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.
