Contrasaurus

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Contrasaurus is a contra dance band of the late Holocene era, has 8 feet, and plays the fiddle, accordion, guitar and double bass.

Heavily influenced by today's leading American bands, Benjamin Rowe, Alan Brunier, Adam Rich-Griffin and David Ledsam specialise in playing traditional tunes in an innovative style that is great to dance to.

Not Technically Dinosaurs.

Contrasaurus will be playing for Friday Night Contra, and will be called by Charlotte Rich-Griffin.

Links:

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Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer

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Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer effortlessly blend the tradition with the contemporary. Whether they are reinterpreting old tunes or writing new material, they have a sound that is both familiar and fresh. They are equally at home performing Medieval/Renaissance dance, 17th and 18th Century social dance, ceilidh and contra. As exceptional multi-instrumentalists, they can create aural tapestries suitable for any of these periods and styles.

Vicki and Jonny are two thirds of Purcell’s Polyphonic Party a widely acclaimed trio performing 17th and 18th Century dance music who released “an Invitation To Dance” in 2018.

Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer will be playing for Friday Night Ceilidh, and will be called by Bob & Jen Morgan.

Links: website facebook

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Deo Volente

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Deo Volente are an accordion and flute duo based in Nottingham and formed in 2006. Dave and Victoria are experienced folk dance musicians and have become familiar faces locally and well-known on the national dance scene. They have performed at festivals and weekends including Morland, Southam, Casterton, Lichfield, Eastbourne and Chippenham.

They particularly enjoy playing for Playford and Playford-style dances – the way the beautiful tunes match with the dance moves makes for memorable combinations and magical moments. However, they are also to be found playing for other genres within the repertoire.

Dave and Victoria are both keen dancers so look out for them on the dance floor when they are not performing!

Deo Volente will be playing for Friday Night Playford, and will be called by Matthew Vernon.

Links:

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The Outlandish Knights

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The Outlandish Knights was formed by Ceri Ashton in 2006 & blends hard rocking guitar, bass & drums with Ceri's original tunes. The band have played numerous festivals & ceilidh series, including Sidmouth, Solfest, Sheffield, Manchester & Derby ceilidhs, as well as countless weddings & parties.Joining Ceri on whistles & flutes are Chris McMahon of Treebeard & Haze (guitar, bouzouki & keyboards), with Kate Durrant and James Howe of Treebeard (on bass & drums) & Karen O'Donnell on clarinet & sax.

The Outlandish Knights will be playing for Saturday Ceilidh, and will be called by John Brown.

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Vertical Expression

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Vertical Expression continue to be at the forefront of the (ocean) wave of contra specialists in this country. They combine a driving rhythm section with a tight melody for an impressive one-two punch of drive and danceability. They excel at picking just the right tune for the dance and maintaining the connection between dancers and music.

Vertical Expression will be playing for Saturday Night Contra, and will be called by Rhianwen Davies.

Links: facebook

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Chris Dewhurst and his Scottish Country Dance Band

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With Chris on lead accordion, his wife Julie on 2nd box and their son Nick on percussion, this lively Scottish dance band based in the Midlands has enjoyed playing for many dances, events and festivals up and down the country, from Cornwall to Shetland, for the past 20 years. They currently have 2 Scottish dance CD’s to their name and a 3rd in the offing, which should be ready for next year. They are well known for providing that essential ‘lift’ to help keep dancers on their toes, and their aim is always to fit the tune perfectly to the dance. They are looking forward to their return visit to playing for IVFDF in Nottingham 2020!

Chris Dewhurst and his Scottish Country Dance Band will be playing for Saturday Evening Scottish, and will be called by Edmund McIntosh.

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Andrew Swaine and Jo Veal

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Andrew (accordion) and Jo (clarinet) are sought after musicians both individually and as a duo. Their memorable tunes are self-penned and are the product of a lifetime of dancing. From high-energy, driving bourrées, through to subtle, slinky mazurkas, they'll take you through a wide range of emotions as you experience everything Balfolk has to offer.

