Holly Holy Day

 The exhibition room in Nantwich museum was full and people danced and asked about John's Hurdy Gurdy.

Then when they'd wandered off to see what else was going on we stayed and played more tunes.

Elsewhere in the town

 Plough Witches

Domesday Morris 

What's happening on Jan 21st in Nantwich?

 As usual (but after a 2 year gap) the town and the Sealed Knot are celebrating Holly Holy Day re-enacting the Battle of Nantwich.

The day starts in Acton with a talk and tour of the battlefield. 

There will be military displays, as well as Morris dancers and other entertainment*

Then a parade and a noisy battle re-enactment (i.a.o charity)

I will be there with the Forlorn Hope - a group of musicians playing interesting instruments like Hurdy Gurdy and Crumhorns, as well as the more usual fiddles and recorders. I shall call a few easy dances based on some published around the time of the Civil War. Nantwich Museum 11.45 - 12.45. *NB not the time posted on the out of date flyer. This one is up to date. https://www.facebook.com/battleofnantwich

New Year's Eve with Cuckoo's Nest

Victoria Berringer organised a ceilidh and we shared the calling.  I think we managed to keep the dancers going till 2023. (though some seemed to be flagging by 11.30)

Folk had fun, saw the NewYear in and raised some funds for a food bank.

A world of its own

 

Folk music and dance is a world of its own. Almost an extended family.

There are people you meet every week at clubs, and people you only know by sight who you dance or play with at Folk Festivals.

And sharing your interest on the internet discussion groups widens the circle across the globe. Zoom sessions during lockdown meant dancing or playing along (muted) with others worldwide.

I was lucky to meet one of my internet friends last week. Ann has just moved back to the Wirral where she grew up. I’d heard her lecture on dance history during lockdown, we've discussed dances online, and I discovered that she ‘had Maypole, would travel’ when I had a party request that I couldn’t help with. Last week I found that she is also a talented band leader, an adaptable caller, and more – in her words - 

“I had a rich upbringing with folk dance clubs, morris, pub sessions, calling with ceilidh bands. Teaching jobs:  foreign parts including southern England where folk music took me in two directions: researching historical dance and making music with disabled people. Those became full-time work for the last 20 years. I've loved working with heritage organisations like National Trust, and with care homes and day centres, and plan to re-start all that here. Being back on Merseyside is a wonderful chance to reconnect with fine musicians and dancers round here. “

She is updating her website and can be contacted on thedancingmaster@outlook.com; m phone 07780 799 613. 

 

 

Christmas party time with the u3a country dance group

 For our last dance of the season we had decided to bring a festive nibbles to share. Then I had a generous offer from Ann Hinchcliffe (see next post) to come and play some Carols for us to dance to. A couple of Kelsall musicians agreed to join us. 

A car-load of dancers from Stockton Heath Folk Dance Club joined us making it a fun afternoon.

Ann played a tune that is now a carol but was published in 1589 as a dance.

She led us in her version, We were glad it wasn't as energetic as these re-enactors' version Official Bransle

We danced two dances published by Playford in the 17th century,  and dances from the 20th century and earlier.

Two of our members each called a dance 

Photos copyright Sue Sinclair & Kathryn Dahill. Pleasedo not share without permission

High Jinks and Riots.

 I have enjoyed calling with High Jinks for several years. Last year the Riot Band (theriotband.co.uk) needed a new caller and I agreed to call some of their Cheshire  gigs. So since last October I have called with them for an anniversary, a birthday, a St Patricks night, a wedding and a handfasting. Something magical about the last event, dancing on grass with dancers in costumes that seemed to come from another age. The band was on a trailer. Earlier in the month there was a wedding with High Jinks. Energetic simple dances on a crowded floor for that event, some of my more interesting dances at the handfasting, the variety is what makes calling such fun. 

A new venture

 I am a member of Tarporley u3a and our secretary suggested that I start an Interest Group to teach Country Dancing.

So we started in September, meeting twice a month. I have had to be flexible in my choice of dances as our numbers were low. Although Utkinton Village hall is spacious  and we opened windows and doors for extra ventilation some potential members were still cautious, and during Covid surges we cancelled meetings. But we learnt some dances.

I had hoped to find musicians among the membership but for now we are making do with recorded music. We have booked the Time Bandits for a family ceilidh on Fri Oct 28th in Tarporley community, which should be fun.

Whitby Folk Week

 The end of August usually brings the highlight of my year Whitby Folk Week. This year the organisers again decided it was sensible to cancel the official Festival and go online instead. But many of us had accommodation booked and enjoyed a week that was part seaside holiday, part folk fringe. Some pubs welcomed us to play tunes and the Metropole even let us use the ballroom for a few dances. I enjoyed dancing to Frank & Clare from Regency Rejigged, then organised a Scratch Ceilidh myself borrowing musicians from the Euro session and asking dancers to spread the word. Great fun and a very helpful manager at the Met, good food on sale too.

A delayed wedding

High Jinks were booked to play for a wedding ceilidh last year. It finally happened last month. Shrigley Hall has high ceilings and good ventilation, the guest list had been trimmed and some of the guests left after the meal, so that the dance floor was not too crowded. Those who stayed were happy to dance and we enjoyed playing and calling after an 18 month gap.

Coming out of hibernation

 What a year it has been. No dancing since March 2020 until restrictions began to lift recently.

Some of us managed to dance at home, solo or as couples using Zoom, but it is really not the same. Some members of Stockton heath club have been regularly chatting over zoom, and we were invited to dance in Ros' garden in July. Her lawn is large and the weather was good, she invited some Brass band members to play for us, various callers brought dances (adapted for social distancing if the dancers wanted that). It was great to meet again.

