DANCERS and musicians from many parts of the world – including England, Scotland, America, Europe and China – will be taking part in the 2009 Cornwall Festival of Dance in June.

A group from St Andrews University in Scotland will be making a 1,100-mile round-trip to appear at the festival over all three days.

Polynesian dancers, who were such a hit last year, are back again, with some of the performers coming to Cornwall from as far away as Germany.

The festival of dance has built a strong, widespread reputation as a well-established feature of the Royal Cornwall Show which takes place at Wadebridge over three days – June 4, 5 and 6.

One aim of the festival is to demonstrate dance – mainly traditional – from Cornwall and beyond.

Others in the line-up will be traditional Cornish dancers, morris, line-dancing, flamenco and jive.

Cornwall College student dancers will be performing again this year – with a world premiere.

They will be given a tutorial in morris dancing by the festival organisers and asked to come up with their own modern interpretation.

Festival joint organiser Sally Hamlyn said: "Morris is a thriving world of dance with a lot of innovation going on and talented young dancers getting involved. We want the college students to come up with something fresh and invigorating."

The Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia (MMP) Group was formed as a social group for Pacific islands people living in Europe to meet and keep their culture alive.

Group secretary David Bradbury is based in Cornwall. He said: "Last summer our dancers literally were Royal Cornwall Showstoppers

"The road outside became impassable, with crowds stopping to watch the entire performance."

The St Andrews University Celtic Society dance group counts British, Americans, Germans, Chinese, French and one from the Isle of Mann amongst its members.

Sixteen dancers are making the trip.

The festival features a three-day programme of dance demonstrations, on the festival stage, which attracts a large audience. On the Saturday three morris sides perform at different locations around the showground.

Full details of the festival and regular updates will be found at www.cornwalldancefest.co.uk.

To keep in touch with the show visit www.royalcornwall.co.uk.