Folklore Society of Greater Washington
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About the FSGW Dance |
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English Country Dance Explained
Come to the FSGW English country dance. Find a mix of fun and refined dancing led by talented callers who are accompanied by top-notch musicians playing tunes that are unique to each dance. On a given night you may hear anything from the ubiquitous piano and fiddle to the flute, harp, oboe, concertina, bassoon, or viola. Dance on a wood floor in the fine community room at the Glen Echo Town Hall. Enjoy the friendly crowd, known for its welcoming nature, light refreshments, and dance from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. Open to dancers of all experience levels. ADMISSION: members - $8, nonmembers - $10, students - $5.
Parking: in deference to the residents of Glen Echo, please park behind the hall and NOT on the street that passes by the front. Disperse parking, preferable on the opposite (east) side of MacArthur Blvd. Neighbors appreciate quiet departures.
January 4Caller: Joseph Pimentel. Musicians: guest musician Wayne Hankin (recorders), Liz Donaldso (piano), Ralph Gordon (cello).
January 11Caller: Tom Spilsbury. Musicians: Liz Donaldson (piano), Barbara Heitz (flute), David Knight (fiddle).
January 18Caller: Dan Gillespie. Musicians: Bruce Edwards (bassoon and concertina), Melissa Running (piano), Jeff Steinberg (fiddle).
January 25Caller: Michael Barraclough. Musicians: Ralph Gordon (cello), Francine Krasowska (piano), Becky Ross (fiddle).
February 1Caller: Rich Galloway. Musicians: Liz Donaldson (piano), Susan Brandt (flute), Judy Kleppel (oboe).
February 8Caller: Anna Rain. Musicians: Liz Donaldson (piano), David Giusti (recorders), Becky Ross (fiddle).
February 15Caller: Stephanie Smith. Musicians: Bruce Edwards (bassoon and concertina), Barbara Heitz (flute), Melissa Run (piano).
February 22Open Mic Night. Callers: April Blum, Ann Fallon, Kappy Lanning and Laura Schultz. Coordinated by Tom Spilsbury. Musicians: Liz Donaldson (piano), Colleen Reed (flute), Jeff Steinberg (fiddle).
February 29Caller: Melissa Running. Musicians: Dan Gillespie (recorders), Ralph Gordon (cello), David Knight (fiddle).
From the Beltway, take either the Clara Barton Parkway (from VA) or the Cabin
John Expressway (from MD) toward Glen Echo. From the left lane, take the Glen
Echo exit (do a U-turn and move right at the fork). At the tee, turn left onto
MacArthur Blvd. Continue NW on MacArthur past Glen Echo Park. The Town
Hall is at 6106 Harvard Ave., in the building with the post office. (Harvard
Ave. and the Town Hall are 2 blocks past the small shopping
center / Exxon Station.) Click for
(fast Internet connection
desirable); Google Maps, with navigation aids
*) or Static Map. Plan a ride with METRO's
RideGuide.
Take Metro's Red Line Bethesda and
a 14 minute trip on the blue and white
Ride-On bus, Route 29, to Goldsboro Road, departing Bethesda station every 30 minutes at 5 and 35 minutes past the hour
(schedule).
Buses run until 8:11 p.m. (on week days); get a ride back to Metro with a dancer.
Info: Tom Spilsbury at 301-585-7857; via e-mail to Roger Broseus:
*One can even see the town hall - look at the "hybrid" view and zoom in!
The FSGW's English country dance offers something for everyone. Dances from the 16th through the 19th centuries have been revived and interpreted for modern dancers, and supplemented by dances written by contemporary choreographers in the old style. A core of experienced, local callers teach and cue dances. Out-of-town guest callers are featured from time-to-time; they may bring enjoyable new dances they have composed. Live Music is provided by a trio of local musicians who are sometimes joined by out-of-towners.
Dancers appreciate a wide variety of musical instruments heard at the dances, including the accordion, base fiddle, bassoon, cello, concertina, fiddle, flute, guitar, harp, nyckleharpa, penny whistle, piano, oboe, ocarina, recorder and viola. Dancers participate in a renewal of traditional dances that extend back over generations as well as the new dances composed in recent years by those who continue this lively tradition. We dance in the Glen Echo Town Hall which has a fine wood floor and is illuminated by a dozen chandeliers, air-conditioned, and handicapped-accessible. Light refreshments and a friendly atmosphere make these FSWG dances a special, social event for all who attend.
Come and join us: we are indeed fortunate to have nationally recognized callers and musicians who provide four our enjoyment of English country dance in the DC metro area.
Roots: English country dances have roots going back to the 1500's. It is likely that some were danced in country homes and estates of British and European gentry of those early times. In 1651, printer John Playford gathered up the popular dances of his time and published them in a series of books. His name is now associated with the English country dance form that is enjoyed around the world today: some use the term "Playford" to refer to English country dance.
Music: A special feature of English country dance is the music — each dance has its own special tune and it is normally danced to that specific tune. The steps of the dance fit the rhythm of the music and the figures fit its spirit.
Formations: Dances are performed by couples, sometimes standing across from each other in lines, sometimes next to each other. Couples usually form circles; sometimes squares. Dancers do not need a partner to attend as dancers commonly change partners for every dance paying special attention to those who might have sat out a round.
Movement: Some dances are full of energy and vitality, some are danced in waltz or rag time, some are danced to lyrical ballads, languid songs; some are danced to lively hornpipes. Special footwork is not usually required; a smooth dance-walk which comes naturally to most dancers suffices. Some dances are fun to perform with skip-change, rant, waltz, chassé or other lively step.
References: An excellent reference to English country dancing is The Playford Ball, by Kate Van Winkle Keller and Genevieve Shimer. Available from the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) on-line store, The Playford Ball is an authoritative reference on English country dancing and includes reproductions of original, period text and music, modern interpretations (calls) and music of the classic, Playford dances. Keller and Shimer have taken on the mantle of scholars in the field of dance. Ms. Keller is a prolific author of books on period dance (examples) and has served as a consultant for special productions on such forms.
For musicians, books by Peter Barnes are standards, commonly referred to as "Barnes," or, more precisely, as the The Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes and The Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes, Volume II.
Check-out Roger's Dance Niche.