Andrew Swaine and Jo Veal will be playing for Saturday Night Bal.

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Bearded Dragons

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Born in flames, masters of the skies, Bearded Dragons are on the wing...

Accomplished contradance musicians, Vic Smith (keys, synths, modular) and Benjamin Rowe (fiddle) seamlessly blend contra music with electronic styles to create the UK's first homegrown Techno Contra band. With influences ranging from traditional English and American, to electronic genres such as Techno, Synthwave, and Ambient, Bearded Dragons weave a musical experience quite unlike any other.

They are joined by Amy Worrall, a beardless-but-brilliant lighting design wizard, to transcend the dance floor into another dimension.

(Art is by Charlotte Edge)

Bearded Dragons will be playing for Techno Contra, and will be called by Jake Wood.

Links: facebook

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Charlotte Rich-Griffin

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Charlotte Rich-Griffin is an enthusiastic caller based in Oxfordshire, with experience in calling for all ages and abilities at contras and ceilidhs. She is also IVFDF central's communication officer which means she has to say hello to everyone at IVFDF (apparently). Hello!

Charlotte Rich-Griffin will be calling for Friday Contra.

Links: facebook

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Bob Morgan & Jen Morgan

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Bob and Jen met at Sheffield Ceilidhsoc and have been attending IVFDFs together ever since. This year they will be seeing if their calling careers and marriage can withstand a rare joint gig. As callers they are both passionate about accessible and friendly dancing so they're sure to be providing a warm welcome to all on Friday night.

Bob Morgan & Jen Morgan will be calling for Friday Ceilidh.

Links: facebook facebook

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Matthew Vernon

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Matthew is a caller, musician, dancer, and Hugo Award-winning sysadmin(!) He particularly likes the joy of a good pairing of dance and tune, which is what got him into Playford dancing in the first place. Matthew is a regular caller at club nights in Cambridge, and has also called at the Round's Playford Ball and Coventry Zesty Playford.

Matthew Vernon will be calling for Friday Playford.

Links:

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John Brown

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He is a well established caller who’s been a part of Sheffield’s contribution the UK ceilidh scene for a little while now, helping to establish Sheffield’s gender free calling tradition. Lively and occasionally funny, he’s been helping ceilidh dancers up and down the UK workout which figure comes next to music for a while now.

John Brown will be calling for Saturday Ceilidh.

Links:

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Rhianwen Davies

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Rhianwen started calling regularly when she was invited to be a part of different ceilidh dance series, and that then led onto calling for Exeter Folk Society. More recently she has been calling ceilidhs at weddings and folk festivals, as well as calling for contras at local dance clubs. Currently, she is living in Cambridge with previous gigs having taken place from Sidmouth to Penrith, and from Cardiff to Southampton.

Rhianwen Davies will be calling for Saturday Night Contra.

Links: facebook

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Edmund McIntosh

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Edmund McIntosh, in the spirit of IVFDF, has tried all the dancings, and Scottish is his favourite.

At the Freshers’ Fair in Cambridge, he saw the Scottish dancing stall and thought he should try it as his mother’s family is Scottish. He was soon recruited into the rest of the dance groups, and ended up running the Reel Club for five years and The Round’s ceilidh series for two.

As a sciency-type person, he has conducted experiments such as singing for dancing, quantum tunnelling at ceilidhs and inventing (discovering?) new versions of dance figures.

Edmund McIntosh will be calling for Saturday Night Scottish.

Links:

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Jake Wood

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Jake is a contra and ceilidh caller based in Coventry. Jake's love of dance encompasses American contras and squares, English ceilidh and Playford, rapper, balfolk, Scandi, blues, modern jive, Argentine tango and lindy hop. He has called at a variety of festivals including Priddy Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folk Week, and was chair of the 2016 organising committee for the Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival. Jake is in high demand as a contra dance caller, and is also known for his workshops popularising folk waltzing.

Jake Wood will be calling for Techno Contra.

