| Australian |
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Don Richmond |
Long-standing Bush Music Club President Don is no stranger to the dance floor and to the caller's mike. He has a broad repertoire of Bush dances both traditional and contemporary. |
Bush Music Club Competition Dances
A themed selection from the many dances entered in BMC competitions - and not just the winners!
Outside the Square
A collection of set dances for more/less than the 4 couples traditionally used to make up a set. |
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John & Aylwen Garden |
John Garden has 21 years experience as a dance teacher, researcher,
choreographer and musician. He has displayed, directed, played for and
led dancing at more than 1,000 events; produced 8 CDs of dance music;
written several dance/music books and has on the way a dozen books
tracing the evolution of western European social dance over a period
of 450 years.
He and his wife Aylwen direct the Canberra-based Earthly Delights
Historic Dance Academy, running weekly classes, monthly balls and
yearly festivals at which the public can learn about and revel in
historic music, dance and costumes. As will be borne out in their
workshops, they both have a special love of Australian
bush-traditions. |
Set and Couples Dances from 19th C Australia
A selection of dances found in such gems as Wivell’s The Ballroom Companion (1860) and Roberts’ Manual of Fashionable Dancing (1875) and danced to composed music of the period played on the pianoforte.
Selection of John's Gems
John has composed many dances and the accompanying music. This workshop presents some of them for your enjoyment. |
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Daryl and Diana Powell |
Diana and Daryl are long time stalwarts of the traditional music and dance scene in Canberra, where they have been running classes and dance events for over thirty years. Both are originally from country NSW, where their families were strong supporters of local music and dance. Their dance interests are very broad, but their chief focus is on traditional Australian dances, the dances of Central Europe, and the dances of Wales, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. In any case their workshops are always well researched and always a lot of fun. |
Waltzes - European and Australian (in 2 parts)
This will take dancers through the evolution of the waltz in Bavaria and Upper Austria from the traditional landler, the early styles in Europe, the two main styles of waltz (in couples) in Australia in the nineteenth century, waltzes in sets, the appearance of the modern (jazz) waltz between the wars, and waltzes recently composed. In particular we would like to teach the County Cotillion, collected many years ago by the Monaro Colonial Dancers from Beryl Pedvin's grandmother who danced at Avoca on the southern highlands |
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Sally Leslie |
Sally in an earlier incarnation led weekly workshops at the Bush Music Club and was a leader of the Australian Traditional Dance Group. She currently calls with No Such Thing and eats Magic Puddin'. |
Dances from the South Coast
How many dances have come from the South of Sydney? Dances written or collected or enjoyed from the South Coast of NSW. |
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John Short |
John’s interest in traditional dancing began in 1981. In recent years John has been a regular contributor to dance writing competitions where his dances have won several prizes. His dances have been taught in various parts of Australia as well as Scotland, Ireland and even Italy.
John is currently chairman of the Bush Music Club’s Dance Workshops committee. |
More 21st Century Quadrilles
Building on last year's workshop, John will teach more quadrilles written since 2001.
Quadrilles reached the peak of their popularity in the 1890s, but traditional-style quadrilles are still being written. This workshop will teach some of them. |
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Norm Ellis |
Norm has been a keen dancer and popular caller in Melbourne for many years. Norm was a founding member of the TSDAV along with Shirley Andrews. His CHOGM Pentrille is well known all around the country. Last year Sally Leslie presented a whole workshop based on Norm's dances. |
Tribute to Lucy Stockdale
Lucy was a major influence on bush dancing in Victoria and this workshop will recognise some of her contributions.
TSDAV Competition Dances
The dance competitions run by the TSDAV (judged in recent years at the National Folk Festival) have highlighted many excellent dances. These are some of Norm's choices. |
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Arthur Kingsland |
Arthur, and his partner Julia, have been the driving force behind an active dance scene in the Hunter region for a good many years. |
Australian and
English Dances from the 20th and 21st Century.
A program of mainly modern
Australian and modern English dances.
Challenging Dances
Chosen from the
Australian / English / early Irish genres and including the English Country
Dance "Dutch Crossing", and other Australian
more demanding dances written in the last few years. |
| Ballroom |
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Bruce Lemin |
Bruce started ballroom dancing 33 years ago, going to his first bush dance 3 years later. He has gold and higher medals in the 3 main ballroom styles, and founded the Monaro Colonial Dancers in 1990. Bruce firmly believes that dancing – and learning to dance – should be fun. |
Workshop details in preparation |
| Irish Dance |
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Margaret & Bill Winnett |
Margaret & Bill Winnett have danced together for the past 45 years.
Their absolute passion is for traditional Irish dancing - Margaret has been a traditional Irish step dancer since 1957, an Irish Ceili dancer since 1958 and, together with Bill, an Irish Set dancer since 1989. Bill himself began his Irish dance education in 1965 with the Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers which were formed in 1958.
Bill has his bloodline going back to County Clare on the Winnett side but I cannot make claim to any Clare blood. My father's grandfather was from Donegal and his grandmother from Leitrim whereas my mother's people were from Roscommon and Tipperary.
It is no wonder then with all that Irish blood coursing in our veins that we have such a great love of Irish dancing.
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Irish Set Dancing
This year we thought we'd do our workshops with the theme 'From Clare to Here' showing just how many Irish sets have made it to these shores.
