FASH CHAT
In America, there are times when there are more men than women at a dance, so long ago I developed the habit of always bringing a skirt along to a dance, just in case I needed to play the woman's part. As Woody Allen said, "Being bisexual doubles your chance for a date on Saturday night."
When I decided to come to Chippenham Folk Festival in 1998, my British friends told me not to ever wear the skirt. Brits would not understand. As is often the case, I didn't listen to their advice, and I'm glad I didn't.
I donned the skirt a few times at the Festival and all I got was compliments, and instant recognition. For years afterwards people told me they remembered me because I was the bloke who wore a skirt at Chippenham. My favourite comment was a woman who saw me a year later and said "Don't you have any other skirts? You wore that skirt the last time I saw you." And often people let me know they remembered me by saying "Where's your skirt, Henry?" Rather than condemning me, Brits let me know they were amused, pleased and felt I made a bold move.
But wearing a skirt does more than just make me memorable, it educates me. Women talk to me about their experiences playing the man's part. One woman told me she does it for only the first half of a contra dance; then she switches back to playing the woman's part. She said she doesn't get enough exercise if she "dances man" all the evening long.
That gave me pause, and I began analyzing moves, and she was right. In a ladies chain, a woman walks further than a man; in a right and left through that is also true. When men promenade, the woman is always promenading on the outside of a circle, or an oval. This is especially true in square dances where the men star and then put an arm around a lady who must run on the outside to keep up.
I also learned about "responsibility." For long I maintained that English Country Dancing is egalitarian. After all, a man is not "in charge" or "responsible" in such moves as set and turn single, or cast off, or dosido, or gypsy. But there are a few moves where men are more "in charge" than women, especially the swing. A man must stop a swing so the couple are facing the right way. I didn't realize how tense I was, how "conscious" I was in a swing, until I played the woman's part. Suddenly 'He' was in charge, 'He' had to gauge the length and strength of the swing. I absolutely loved swinging as a woman, being "in the hands of a man," and some men saw it as a chance to go crazy: the wildest swings I ever had were with another man.
So even if you don't bring an actual skirt along, my advice to men is to try to play the woman's part "for a change." It is educational, people will remember you, and women will love you for trying something truly different.
Henry Morgenstein
Coincidentally Michael Barraclough's workshop on February 11th had participants 'changing sex'. As one of them, it was indeed an eye opener and I recommend you all to try it. My head is still reeling from some of the swings. Ed.
Winchester MAYfest
A ten day festival of music, song and dance, from 11th to 20th May, celebrating traditional and contemporary folk, roots and blues. This year's MAYfest features well established acts such as Waterson:Carthy, Spiers and Boden, blues band Doctor Teeth Big Band, Phil Beer, Canada's roots band Elliott Brood plus many other great musicians and singers.
There are dance sides, pub sessions, sing-arounds, concerts and ceilidhs plus a new primary school children's ceilidh on the afternoon of Friday 18th May. Many events are free in various locations throughout Winchester, especially on Saturday 19th May. That particular day will gather pace to end with "One BIG Party" at Winchester's Guildhall. This is the main ceilidh which runs alongside a concert of music, song and comedy.
Full details of the events, dates, times and venues will be available soon on Winchester MAYfest's website winmayfest.co.uk The printed programme will be available in April throughout the region.
Farringdon FDC
A change of venue due to structural problems means that they will be meeting at St Lawrence's Church Hall, Vicarage Hill, Alton on 6th, 13th and 27th March and 10th, 17th and 24th April, thereafter every Tuesday. Contact the secretary on 01256 381321 for more information.
Gosport and Fareham Easter Festival
Tickets are selling fast for concerts featuring Show of Hands, Kate Rusby, the new BBC Folk Award winner Seth Lakeman, John Tams and Barry Coope and the Tim Edey Band among many others. There will also be music, song and dance workshops at 11am and 5.15pm on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Easter Festival (April 6-8) at the Lysses House Hotel in the High Street, Fareham.
The workshops will be led by Laurel Swift of 'Shooting Roots' and there will also be fiddle workshops at 11am Saturday and Sunday led by Glen Titmus, a guitar workshop at 5.15pm Saturday led by Tim Edey, a harmonica workshop at 5.15pm Saturday led by Brendan Power, and a bodhran workshop at 5.15pm Saturday led by Lucy Randall. Admission is free to all workshops.
On Saturday 7th April, the Festival will feature a day of dance displays around Fareham town centre. Plus there will be a crafts and musical instruments fayre in the Ferneham Hall all weekend.
Full details of the Festival can be found on the website www.gosportfestival.co.uk and a free full colour brochure is available by emailing eastfest@talk21.com.
Licensing Laws
A researcher working for the BBC Radio 4 PM programme wants particular examples of people who have been affected by the specifics of the current licensing guidance, and who might be willing to talk about why they think it should change, for example, where musicians have lost work because their local authority has interpreted the 'incidental music' exemption restrictively. If you have been affected, or if licensing has adversely affected gigs in any way that you know about please email christopher.landau@bbc.co.uk
FASH AGM
Please come to the AGM on 29th April at 5pm at Soberton Village Hall. We hope, among other things, to hear how people feel about the American Lunch trial at the Sunday workshops.
There will be a cream tea available and from around 6.45 to 9.15 we will be dancing to the wonderful music of Pete and Sue Hall with John Turner calling. In addition we are planning a couple of floor spots for some music and song.
The AGM is a bargain since it is free (of course) and the Dance a close second at only £2.
Back to Contents
Back to Home Page
Submitted by (to whom technical queries and requests for additional links only) and Edited by Dennis Wheeler, Penshurst, Vicarage Lane, Swanmore, Hants SO32 2PW 01489 892911 editor@fash.org.uk).