Links: facebook

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Emergency Blues Dance Kit

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with Beth Waters

So you’ve found yourself at a blues social dance and you have no idea whats going on. Help! This class will give you the tools to be dancing all night long. An American folk dance with African roots, focusing on connection to music and partner, improvisation and general badassery! No need to bring a partner, we will rotate in class. (But if you want to stick with one partner we won’t force you to swap!)

Soft soled shoes or socks preferable.

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Galician Dance Workshop: Muiñeira and Jota

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with Marnie Davies

Galicia is a Celtic nation situated in the very North-west of the Iberian Peninsula. The Muiñeia originated here in the water mills where the huge, circular, stones would make the 6/8 rythm as they turned and ground up the maiz into flour. The Jota is found all over Spain but in Galicia it has its own style.

The music is fun and uplifting and the dancing energetic and rythmic.

Both these dances are danced in partnerships but as part of a whole group. They are performed formally as part of fiestas as well as socially at Seráns, the Galician equivalent of a Ceilidh.

Normally they are played by Gaitas, Galician bagpipes and percussion: pandeireta tamboril and bombo. I am Scottish but lived in Galicia for 16 years immersing myself in Galician culture.

I would like to teach a few basic steps and simple choreography to complete the whole dances which are 3 parts. There will be live music by Jo Veal on her clarinet.

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Becoming Callers

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with Erin Mansfield

For the complete beginner to the pro! Becoming Callers is open to anyone who wants to improve their skills behind the mic, focussing mainly on confidence and building a good relationship between yourself and your stage self. This is a practical based workshop featuring handy tips and tricks to get over stage-fright, tackle hecklers, improve explanation clarity and how to get the best out of your audience. Be yourself to free yourself!

Led by Erin Mansfield who is an up-and-coming caller from London!

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Italian Dances

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with Davide Panzeri

Join us for a whistlestop tour of the dances of the Bel Paese: from the energetic tarantellas of the south to the group dances of the north. Tarantellas follow the fast beat of the tamburine and are danced in couple, within the context of a larger group. From the north we will see circle dances where you will weave in and out around the others. This workshop will be a mix of easier and more challenging revival dances as they are danced in Milan. All you need are feet ready to hit the beat!

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Latvian dancing

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with Daina Auzins

This workshop will include traditional dances from Latvia with live music provided by the Latvian folklore group Dūdalnieki from the north of England. These are the kind of social dances you might find at an open-air party or just spontaneously at a gathering. The steps are simple, so easy enough for beginners but also suitable for advanced dancers who want to try another style of European dance.

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Playford: English Country Dancing Master

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with Rhodri & Sioned Davies

John Playford published his first collection of English Country Dances in 1651. Running through many editions and handing the business on to his son and other successors his books provide us with an insight into dancing from the English Civil War towards the times of Jane Austen with changes in fashions for style and formation. When first published they were controversial and had political overtones. With many classic tunes and dances it laid patterns that can be traced into modern ceilidh, Scottish and contra dancing. Having picked up a reputation as a somewhat tired dance for, there has, in recent years, been a revival among more energetic dancers many of whom are associated with IVFDF. We'll look at some of the dances from the first edition, but also at some of the heritage into other country dance styles

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Accompanying Dance Tunes

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with Heather McAslan

When a band, a caller and a room full of dancers are in sync the effect is magical for all involved! We'll talk about the principles of backing tunes for dancing and then put them into practice. Then we’ll discuss and play through some further points, e.g. how to mirror the rhythm and feel of a dance in our accompaniment; ways to bring shape and interest to the arrangement. This workshop is perfect for people who plan to play in the scratch band on Sunday afternoon - we'll use examples of different types of dance tunes (jig, reel, hornpipe, etc.) from the scratch band repertoire. All instruments welcome, chordal or not.

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Adapting Cotswold Dances

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with Sheffield Uni Morris

In the spirit of tradition, or as it really is making it up as we go along, this workshop is an opportunity to get creative and play around with Cotswold dances in the Bampton style. We will teach a traditional dance, and then turn it into something completely new! Come along and learn how to meld dances to fit your style, twist figures into brand new shapes, and generally have a fun time waving around hankies.

