FASH Chat
Welcome back to a new season of folk activities!
I hope that you have enjoyed the summer, whether you were attending festivals, enjoying the sunshine abroad or relaxing at home – despite the weather.
I want first of all to tell you about the FASH Dance, to be held on Saturday 28 November 2009 at Twyford Parish Hall, SO21 1QY. John Turner will be calling and Pete & Sue Hall playing and it will be an evening of mixed styles of dancing, from Playford to Contras by way of all sorts in between. If you came last year you will know that John provides a wonderful evening of dancing for everyone to enjoy, and of course Pete and Sue will provide the music to keep you moving. Full details inside – please book your places early as this will be a great evening.
We have some really good workshops lined up for you this season as well as the dance, and I'd really like to tempt a few more of you into trying them, so let me give you a few more details about what's on offer.
We kick off on the 18th October with a firm favourite, the ever popular Chris Turner – he of the bright shirts with a workshop entitled Playford Revisited. Pete and Sue Hall will be playing. Chris is a caller who can really get you motivated and eager to try the dances and he always takes the time to explain where the dance came from and how he'd like you to dance them. He does all this with the greatest of good humour and everyone has a great time – a workshop not to be missed.
Next up, on the 1st November, will be Henry Morgenstein accompanied by Andrew Purkiss, with American Contras. Henry is an American himself, with extensive experience of teaching and calling contras on both sides of the Atlantic, and his dances are always great fun with lots of opportunities for twirling and spinning if you want to. The format of the dances isn't very different to the longways sets we do regularly as part of the English repertoire, but there are some little twiddles and different moves that make them different and exciting.
Into 2010 and our first workshop on 10th January is with our own John Turner, accompanied by David Roberts, with a workshop entitled Playford Style - Old and New. This will be quite different to the October workshop and if you haven't heard John calling Playford dances before, you are in for a real treat at this one. John has some really interesting and unusual dances from the Playford tradition, both historically and as the title suggests, from dances being written in the Playford style in modern times.
On the 7th February we have Madeleine Smith, again with David Roberts, and a workshop on Pat Shaw Dances. Madeleine is an excellent, experienced caller and she will take us through the intricacies of some of Pat Shaw's dances with the greatest of ease. Pat Shaw's dances – not all of them complicated – tend to flow beautifully from one move to another and you can really feel you are dancing his dances, not just going through the motions. He wrote dances in all sorts of styles, such as Levi Jackson Rag, Margaret's Waltz, Round Pond, John Tallis' Cannon and countless more – there is always something new to learn.
21st February sees a new departure for us in one of our special, one-off workshops. This will be day of three different activities, Hand Bells with Elizabeth Haigh or Bones with Pete Gritton in the morning and Sea Shanties with the Portsmouth Shanty Men in the afternoon. There will be more details nearer the time, but in the meantime, put the date in your diary as this really looks like an interesting and enjoyable day
On the 7th March we will have Joy Simmons with Pete and Sue Hall and Dances with a Twist. Yet more home grown talent! Those of you who attended the FASH AGM in 2007 will know just how well Joy called and how much we enjoyed her dances, those who missed her then will have the chance to hear her now and you really should try not to miss it. The dances Joy will call will have a little sting in the tail or twist, something to lift them out of the ordinary, and they will be in a range of styles.
Our final workshop of the season, on 28 March, will bring yet more local talent to the fore, with Nigel Close and Pete and Sue Hall and Dances from the Celtic Fringe. I think the title probably says it all, and if you have seen Woodfidley perform you will know that we are in for a treat of different dance styles taught by someone who really knows how to get you dancing.
If you'd like more information about any of the workshops or what to expect if its going to be your first visit to one of our workshops, please get in touch. Otherwise we look forward to seeing you soon!
Lin Rayner, Chairman
Whitchurch Reunion
On the 31st Anniversary of the First Whitchurch Folk Festival held in 1979 and originally directed by Rip Rippingale, there is a reunion day. The day is free, mainly singaround formats hosted by locally based folk clubs. There will be two dance display groups and a musicians session.
We will run a wind down session on the Sunday, if enough people turn up. It all takes place on the weekend of 12th – 13th September at The Harvest Home, Winchester Street, Kings Arms, Church Street and The Bell, Bell Street.
This event has been devised, created and organised by Sue Rampton & Martin Watson, to get together old and new friends to share happy memories of the Whitchurch Folk Festivals, and also as a "showcase" of the many folk and other musical events in our area. All are warmly welcomed to this reunion.
No booking required, just turn up and enjoy yourselves. Further information from Sue Rampton at 01256 896477.
More Festivals in September
The festival season isn't over quite yet, we still have the Purbeck Folk Festival coming up on the 4th to 6th September. Taking place at Steeple, near Wareham, Dorset, they have Jim Moray and his band, Mawkin:Causley, UISCEDWR, Rosie Doonan's Snapdragons and Corrine West among others. See www.purbeckfolk.co.uk or call 01202 761885.
Then, at Swanage Folk Festival from 11th to 13th September you could see the Demon Barber Road Show, Colvin Quarmby, Belshazzar's Feast, Something Nasty In The Woodshed, and John Conolly amongst others. See www.swanagefolkfestival.co.uk or call 01929 422885
On the same weekend is the Bromyard Folk Festival. A little further afield, but I enjoy this one and plan to attend. They have Seth Lakeman, the Battlefield Band, the Demon Barber Road Show, Breabach, Faustus, Roy Bailey, Jez Lowe plus many more. See www.bromyardfolkfestival.org.uk or call 07772 831860
Devil's Jumps Clog
Devil's Jumps is a step clog side who have built up a repertoire of dances from England, Scotland, Wales and Canada. Some routines they perform are traditional or as taught by champion dancers, others they have choreographed using traditional steps and some they have written themselves. They practise weekly, in either Liss or Emsworth, and dance out a few times a year at a mixture of festivals, shows and local nursing homes etc.
Currently they are looking for new dancers and musicians. Following the limited success of their last workshop, they are running another taster workshop on Thursday 1st Oct at 8.00 pm at The Triangle Centre, Liss for anyone interested in having a go at this form of traditional English dance or playing a variety of music from music hall to traditional sources.
Please phone 023 9278 7478. It would really help us if you could let us know if you are coming; we can provide clogs in certain sizes, else bring your own or wear hard-soled shoes.
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).