The St. Louis English Country Dancers

NEWCOMERS ARE WELCOME Come with or without a partner

We've got pictures. And videos. And a Facebook page. And a news story.

A reporter/photographer from the Brentwood Spirit visited our
dance in March 2011 honoring Turlough O'Carolan.
His story is here.

Videos by Russell Blyth from the 2010 Playford Ball!
Check out Take a Dance and Jacque Latin.

Thanks to Kay Tomlinson and Russell Blyth for still photos and videos
of the 2010 Old Christmas Grand Dance. Kay's photos are here;
and here are Russell's videos of Holborn March, and Childgrove.

Thanks further to Russell, we have a Facebook page.

WHAT IS ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING?

English country dancing typically involves lines of men facing lines of women; the dancers walk patterns with their partners and with other couples in the set. Our dance leader is Peter Wollenberg; all dances are taught from scratch each evening. You can come with or without a partner.

Beginners are welcome at all events! Each dance evening starts at 7:00 with a beginners' workshop so that newcomers can learn the fundamentals of English country dancing.

The St. Louis English Country Dancers (Local 1651) are members of the Country Dance and Song Society, CDSS.

WHEN DO THE ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCERS MEET?

The group usually dances twice a month: on the second Friday night of the month, and again on the fourth Monday night of the month.

MONDAY	January 23, 2012 Celebrating the birthday of Robert Burns	Focal Point	Maplewood, MO
FRIDAY	February 10, 2012	Brwentwood UCC	Brentwood, MO
MONDAY	February 27, 2012	Focal Point	Maplewood, MO
FRIDAY	March 9, 2012	Brentwood UCC	Brentwood, MO
MONDAY	March 26, 2012 Celebrating the Yahrzeit of Turlough O'Carolan, and St. Patrick's Day	Focal Point	Maplewood, MO

NOTE: Those bringing snacks to dancing will earn the thanks of all and sundry.

WHAT TIME AND WHERE DO THE ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCERS MEET?

All dances, regardless of location, start with a workshop that begins promptly at 7:00 pm, followed by dancing from 7:30 - 9:30 pm. The workshop is the time for new and semi-new dancers to learn steps and moves.

Dances on the SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH will usually be at the Brentwood Congregational United Church of Christ in Brentwood, Missouri. The church is at 2400 S. Brentwood Boulevard; it's on the east side of Brentwood, at the intersection which is both Eulalie (to the east) and Litzsinger (to the west), just south of the firehouse. Map and directions to Brentwood UCC

Dances on the FOURTH MONDAY OF THE MONTH will usually be at the Focal Point Arts Center in Maplewood, Missouri. Focal Point is on Sutton Blvd., which is one block east of the intersection of Manchester and Big Bend; the address is 2720 S. Sutton Blvd., one block south of Manchester.
Map and directions to Focal Point

WHAT IS THE COST FOR DANCING?

Cost is $7.00 per person, with a student rate of $5.00.
You can also buy a series subscription: 10 dances for $56.00 (that's two free dances).

WHO ARE THE MUSICIANS?

Live music for every dance evening is provided by the Original Speckled Band.
Members of the band are:

Lisa Gilbert - flutes, viola
Tim Hirzel - flutes, piccolo
Jennifer Husky - bass
Rebecca Mayer - bass
Aileen Murphy - violin
Paul Ovaitt - mandolin, resophonic guitar, recorder, percussion
Paul Stamler - guitars
Alena Wheeler - violin

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

Wear comfortable clothes and soft-soled flat-heeled shoes.
You can come with or without a partner.

WHO CAN I CONTACT?

Please call Paul Stamler at (314) 288-9106 for more information or send an email to:

pstamler@pobox.com

WHAT ANNUAL EVENTS DOES THE GROUP SPONSOR?

There is an Old Christmas Grand Dance every Winter, and a Playford Ball every Spring.

Cecil Sharp

In the early 20th century, folklorist Cecil Sharp spearheaded the revival of interest in English Country Dancing in the UK and North America. He founded the English Folk Dance Society (now the English Folk Dance & Song Society, or EFDSS), reconstructed many dances from old notes and manuals,
collected dances and traditional songs both in England and in the Appalachian region of the USA, and forged a revival that we and many others are honored to continue into the 21st century. In celebration of Sharp's 150th birthday (he was born Nov. 22, 1859), St. Louis English Country Dancers hosted a tribute to Sharp. We asked Dr. John M. Ramsay, who learned his dancing from Sharp's associates, to talk briefly
about Sharp and his work. John's remarks may be found here.

HOW ABOUT SOME ADDITIONAL DANCE LINKS?

Dancin' Donna's music & dance listings
Focal Point Arts Center
St. Louis FolkFire Magazine

Dance Discovery
Highland Mist Scottish Country Dancers
Webster Groves English Country Dancers

Arkansas Country Dance Society
Central Illinois English Country Dancers [Urbana, IL]
Fairfield [IA] Folk Art & Dance Co-Op
Lexington [KY] English Country Dancers
Lawrence [KS] ECD
Madison [WI] English Country Dancers
Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers [Columbia, MO]
Nashville [TN] Country Dancers
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society [Oklahoma City, OK]

Country Dance & Song Society (CDSS)
English Country Dance around the USA (directory)

HOW DO I GET ONTO THE E-MAILING LIST?

Send an e-mail to Paul Stamler (pstamler@pobox.com).

Thank you for visiting the St. Louis English Dancers' website. Now come dance with us!

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