They include:
Clare Lancers, Plain Set, Corofin Plain Set, Kilfenora Plain Set, Labasheeda Set, Clare Orange & Green, and Paris Set
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Paul Carr |
Paul is convenor of Set In Their Ways, an Irish Set Dance display
group based in Canberra. |
Irish Set Dancing
A mixed bag including
the Baile Bhuirne Jig Set (a dancer's favourite, danced to slides!),
The Moycullen Set (all the rage in Ireland at the moment, danced to
Reels, Jigs and Polkas) and the Antrim Square Set (written by Des
Jackson from Sydney, danced to Reels, Jigs and Slides). |
| Scottish Dance |
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Tony Northey |
Tony began dancing as a teenager with ballroom, old time, rock and roll, jive, latin, charleston and limbo.
Having discovered REEL dancing i.e. Scottish Country he has been involved with teaching regular classes and providing demonstrations since 1981.
He has taught at a Winter School, day schools and festivals and classes around OZ. Tony has been a regular performer at the National Folk Festival since 1992. He likes to share his joy and enthusiasm and make tricky dances seem easy. Previously a resident of Canberra, he now resides in Tasmania where he has just run a Dance Tassie tour. |
Scottish Country Dances
Firstly, Scottish Country Dancing – an introduction to Reels, Jigs and Strathspeys in an easier workshop. The Strathspey “Iron Man” includes a Schottische step.
Then a more challenging workshop of reel, jig and strathspey |
| English |
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Colin Towns |
Colin first performed at a National Folk Festival (Melbourne, Easter 1986) and since then has presented numerous dance workshops all over Australia, including a wonderful Morris tour (1993) of Darwin/Kakadu; and three very successful dance workshop weekends in Canberra. Forty people doing Sailor’s Hornpipe - a sight for sore feet, or was it a soaring feat?
Other dance ventures have included Dance directorship of the International Dance Group “Skips”; Maypole dancing for “Life Be In It”; an honorary member of 3 all-women Clog sides; and Morris dancing goal umpires on ABC’s “Live and Sweaty”. |
English Ceilidh Dances
Up tempo, traditional based English Country Dances
and
Playford – 1650-1730 “The English Dancing Master”
The graceful courtly dances that first defined an English dancing style distinct from the French / Italian Court dances. |
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Paul Carr |
Paul has been dancing and teaching English Morris dancing since 1984 both locally and internationally. He has been Foreman (Teacher) and Squire (Head Honcho) of Mucky Mountains Morris, St Helens, UK (1988-1992) and Molonglo Mayhem Morris, Canberra, Australia (1992-2006). Both of these sides he formed with his wife Leslie. |
Welsh Border Morris
As danced by Molonglo Mayhem Morris, dances
will include Jenny Pluck Pears (definitely not in the Playford
style), Double Trouble (written by Paul and performed regularly by
Molonglo) and Monty's Revenge (a protest dance about a horse!). |
| German |
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Jim Williams |
Jim Williams has a passion for the dances and folklore of Bavarian Germany..
He has presented workshops at Slacky Flat and the National Folk Festival.
He will be assisted by Sandra Martens, well known in ACT dance circles as coordinator of the Monaro Colonial Dancers. |
Bavarian Couples Dances
Come and learn Bavarian Couples Dances with Jim & Sandra. They will be showing a range of easy to learn and fun dances from Bavaria in Southern Germany.
Dances include Polkas, Mazurkas and Waltzes as well as the typically Bavarian dances the Boarische and the Zwiefacher.
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| American Contra |
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Jeanette Mill |
Jeanette Mill is co-founder of the Canberra Contra Club. She calls, composes dances, plays piano and feet in the band, and occasionally disappears to New England, USA, where contra is a thriving, evolving, innovating tradition. She has called dances in the US, and had the thrill of calling to some of contra's top musicians. |
Contra - addiction
Come and experience the vibrant living tradition that is contra dancing. This workshop is open to all. The focus will be on learning by doing (ie dancing!), with pithy teaching. All dances will be taught and called. |
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Julie Bishop |
Julie Bishop, a dancer since '78, has taught contras for 20 years, since the Bishops spent 2 years in the San Francisco Bay area, dancing to great bands at the fortnightly Palo Alto contra. For some years afterwards she ran Sydney's only Saturday contras, four nights a year. She has had repeat workshops at many festivals, including NFF, has fun teaching a weekly seniors class, and is the popular caller for the annual Sydney and Gosford contra dances. |
Contras, Sydney Style
Contras are the flowing, flirtatious, lively, addictive, and very forgiving New England (USA) descendants of English country dances. Couples progress in longways sets, repeating dance movements with a new couple each time through. These are contras, old and new, as danced in Sydney – which means in the style of San Francisco in '89. If you can handle a moderately brisk walking pace, and are prepared to smile broadly, please join us! |
| Estonian Dance |
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Madis and Tiina Alvre |
Madis Alvre commenced Estonian folk dancing in 1961. He has organised, choreographed and directed performances for Folkloric Festivals and at the National Folk Festival. He has directed major Estonian cultural folk dancing events in Sydney and Melbourne. During visits to Estonia he has undertaken first-hand research in Estonian traditions.
Madis has received awards from the Estonian Society of Sydney and from the Government of the Republic of Estonia, for his contribution to the perpetuation of Estonian cultural traditions in Australia.
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Estonian Dances
Madis and his wife Tiina will teach a range of both traditional and more recently choreographed Estonian folk dances, ranging from circle and formation dances to couple and progressive dances. Estonian dances fundamentally incorporate waltzes, polkas and schottische footwork with variations. Musicians “Salmiakki Pelimannit”, comprising members of the Strutt family from Newcastle will be playing at the workshop. |