Ideally wear comfortable shoes for dancing, but it's IVFDF so you'll have those anyway. Bring hankies if you have them, but we will have some we can give out.

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American Squares

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with Colin Hume

Colin will present a range of squares, some of which you will find challenging but all of which you should find fun. They are traditional-style but with interesting variations, so you need to know standard figures and be able to react quickly to the calls.

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Balfolk Basics

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with Charlotte Robinson

Whether you’re a total beginner, or just want to brush up before the evening dance, come and join us for a brief run through some dances from France and Brittany, which we’ll use to talk about couple connection, hold, feeling the music, and more! We’ll learn just how hard it is to actually “do it wrong”, and you’ll walk away with the tools and the confidence to enjoy balfolk in all its many forms. Shoes with a smooth sole are advised, if you have them.

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Introduction to Ballet

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with Helena Jones

Aimed at complete beginners, this workshop will give you a chance to try some classical ballet moves, learn new ways to use your body and warm up your muscles nicely. You’ll pick up some basic principles of posture and technique while warming up through traditional ‘barre’ exercises and enjoy having a go at some balletic kicks, jumps and turns. Led by Helena, an Oxford-based dancer who has studied ballet for 14 years. Wear something comfortable that you can move freely in. Bare feet or thick socks recommended.

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Beginner's Highland

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with Lucy Munro

Highland dancing is a traditional solo dance style from Scotland. It started as a way for men in the army to show off their stamina and agility but was refined with a ballet influence and is now competed worldwide by everyone. The workshop will be energetic as you learn the solo Highland Fling, arguably the most well known highland dance, and use those skills to learn the Foursome Reel. Wear soft shoes or socks.

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Beginner's Waltz

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with Jake Wood

Want to know what to do when the band strikes up a waltz? Come along to our introduction to folk waltzing workshop and we will teach you the basic steps and techniques you need to start your waltzing journey.

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Bodhrán Basics

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with Matthew Blackburn

Learn the basics of playing the bodhrán; the traditional Celtic frame drum. You don't need a drum of your own to learn as sticks and drums will be provided. If you do have your own drum already, bringing it would be an advantage as they are all slightly different. At the workshop you will learn a basic rhythm exercise, a wrist posture exercise, and will be introduced to the drumming patterns to match a 'reel' (4/4 music) and a 'jig' (6/8 music). You will also be able to ask about more advanced technique depending on time. Priority will be given to helping new learners get past the initial barriers to practice.

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Dances for the Brave

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with Jacob Steel

A workshop of hard, ultra-hard and not-actually-that-hard-but-quirky dances in a mixture of contra and English social styles, written and taught by a chaos theorist and folk dance writer who gets bored easily and whose work tends to spill over into his play. If you want a preview of what you'll be getting into, many of the cribs are available on the internet at https://sites.google.com/site/dancesforthebrave/ . WARNING: this workshop is specifically aimed at more experienced dancers who want a challenge. While beginners who want a challenge are also welcome, especially if you found the Saturday dancing too easy, please be aware that you may get lost a lot.

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Dances from Brittany

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with Jean-Christophe Denis

Do you feel sad that you don't have the chance to exercise your pinkies at IVFDF? Come to this workshop, pinkies workout is guaranteed! We will travel and dance around Brittany, from joyful couple dances from the coast to energetic chain dances from the "mountains&qout. We will move from the French-speaking areas to discover the Breton and Gallo speaking counties. You will dance on traditional but also "contemporary traditional" music. Open to all. Cider not provided, but French accent is!.

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Challenging Contras

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with Malcolm Jowett

If you thought contras were a bit boring or go on for too long, or you are a fan and are looking for a challenge, this workshop is for you. There are some tricky but very satisfying dances which rarely if ever get to the dance floor at a contra night. Malcolm will carefully walk through the dances, giving useful tips on how to ensure they keep going. Being part of an intricate contra machine will make your day.

