SEVENTEEN days of premier performing arts is at an end with the conclusion of the 2018 Albury-Wodonga Eisteddfod.
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More than 6000 performances have been held over the aforementioned period, covering dance, debating, music, speech and drama.
For Deanne Burr, committee of management president and also co-ordinator of the Highland dance discipline, it's been a mad-cap couple of weeks.
Stressful though it may have been, it's something she wouldn't trade for the world.
“We had a new dance co-ordinator this year, they've done a phenomenal job making things run like clockwork,” Mrs Burr said.
We’ve actually had performers come from South Australia, Melbourne and Canberra, as well as other regional areas like Leeton and Wagga.
- Deanne Burr
“The same applies for our music co-ordinator, with all the bands, choir and orchestras there's a lot behind the scenes to make it all run smoothly.
“Our volunteers have been sensational as well, they've done three shifts a day for 17 days, which is a lot of volunteer hours to put in.
“We've also had great support from the local community with sponsorship and donations to help feed those volunteers.”
With thousands of performances come thousands of spectators, and while Mrs Burr said they were still counting, the total number of people through the doors at this year’s event would also stretch into the thousands.
More than 4000 people paid to spectate at the door, a figure that did not include school teachers accompanying their students or tickets sold online.
Wrapping up the Eisteddfod with the Highland Dancing was a highlight for Mrs Burr.
“We’ve actually had performers come from South Australia, Melbourne and Canberra, as well as other regional areas like Leeton and Wagga,” she said.
“We’ve seen a really high standard.
“Highland Dance has been a real breath of fresh air for our program.
“More and more people are willing to travel for it.
“All styles of dance have been more popular.”
Now that the 2018 event is done and dusted, Mrs Burr said planning would soon begin for next year's program.
Following the successful addition of highland dance, she said the committee would investigate other new additions to the program.
“We're really looking forward to next year, we've got some great ideas and processes in place,” she said.
“We're looking for new and varied disciplines and various new sections to add.
“We're also looking for ways for us to engage with different groups as well.”
