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In September 2121, with hand sanitiser at the ready, we started indoor dancing once more. We had spent part of the summer dancing in Regents Park but it was good to be back home in the Primrose Hill Community Centre. It's an attractive venue with its wooden beams and all our regular callers are with us again.
If you would like to join us one Wednesday evening you'd be made very welcome. Ruth, Club Secretary.
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We have danced in Regents Park on several occasions through the summer of 2020 and 2021 when we couldn't dance indoors due to Covid19. Thank you to Jane and other callers. Thank you to various musicians. We hope to return to PHCC in September 1st.
Primrose Hill Community Centre is opening for some things. We won't feel safe to dance there yet. The changing weather means we probably won't dance again in Regents Park. Perhaps we will meet for food at Christmas. Watch this space.
We met again yesterday in Regents Park for a socially distanced picnic and dance.
It was such fun. Some of the London Pride Morris men turned up with new plastic masks made by Jeremy and some home made hooks for swinging. We all had a good giggle. It was lovely to all meet up again for a chat and dancing. The music was played by Peter on hurdy gurdy, Barbara on flute and Jeremy on accordion. It was so good to hear folk music played live and lots of people in park stopped to listen and to watch us dancing. Jayne and Ruth for called. Well done Ruth for organising this event. Thanks to Ruth, for planning lunch and dancing in Regent's Park as we can't dance indoors. Thank you, Tony, for playing your squeeze box, accompanied by the flute. And thanks to Jane for calling. A lovely afternoon, and we hope to repeat it soon. Thank you to those who took photos - some are here
Thank you Jayne for bringing your Jig dolls again. We all tried them but you were best, of course.
It was generous of David to travel all that way to call for us and we really appreciated it.
He started gently, with Indian Queen. I don’t know whether he used that to assess his subsequent programming, but it was followed by Washington Quick Step, which I think we hadn’t danced before, and Gary Roodman’s Charlene’s Celebration. After Dorset Triumph, David had to demonstrate one figure in his own All Saints, which we had requested, but we then enjoyed it and wondered why he hasn’t written more dances. He called the familiar Duke of Kent’s Waltz before challenging our reaction times with Orleans Baffled. After tea, David called Pat Shaw’s Waterfall Waltz and taught his Heswall & West Kirby Jubilee. We danced Zephyrs and Flora from the Fallibrome Collection followed by the traditional Yorkshire Square Eight and Pat Shaw’s Heidenroslein. David concluded the evening with the cheerful Alabama Jubilee. I am glad I can say that we danced “up” to his programme, about which many of us expressed our enthusiasm. We hope he will come and call for us again. It was lovely to welcome Louise Siddons back to Camden FDC; and a wonderful surprise to have Mollie Koenigsberger on her fiddle. As expected, Louise's teaching was clear, friendly and good-humoured; and Mollie's playing was a joy for both dancers and observers. The programme was a well-judged mix of 18th-century and modern dances. We look forward to Louise's next session. Dance List
Willy Nilly (Robin Hayden) The Touchstone (Thompson 1773) The Detour (Sharon McKinley) The Ladies Joy (Cahusac 1788) Middlemarch (Orly Krasner) - Spring Blossom (Colin Hume) Autumn in Amherst (Philippe Callens) Marina (Elizabeth Zeckley) Megan Wilson's programme was a mix of old and modern English Country dances on this occasion, some of which we found difficult, despite her clear calling and generous demonstrations. Many of us were pleased to be challenged to raise our game(s). On this occasion, Megan engaged in some straightforward teaching, which some of us managed to retain through the evening, with positive results. She revisited the "serpentine" figure with which many of us had struggled last week, which was appreciated. Members commented on the clarity of Megan's teaching and some of us found her specifying the number of beats and/or bars available for a figure a helpful revelation. It was a good evening. Dance List
Benjamin's Birth Day (Gary Roodman) The Queen's Birthday Beach Spring (Leslie Lassetter) -- this is the one with the serpentine. Bellamira Apollo and Daphne Jack's Health Fandango Winter Dreams Waltz (Gary Roodman) Thank you, Jayne. It was a new insight into Folk Art to see the dancing Jig Dolls. And thank you for your calling.
Thank you to all the callers who have given us such lively dancing each Wednesday through 2018. It has been a pleasure to meet so many, and experience the variety of dances they have all brought.
We had a fine evening's dancing to Peter Leedham's programme, enhanced by Joyce Leedham's joining us on the floor, where she provided a model, as well as any necessary help and encouragement. People commented on the clarity of his calling and teaching, and the technical points were appreciated.
The varied programme included: Swirl of the Sea, which was new to us; Fried de Metz Herman's Peace be With You; Apley House (1702) and Ramsgate Assembly (1795); Bar a Bar (Walsh, 1718), Sybil's Roundabout, and A Brief Encounter. After tea, we danced The Sticher's Birthday, John Wood's Millfield House, the lovely Another Nancy's Fancy by Pat Shaw (which stretched us) and Heptathlon Jig (a favourite with our chairperson) Despite the holiday period and the humid weather, we had a good turn-out for Denise Devonald's mixed programme this evening, and it was lovely to have Carolyn and Charles join us from Arkansas again this year.
Denise had clearly taken the muggy conditions into consideration when selecting dances, which was appreciated. We danced Mount Hills, Ramsgate Assembly, Gary Roodman's Square Line Special, Terpsicourante and Double Duet, Trip to Richmond and Philippe Callens' Alice. Dunham Oaks, Sybil's Roundabout, Ely Waltz and Snake Oil Reel were new to all of us. As well as her choice of dances, we enjoyed Denise's clear and calm calling, and her way of helping a set when it got in a muddle. A very good evening's dancing. Since 11 July 2018 was the last Wednesday this year in the UK for both Louise Siddons and Megan Wilson, they agreed to share the calling for the evening. Among the dances Louise called were The Astonished Archaeologist (Philippe Callens), Jaque Latin , Helena (Colin Hume) and Shandy Hall. Megan's programme included: Highlanders Humour, Easter Morn (Erna-Lynne Bogue), Mr Lane's Maggot, Freers' Fortification (Hilary Herbert) and Epsom New Wells.
David Hogarth summed up the experience of dancing to Louise and Megan when he stepped forward to give an impromtu thanks at the end of the evening. He cited the quality of the programmes these callers have chosen over the weeks, expressed appreciation for the more challenging dances that have encouraged us to improve our dancing and for the example of their own excellent dancing for us to try to emulate. Like him, I hope they will come back. David's comments reminded me that, as a club, we have led an incredibly sheltered life. We were born on Thursdays, with experienced callers Brenda Godrich and Dave Kerridge to guide our steps. We were blessed with Dave Kerridge as a regular caller for the first two terms of the new club's existence; and we have since enjoyed a succession of callers distinguished by their thorough preparation, good taste, extensive knowledge, clear calling and obvious enjoyment of English country dance. We are a lucky club. Brenda and Mollie attracted a good crowd to the club and it was very nice to see Elizabeth B., Paul and Jacky again. We were delighted to welcome Deirdre and Sue and hope they'll become regular visitors to the club.
It was such a joy to dance to live music and Mollie was on wonderful form. (Lots of members said how much they miss the live music we enjoyed.) People enjoyed Brenda's programme, which included: Levi Jackson, Shrewsbury Lasses, Kelsterne Gardens, Mr Isaac and Philippe Callens' Westward Bound. And were very glad to see her again. She said she'll come and call again! |
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