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Introduction to Contra

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with Malcolm Jowett

Learn the basics of contra dance and how Newton’s 3rd Law makes you a better dancer. We will start with teaching the common figures, how to move, be a good swinger, how contra lines work and the etiquette of contra. We will then do some dances to practice what we learned and share the joy of contra. This is not only for beginners, some more experienced dancers will enjoy helping others and may even pick up a few hints!

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Constant Contra Medley

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with A Cavalcade of Callers

Just Keep Dancing! Allow a cavalcade of IVFDF's finest contra dance callers to guide you through a constant stream of changing contra dance - no walkthroughs and no interruptions! If you want a break or to ask somebody else to dance, just stop dancing at the end of the set and join back in when you're ready. Suitable for dancers comfortable with common contra figures.

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Contra: Forget your role; you don’t need it

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with Sam Tetley-Smith

You’re at a contra. You and your partner are role-swapping so often you don’t know which role you are, but you’re lost in the dance and everything flows. Until you run into someone else who’s also forgotten what role they are. Learn how to role-swap with confidence, and how to forget your role but still know exactly what to do. (For anyone who’s danced contra. Focuses on role-swapping mid-dance)

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How to Survive a Scottish Country Dance

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with Nicola Scott (RSCDS)

Maybe you are curious to try out this dance style, or are already addicted to the energy and music of Scottish Country Dancing. This workshop is open to everyone, and will give you some dancefloor survival skills in readiness for the Saturday evening dance, together with a chance to try out some of the steps and formations in a fun, friendly atmosphere!

Your workshop leader, Nicola Scott, is an enthusiastic Scottish dancer who understands different dance styles, so 'translation' of the Scottish terminology will definitely be included. Scottish dancing combines both energy and elegance, so bring both along with you, together with some soft-soled flat shoes to make your steps look their best.

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Dartmoor Stepdance

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with Beth Frangleton

The Dartmoor Stepdance is the remainder of a dying tradition in the UK kept alive mostly by the annual competition at the Dartmoor Folk Festival. It consists of variations on two main parts - the set and the step - which can be made more or less complicated depending on experience.

The dance is typically done wearing hard soled shoes or hobnail boots so if you have these then it would be good to wear them as it makes it easier (tap shoes work well too). Don’t worry if you don’t though you’ll manage in trainers. It is also traditionally danced on a 13” raised board but I won’t be able to bring enough with me so you’ll have to imagine it.

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Traditional Estonian Folkdances

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with Rauno Kiviberg

This workshop will teach you how to dance 10 different estonian folk dances. Featuring classic pieces such as Oige ja vasemba and Padespaan. The teachers will show the basic steps and invite you to dance along. All the dances are no faster than walking pace and easy enough to pick up within a minute or two. There are no solo dances, so a partner is required. Bring your own or find one on the dance floor. Wear comfortable shoes.

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Ceilidh Explained

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with Jess Mackin

For those who have never been to a ceilidh, or went to one and found that there was just too much subtext and stuff left unsaid, like how to swing, or how to find a partner without offending anyone: We have a workshop for you! Talking and demonstrating you through a whole host of ceilidh skills, we'll have you ready to dance the night away in one handy workshop.

Ceilidh basics explained from square one, no subtext required.

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Folk Soc Chats

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with Jess Mackin

Running a folk society? wanting to run a folk society? Trying to save a folk society? Need consoling about the state of most SUs across the country? Then this is to you. Jess from Bristol Folk Soc is going to sit in a room and eat their breakfast while having a chat, being vaguely prepared to dispense advice, resources, and sympathy with all those who turn up. (However not breakfast, feel free to bring your own breakfast, however.)

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Irish Set Dance

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with John Corbett

A beginner and intermediate introduction to Irish Set Dance. All welcome. No need for previous experience or indeed a partner! We will teach the steps and part of a 'set' during the workshop so that you can take it away to the world! no special shoes needed - 'if you can walk , you can dance!'

