Dawns Werin Llanofer

From the collection of

Archif Sgrin a Sain Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive
Established in 2001, the National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive holds an unrivalled collection of films, TV and radio broadcasts, video tapes and sound recordings relating to Wales and the Welsh, from 1898 to the present day. The collection spans multiples formats and genres, both professional and amateur.

Dawns Werin Llanofer


Around the room', 'Swing the corner' and 'Towards the harp': just a few of the delightful figures used in this lively Welsh folk dance.

Ifan ab Owen Edwards, educationalist and founder of Urdd Gobaith Cymru [the Welsh League of Youth], films the children at Ysgol Llanofer dancing what is here described, incorrectly, as the only genuine Welsh folk dance. As they fly around the room, swinging the corners, moving towards the harp and making figures of 8 in a dance choreographed by Lady Llanover to a tune composed by triple harper Thomas Gruffydd, they are linked culturally with their past.

The triangular logo of Urdd Gobaith Cymru uses the three colours of the Welsh flag to symbolise the triad of service enshrined in the movement – service to Wales (green), service to humanity (red) and service to Christ (white). The movement was inaugurated in 1922 by Ifan ab Owen Edwards who had inherited from his father – O M Edwards, Chief Inspector of Education for Wales – a commitment to the Welsh language and culture and to the fostering of both amongst the nation's youth. The Urdd, as it is known, has gone from strength to strength and today is a well established part of the lives of Welsh-speaking children, with its own annual, national eisteddfod (Welsh-language cultural festival). *To enable subtitles for this film, once playing select CC in the video playback bar (at the bottom of the screen) and select Closed Captions = On.*


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