Burns Night / Holly Holy Day

Once again January is Burns Night. This time on Jan 18th I was with Bernard in Salford. As well as playing for dancing he played while the guests assembled, piped in the haggis (on an accordion)  and sang for them.
It was just as well that they had not booked a large band, half of the room was cordoned off and arranged as a set for Coronation Street.
Jan 25th saw me with Forlorn Hope in Nantwich museum, C17 music, songs and dancing as part of  Holly Holy Day (the sealed knot re-enactment of the battle of Nantwich)
I didn't stay to watch the battle as my grand-daughter was dancing in a ballet show.
Then home for a meal and another change of costume and up to Stand Golf Club for their Burns night Dinner / ceilidh with High Jinks. A full floor, lots of dancing, and a little bit of chaos, as usual.

High Jinks also played for Adlington Dance club's dance the next Saturday, a versatile group.

A Birthday Barn Dance

Another repeat booking. In the Autumn I called for a church anniversary dance in Sale with Bernard Cromarty.

We were invited back for Ken's 70th birthday.

Judging by his cake Ken is a man of many, varied interests, and the guests included people from all parts of his life. All good dancers. We danced some dances I often call.

And some I do less often

I had a request from one of them (identified as a Morris-man by his reaction to Bernard's warm-up tune) for a dance that I usually only call at clubs. Luckily I had noticed that Bernard's tune book included tunes for some dances I had asked him to play when I called with him at Contra club. So we had a quick practise after our supper and they danced Duke of Kent's Waltz in the second half. Managed it very well too.

I think some of the guests were tiring by 10.45, when I was trying to fill the second set for the last dance. Bernard was reminded of a corny joke (you don't just get music from Bernard).
How many ceilidh dancers does it take to change a light bulb?
Just one more couple.

Jan/Feb dance clubs and an 80th birthday

Since the beginning of the year I have danced and called at Stockton Heath, Adlington and Hawk Green clubs.

Each club has a rota of callers so the dancers get variety and callers can research interesting dances suitable for the members. I try to mix gentle dances with lively,  easy and/or familiar dances with newer or more challenging. Though dances are made up of the same building blocks they can be put together in surprising and satisfying ways.

In Feb I also called with Hi Jinks at an 80th birthday. The family were experienced dancers but wanted dances that all the guests could enjoy. So on the whole I kept it fairly simple, we did do the birthday girl's favourite dance - at first I thought she might have been right to think it was too hard, but after a couple of false starts we got there. (Well it would be boring if no-one ever got confused - though I try not to leave everyone completely bewildered.)

January/ February Two events with Forlorn Hope

Before travelling to Stand I spent the morning in Nantwich museum calling some seventeenth century dances as part of Holly Holy day, commemorating the battle of Nantwich.
Less than 2 weeks later I was there again, this time for the Dementia support group. I tried out some 'sitting down dances' as well as a few of the more usual sort.
On both occasions the hurdy gurdies and crumhorns aroused plenty of interest.

January 2019. Burns night again

And the ceilidh at Stand, with Hi Jinks.
I tried out some new dances this year since I knew the regulars would cope.

Dragon Slayers ceilidh

Another night of calling to excellent music. I enjoy a good fiddle and marvel at how different they can sound in different hands.
Don made his sing when we played for the Cathedral ceilidh. Ably backed up by Tony's guitar, John's assorted plucked strings, and Gordon's percussion.

Another birthday

The day after the birthday party with Bernard I called with Hi Jinks for a 21st birthday - a complete contrast.
The first had a lot of small children (grandchildren of the birthday girl perhaps), bright lights, a wild evening, not one for my harder dances.
The second was equally wild but in a more controlled way. So I called all the dances that I hadn't been able to call the night before and they stripped the willow, went on a star trek, dipped & dived and enjoyed the festivities.
It was the second 21st party that Hi Jinks had played for that family - nice when people ask us back.

Ceilidhs with Bernard

Sometimes people are put off by the cost of hiring a band. Quite a big amount to find.  Though not much when you divide the sum between all the musicians and think how long they spend driving, setting up, waiting around, packing up and driving home (plus the short while they have fun playing together - that bit hardly counts as work, compared to the rest). And such good value, Live Music makes all the difference to an evening and hearing the different instruments interact and harmonise adds joy.
But if that is not practical I know a musician who can make his accordion sound as if there is more than one playing, Bernard Cromarty. Not only that, he is a sound engineer by profession, so we are guaranteed to sound our best.

I called with for a birthday party in Frodsham and another church anniversary, in Sale this time. Again people wrote to say they had enjoyed it.

Two ceilidhs with the Time Bandits

A Chester based band I really enjoy working with the Time Bandits had asked me to call with them at the St Philips church 150th  anniversary ceilidh in July. I think people liked it.
October 6th was a splendid day.
3 bands.
The first was the Mere Brass Band who were playing for the rededication of Knutsford war memorial. Tatton Singers were leading the hymns.
Then change into my 'callers waistcoat' for a birthday party in Altrincham. With TheTime Bandits
Lots of nice surprises 'what are they doing with that tune now?' 'Oh, Helen's playing bagpipes' 'now saxophone!' Lots of kids enjoying the music.
Then a dash to Poynton to hear Portland Drive with Geoff Cubitt. An unmissable combination, excellent caller and band. Another splendid fiddler, another saxophone (/flute), more 'what are they doing with that tune now' moments.
Yesss!

A June wedding

The ceilidh was at Quarry Bank Mill. Enthusiastic dancers, the venue had rightly decided that the portable dance floor wouldn't be big enough so they pushed the tables back and we danced on the carpet. As we were lining up for the first dance it became obvious that the tables need to go back even further. Nice when people leap up to dance. Bridegroom Phil's family was from Belfast and obviously knew what they were doing, but those who hadn't danced before joined in and enjoyed it too.