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Old Style Irish Step Dancing for Beginners

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with Annette Collins

This workshop is aimed at the beginner dancer, Annette will teach a series of short solo hornpipe steps. Annette is a teacher of "Old Style Solo Step Dancing", a percussive dance form and the precursor of competitive Irish dancing, steps are danced close to the floor. Annette lives and teaches in Ireland. The steps will be broken down into short movements and repeated, after which she will rebuild the steps, and finally join them into a short routine. In this workshop she expects to cover between 4 and 8 steps. Here is a clip to introduce the 1st step, created for a previous event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgOVDqxzBQ8

Further information on Annette can be found on the following links, or drop her a line if you would like more detail stepwithannette@yahoo.co.uk:
www.annettecollins.com
www.facebook.com/stepwithannette/
Youtube channel: www.bit.ly/AnnetteCollins

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Old Style Irish Step Dancing Intermediate Level

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with Annette Collins

This workshop is aimed at dancers with some percussive experience, or advanced dancers who want to try something new. Annette will teach a dance from Donegal called "Maggie Pickens", it is danced to a tune of the same name and there are versions of this dance in both Scotland and the South West of Ireland, the tune is thought to be Scottish in origin. The steps are relatively short and quite repetitive, Annette would normally perform 8 - 12 steps, in this workshop she expects to cover between 4 and 8 steps. Here is a link to Annette dancing a series of "Maggie Pickens" steps at a festival in Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsws1qMptjM

Further information on Annette can be found on the following links, or drop her a line if you would like more detail stepwithannette@yahoo.co.uk:

www.annettecollins.com

www.facebook.com/stepwithannette/

Youtube channel: www.bit.ly/AnnetteCollins

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Kentucky Running Set

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with Burt Hunter

In 1917 Cecil Sharp and his secretary Maud Karpeles were entertained to a display of dancing at Pine Mountain Settlement School in Kentucky. He had previously been discouraged from investigating this dance during his tour of the Appalachians researching tunes and songs of the British diaspora. On witnessing the dance he concluded that it was a 'lost' tradition from Scotland and northern England. Debate on the veracity of this still continues on both sides of the Atlantic. What is less contentious is that it might have been lost for all time if he had not published his findings, put on public demonstrations and popularised this little known bit of Appalachian folk culture.

In the last hundred years Set Running/Running Set has diverged into two distinct forms. The 'classical' form as witnessed by Sharp is kept alive in its heartlands by a handful of purists, specifically at Berea College in Kentucky and at English folk festivals, specifically Whitby. Elsewhere it has been 'modernised', evolving as a living tradition. This workshop will be in the traditional style. Because it was in the 'bible belt' where the strict calvinist form of christianity held sway it was sometimes necessary to disguise that it was even a form of dancing at all and was referred to as 'party games'. Consequently there is minimal physical contact in this dance.

Burt will be teaching figures and choruses from this tradition, building to 'running a set' at the conclusion of the workshop.

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Leading for Followers & Following for Leaders

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with Jenny Norris

Being able to dance both roles (lead/ follow) in a partner dance is great fun and means you can dance with anyone. This workshop is designed for those who are used to dancing one primary role and would like a chance to play around with the other. Beginners who want to get more confident in their primary role are also very welcome. We'll be dancing to balfolk tunes but no previous balfolk experience is necessary. Please wear whatever footwear you feel comfortable dancing in.

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Learn to 'Charleston'!

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with Caitlin Isaacs & Charlie Cayzer

Come along for a taster session in ‘20s Charleston’ - a fun, energetic social dance done to swing jazz music from the 1920s.

20s Charleston originated as a partnered dance during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s popular with a younger and more progressive crowd. It is often remembered now as part of cabaret performances in choreographed routines, we will instead be teaching it as partnered and improvised. 100 years on from the height of its popularity it’s still great fun, so join us for a celebratory centenary lesson!

You don't need previous experience or to attend with a partner: just remember comfy clothes, flat shoes and a water bottle. See you all on the dance floor!

