Information for Dancers

Welcome to the White Rose Festival; the committee sincerely hopes the weather is kind to us this year and that you will have an enjoyable day. This page contains some information about the day and the school premises. (Download a PDF copy of this information)

  • There is ample parking for cars, at the owner’s risk, either on the school car park or the field. All vehicles must follow the instuctions of the car park marshals and park where indicated. All camper vans must park on the hard standing area and not on the field, whatever the weather. We also recommend that all vehicles be removed from the field to the hard standing area at the end of the afternoon event to avoid any difficulties in moving from the field in the dark.
  • There will be a reception desk on the field and signs around the site will indicate the location of changing rooms, toilets, the dining room and the Branch Shop.
  • The site will be open from 11am and you are welcome to bring a picnic. Lunch will also be available in the school dining room if required but must be ordered and paid for before 30th June.
    Please note: signage and facilities, e.g. changing rooms, may not be ready before 12 noon.
  • Please bring your own rugs or chairs. Shade is limited on the site so if the day is fine you are strongly recommended to bring sunscreen, sun hats etc. Gazebos may be erected but please place them so that they do not obstruct the view of others or the access of dancers to and from the field.
  • Water will be available during the afternoon. Please bring a water bottle. Refreshments, including tea, coffee, fruit juice and biscuits, are available to purchase from the dining room from 11am
  • The Leeds Branch shop will be available selling shoes, CDs and books
  • The school dining room will be providing a choice of evening meals but these need to be ordered and paid for in advance.  The deadline for meal bookings is June 30th. Dietary requirements can be catered for, provided they are submitted on the form when booking the meal.  We encourage as many dancers and spectators as possible to have an evening meal in the dining room to increase the social aspect of the festival.
  • The evening dance will will include cake, biscuits and hot and cold drinks. If you have any special dietary requirements please could you let us know by 30th June. Please e-mail booking@whiterosefestival.uk
  • Changing facilities for ladies are available in the Sports Hall.
  • There are showers in the ladies changing rooms but, as this is a girls’ school, these are not available for male dancers.
  • The changing room for the men will be in the Youngers Building where toilets and washbasins are available.

DANCERS ARE ASKED TO MAKE A SPECIAL NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • no security is available for personal possessions. You are advised not to leave valuables in the changing rooms. Any items left there are at your own risk.
  • smoking is not allowed on the school site
  • dogs are not accepted on to the site
  • no food, drinks (other than the water provided), wet or hard-soled shoes are allowed in the Sports Hall.

All we need now is a fine day!

Wet Weather arrangements

  • If the weather is wet and the afternoon programme is danced indoors, spectators are asked to sit at the far end of the hall, furthest from the band. Space in the sports hall will be limited and dancers are requested to share seats within their team area to allow space for all of the teams, and keep behind the lines around the dancing area when watching to ensure the safety of all dancers. Wet coats and shoes must be left in the changing rooms and not brought into the sports hall to prevent the floor becoming too slippery for dancing safely.

No food or drink other than water in a bottle may be brought into the sports hall.

DIRECTIONS TO GATEWAYS SCHOOL, HAREWOOD LS17 9LE

From the south:
Follow the M1 or A1(M) North until they meet at Junction 48/43.
Continue on the A1(M) to Junction 45 (Wetherby and Otley).
At the roundabout take the first exit and at the second roundabout take the second exit following signs for Collingham and Otley (A659).
At the first T-junction turn left (take careful note of this junction as in the reverse direction it is very poorly signposted, the signs simply showing Tadcaster and Boston Spa).
In the village of Collingham bear right in the middle of the village. Harewood village is approximately 4 miles along this road; the entrance to Gateways School is on the left immediately before the village.
There will be a banner advertising the festival at the school entrance.

From the north:
Follow the A1(M) South to Junction 45 (Wetherby and Otley). At the roundabout take the third exit then as above.

From the east:
Drive west until you meet the A1(M). Follow it North or South as appropriate to Junction 45 then as above.

From the west:
The simplest route from the M62 is to join the M1 North at junction 29/42, then as above.
Alternatively leave the M62 at junction 26, follow the M606 towards Bradford, then take the A6177 Bradford Ring Road. Turn right on the A647 towards Leeds, then left on the A6120 Leeds Ring Road.
Follow this for about 7 miles then turn left onto the A61 towards Harrogate.
After about 4 miles you will come to some traffic lights with Harewood House on the left.
Turn right into The Avenue and in about 200 yards the entrance to Gateways School is on the right.

Please note: If you do approach the school from either Leeds or Harrogate please do not attempt to enter the school grounds from the A61. Proceed to the traffic lights, turn away from the gate to Harewood House (i.e. turn left if coming from the direction of Harrogate or turn right if coming from the direction of Leeds), and the school entrance is on the right immediately after the village.