Coleg Ceredigion students have been getting involved in activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the controversial drowning of Capel Celyn, near Bala.

As part of their programme of activities, students from the Level 2 Pathways to the Creative Arts and Sciences course were fortunate to take part in a dance workshop led by the celebrated performer, Eddie Ladd.

Eddie is currently touring Wales in a Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru production based on the drowning of Capel Celyn, Dawns Ysbrydion, along with fellow performers Angharad Price Jones and Coleg Ceredigion staff member, Anna ap Robert. Billed as a “story of endangered cultures, language suppression and the subjugation of cultures”, Dawns Ysbrydion opened at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival to great acclaim.

During the one-off workshop, Eddie encouraged students to have confidence in their own work and performances and to explore the themes raised such as cultural identity, communities and language.

“It’s great to throw together in situ and to respond directly to the students' work created,” Eddie enthused. “I enjoyed this experience immensely, I hope that they’ll now consider all types of moves to create dance work and performances -they have so much to contribute!”

Prosiect Tryweryn has been a highly successful cross-curriculum project in which students have been investigating the legacy of the drowning of Capel Celyn exactly 50 years ago to create the Llyn Celyn reservoir. Students have been given access to archive pictures and video at the National Library of Wales and will be visiting the controversial dam itself later this year. The students have also benefited from a lecture by Dr Roger Owen of Aberystwyth University Theatre and Television department, who has recently collaborated with Eddie Ladd on 'Dawns Ysbrydion’.

Nick Allen, Course Tutor for the Pathways to the Creative Arts and Sciences at Coleg Ceredigion, commented: “Our students had a fantastic experience with Eddie during her workshop and capitalised on her energetic and creative input to be able to develop their own dance work to a new level. They will also have the opportunity to see the Dawns Ysbrydion performance at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. I hope this project will help enrich our student’s understanding of Welsh cultural identity, history and language.”