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Micro-workshops

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with Bob Morgan

Taking on a whole workshop can be a bit daunting or maybe you don't think you can stretch your idea out to a whole session. We've taken this bit of time to allow for a tiny, no-pressure workshop slot just for you. So any short (about 5 minute) idea welcome that doesn't need specialist equipment - dance, song, flourish, idea, game or that one thing you've nicked from another workshop. We'll need participants too so if you fancy a mystery mix of learning and to support new workshop ideas come along. Bob will be around to run the time and private and supportive feedback will be available if you'd like

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Reps' Meeting

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with Chaired by Jen Morgan

Come represent your society and shape the future of IVFDF! Contact our email or facebook page if you's like to have anything added to the agenda.

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How to Run a Workshop

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with Bob Morgan

This year Bob is getting meta. Running a workshop is a very different prospect to calling a dance and the skills you need to use can be very different. Having run a number of workshops and training as a teacher he'd like to pass on a bit of what he's learnt, some ideas he thinks we should be taking from current teaching practice and the confidence to take on a workshop yourself. This workshop should be relevant across music and dance workshops of all sorts.

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Scottish Ceilidh

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with Schuggie

Scottish style fast and furious ceilidh to get the blood pumping on a Sunday morning session.

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Scottish Folk Songs Choral Singing

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with Bill Curtis

During this workshop, we will teach you to sing two Scottish folk songs - 'The White Cockade' and 'Scotland the Brave' - in four-part SATB choral harmony, without accompaniment. The ability to read music is beneficial, but not essential, as we will go through all parts during the workshop. Similarly, some experience of choral singing is beneficial but not essential, and the main focus is on enjoying the songs! As this is not a dancing or instrumental workshop, no particular footwear or instrument is required. This workshop is designed for both genders, but you may choose to sing whichever register you feel most comfortable with.

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Scratch Band Practice

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with Joshua Rowe

Learning to play in a dance band and playing through the tunes for the Survivor's Ceilidh on Sunday. Tunes can be found here and are well known session tunes. No previous experience playing in a band required. Bring an instrument.

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Scratch Band Practice

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with Joshua Rowe

Learning to play in a dance band and playing through the tunes for the Survivor's Ceilidh on Sunday. Tunes can be found here and are well known session tunes. No previous experience playing in a band required. Bring an instrument.

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Scratchy Rapper

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with Tim Pillinger

Hard soled shoes are very desirable.

Have you done a little rapper before? Do you want to dance out in Nottingham on Saturday afternoon?

This workshop aims to get a *very* simple dance from the Coalfields of County Durham perfected to the point that a scratch team can join the Morris tour to dance it on Saturday afternoon. An example of this dance can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJE8QMk2dqk.

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Ting (Listening): a connection workshop

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with Gus Morrice

The Daoist concept of Ting (Listening) is key to the connection that is developed within Daoist martial arts. The meaning of Ting and what dancers refer to as "listening" are very similar and so we can use Daoist exercises designed to develop your Ting and so improve your ability to listen in dance. This workshop will also involve stretches, touch on structure and requires no prior dancing knowledge or specialised equipment like shoes and is suitable for all.

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Well Known Tunes at a Steady Pace

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with Tim Pillinger

Equipment: Any instrument, including voice.
Target audience: Almost anyone, but particularly relative beginners and those learning to play by ear.

A Session where requests for tunes are taken from the floor and played at a steady pace.

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Tunes with a Twist

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with Heather McAslan

Don't you love it when you hear a quirky tune that makes your ears prick up?! Often these tunes can sound impenetrable on first hearing, but when you break them down they just include one or two nifty turns. We’ll bring a bunch of twisty tunes with an intriguing melody hook, rhythm or timing. Then we will collectively choose which to deconstruct and learn. We’ll be learning by ear at the workshop but dots will be available afterwards. Bring instruments!

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Welsh Clog Dancing

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with Elisa Morris

Come and try out some Welsh Clog Dancing. Learn some basic steps, syncopated rhythms and tricks. No previous experience required. This workshop will have something for everyone, whether you are a complete beginner or have done some percussive dancing before. Bring along clogs or hard shoes if you have them. Trainers work just as well when going through the basics. If you happen to own a broom or a handkerchief, bring them along with you- all will be revealed!

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