting people through the power of the arts, building bridges in the spirit of peace and friendship.
Under the banner of Community Rhythms and Roots Wales, the groups represent a rich mosaic of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, each offering a performance that blends music, dance, and poetry. These performances will tell the stories of their communities and their roots, providing a compelling and joyous reflection of Wales’ multicultural landscape.
The project is further supported by three key partners – Literature Across Frontiers, the National Dance Company of Wales, and Community Music Wales—who will provide expertise and mentorship in storytelling and performance. Specialist community consultants, Lyndy Cooke and Richie Turner, along with project directors Garffild and Sian Eirian Lewis, will guide the groups through the creative process, ensuring their performances resonate on an international stage.
Each group will receive financial support to bring their performances to life at Llangollen in July.
Garffild Lewis, Project Director for Community Rhythms and Roots Wales, said: “This project celebrates the strength found in diversity, bringing together Wales’ rich cultural communities.
“We’re excited to showcase these performances at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, where music, dance, and storytelling will unite us all in a spirit of peace and creativity, continuing the Eisteddfod’s tradition of fostering global connections.”
Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Wales, expressed the significance of this initiative: “We are proud to support Community Rhythms and Roots Wales at Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2025.
“The work is the result of a successful application to our ‘Connect and Flourish’ fund – a National Lottery funded programme that encourages collaboration between organisations, communities, individuals and creative workers.
“Literature Across Frontiers, National Dance Company Wales and Community Music Wales are working together on this inspiring project to celebrate a rich texture of voices that reflect creativity, inclusion and cultural diversity and the work will mirror the values of the International Eisteddfod.
“We are really looking forward to seeing the work amidst the colour and excitement of Llangollen.”
John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, also commented: “This is a brilliant project, so close to our heart. We’re also thrilled that the six groups will play a central role in our Parade of Nations after their performance on our field.
“This year, we’re welcoming over 4,000 competitors from 35 different countries to Llangollen, continuing the Eisteddfod’s tradition of uniting the world through music and culture – just as we’ve done since 1947.”
Meet the Communities:
- Balkan Roots (Cardiff & Newport): This vibrant group celebrates the diverse cultures of the ex-Yugoslav states, bringing together music, dance, and song to share the rich Balkan heritage.
- EYST Wales (Wrexham): Young performers from ethnic minority backgrounds will present a powerful dance and music performance, showcasing global diversity through national flags and traditional dances from Poland, Portugal, South Africa, and more.
- Caminhos (Cardiff & Surrounding Areas): A performance that blends chant, movement, and spoken word to tell the story of a community at peace, later torn apart by external forces. Its aim: to promote global harmony.
- TGP Teulu Dawns Cymru (Cardiff): This group of teenage asylum seekers will explore identity, heritage, and connection through Afrobeats, blending rhythmic dance and original music to express their shared experiences.
- Samarpan (Newport & Cardiff): “Nritya – A Dance for Unity & Peace” brings the profound traditions of Indian classical dance to life, celebrating cultural interconnectedness and global unity through the power of performance.
- Oasis (Cardiff & Surrounding Areas): Combining the talents of the Oasis Gambas Band and the One World Choir, this performance uses original bilingual songs, spoken word, and dance to spread messages of joy, peace, resilience, and solidarity.
