Celebrating Leith and North Edinburgh June 2010
Newhaven Gala Day 2010 >>>
Leith Festival 2009 >>>
Polish Fair 2009 >>>
Edinburgh Mela 2009 >>>
Montgomery St Park
Spring Fun 2009 >>>
Leith & North: Please email any news items to: news@leithandnorth.org.uk Edinburgh Mela 2009: Triumphant return to the green green grass of Pilrig Visitors in a circular queue on the south side of Pilrig Park with the Forest Workshop Tent in the background

More pictures of Edinburgh Mela 2009 on Leith & North >>>

World Class and headline performers from all over Scotland, the UK, and the World, returned to Pilrig Park to take place in this year's Edinburgh MELA. The event was brought forward to coincide with the start of Edinburgh's Fringe Festival. 15 minutes' queueing and a £2 ticket allowed visitors to enjoy a whole day of drama, music, arts and laughter.

Edinburgh Mela 2010 will take place over the weekend of August 6th to 8th 2010.

Edinburgh MELA web site >>>

 A woman in olive green telling a story with her hands against a decorated forest background

^^^: Storytelling for children in the Forest Workshop Tent. The Tent is sponsored by the Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, and is packed all day long with activities for children.

 Adults and children working away at arts and crafts with a painted tree on the canvas of the tent Storyteller in olive green engaging children in dance moves Left <<<: In front of the Feel Good Tree.
Right >>>: Storytelling in the Forest Workshop Tent. Desi Bravehearts, (featured below,) are an exciting Glasgow based dance group, group who specialise in Bollywood/fusion dancing. They have already performed in Bradford, Belfast, rather awesomely, at the Mumbai Festival, and of course in Glasgow and now at the Edinburgh MELA.

Desi Bravehearts dancing in yellow dresses with yellow headdresses, green waistcoats and green leotards

Desi Bravehearts in close formation in red and black tunics with baggy black pants Four women in blue holding poses in formation Left <<<: Desi Bravehearts preparing to launch into a hip hop fusion routine.
Right >>>: Desi Bravehearts close a number A young woman and a young man in Taichi poses as Louise Martin in a satin purple evening dress, stands on stilts and plays her cello Desi Bravehearts dancing hip hop style in red and black tunics with baggy black pants Left <<<: Desi Bravehearts dancing Indian style
Right >>>: A male dancer joins the group for the closing hip hop routine.

The Bravehearts currently consist of 11 women and men of Scottish, Indian, Pakistani, Greek and Chinese backgrounds. With this cultural diversity they can display a wide range of dancing styles such as belly, scottish, rnb, hip-hop, greek and indian dance types such as bhangra, bangladeshi and kathak, which only adds to the flava fusion of their dances.

Desi Bravehearts in blue dresses with silver and gold decorations using magenta coloured veils

Local groups and community beat bobbies (see below,) were out and about spreading the word about remote reporting of crimes and incidents to the police through third party organisations. Some of these include, LBGT groups, Shakti, and Swietlica. The scheme has been around since 2000, and offers support for people who have their reasons for not wanting to approach the police directly. You can learn more by following the links below, and find a complete list of all the agencies that offer a remote reporting service.

Two dancers stand on a banister against a red wall confronting a black and red caped stilt walker Logos on the tee shirt - Swietlica, LGBT, Shakti Left <<<: Hunting for Diversity: groups campaigning along with the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership Leith
Right >>>: Close up view of the Hunting for Diversity tee shirts Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership web site >>>
Take Control: read more on the Lothian & Borders Police web site >>>

Head of the tabby cat paper sculpture A dancer in blues and purples kneels grieving the trickster figure Left <<<: Pilrig Park was decorated with animal sculptures care of North Edinbugh Arts Centre
Right >>>: Conjurer Jardu (Andrew Elliott) with victim and snake North Edinburgh Arts Centre web site >>>
Jardu: The Magic of India web site >>>

Eight women in African dress singing, clapping and dancing led by a ninth woman facing them

^^^ Above: The Zawadi Women's Choir which was established to help promote the Africa Centre Scotland which aims to offer a focal point and support for African and Caribbean people.

Edinburgh MELA web site >>>
Africa Centre Scotland web site >>>
Read about the Zawadi Women's Choir on Leith Open Space >>>

More pictures of Edinburgh Mela 2009 on Leith & North >>>
Edinburgh Mela 2008 on Leith & North >>>

View of crowd around the Garden Stage with the many coloured pendant flags blowing in the breeze