Hollingbourne, Kent

19th October

Greetings and good news – another les Batons Sunday dance afternoon is nearly here – and it's our 7th Birthday!

Yes, back in October 2001 les Batons burst into life and much thanks is due to all of you who come and make every gathering a party…

Essential info:

Cost:  £4 on the door – what a bargain!

Time: 1pm to 5pm

Date:  19th October

Place: Hollingbourne Village Hall, Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne, nr.Maidstone, ME17 1TR

The car park is at the rear of the hall and for those who prefer to travel by train, there's a station just up the road. Have a look on our website for more general information: http://lesbatons..googlepages.com

For musicians who want to practice playing in the French style, Paul will be hosting the music session from 12noon to 1pm. Contact Paul for details by emailing this address.

If you are new to French dancing our experienced dancers will help to get you started. So come along, bring a friend, and make sure you bring your dancing shoes…

Phil, Gary, Isabel, Paul, Angi

Tel: 01843 836504 (Phil)

HOT OFF THE PRESS…

"Eurobash 2009" – plans are well under way – dates are Sat 17th and Sun 18th January 2009, write it in your diaries now! Arcadia will be playing for the Saturday evening dance (those of you at the March gathering will remember them) and various Saturday workshops. Then Meridian will do Sunday morning workshops and a lunchtime concert followed by the les Batons gathering in the afternoon. The wonderful Kerry Fletcher is leading the dance teaching all weekend. As last year, vouchers worth £5 off the cost of the whole weekend will be available to all those at les Batons in October and November. Keep your eyes on the Meridian website www.walshaw.plus.com/meridian for updates.

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Rainham area, Kent - Banjo lessons

Graham Anstee is available for banjo lessons - he plays for my regular clogging class in Faversham and is an excellent player for danicng - it's never too late to start - email him now! graham_dot_g_dot_anstee_at_btopenworld.com

 

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London – French Dancing

On Bouge: Monday 20 October

We had a SUPER night in September, with lots of new people and quite a few regular members as well. Please keep coming and we'll be able to get back to having guest musicians from time to time.

This month the accent is on preparing our display for Dance Around the World, which will be on Saturday af6ternoon, 25 October. We are doing a 30 minute display, followed by an hour's workshop.

Please let me know if you CAN'T come to On Bouge but would like to be in the display team. Although I say "display", what we normally try and do is get some of the audience up to dance.  I always tell them that we are a social dance group, NOT a display team. This does of course give you free tickets for the whole weekend (though not the Saturday night dance – come to Patcham instead!) but does allow you to have a go at loads of dances literally from all over the world.

But I'm also bringing along my projector to show you what some of the dances look like in the Bals folk, Bals traditionnel or Festou noz.

No Tom and Jerry though :–(

Dancing is from 7:30pm to 10:30pm.

London Welsh Centre,

157-163 Gray's Inn Road, (just north of junction with Guilford Road)

London WC1X 8UE

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=WC1X+8UE&ie=UTF8&ll=51.526314,-0.117202&spn=0.011428,0.028925&z=15&om=0

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London – Fiddle Course

15-16 November

Dear fiddle friends

This is just an update and alert on the Johan Hedin fiddle weekend, 15-16 November. A good number of you have expressed interest in coming and if you all actually come the number of places available for the weekend are all just about taken. I have received cheques from half of you who have told me you would like to attend, and you should have received an email from me acknowledging payment and confirming a place. Anybody else who has decided to come but not yet paid is invited to send a cheque sooner rather than later (payable to "Tania Simon", mail to 56 Inderwick Road, LondonN8 9LD) to ensure you get a place. Flier with details is attached.

… and, of course Johan has a gig at the Islington Folk Club on Thursday 13th November: no need to book in advance, just turn up, whether or not you are coming to the fiddle weekend!

If you are a nyckelharpa player, there's still space on the nyckelharpa day course - but contact me for details please.

Greetings

Tania

FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM TANIA SIMON:

020 8341 1454 or taniasimon007_at_yahoo.co.uk

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Andalucia, Sapin – Old Time Music courses

May 10-17, 2009

If this information can be posted or disseminated among your members or readers, I would be very grateful.

Thanks,

Kate Lissauer

Following the wonderfully successful and fabulously fun old-time music weeks in Andalucia of the past two years, we are pleased to announce that Spainmusic Old-Time week is happening again, Sunday through Sunday, May 10-17, 2009.  This year Tim Bing, West Virginia's most revered and, in our opinion, most delightful, living banjo player, will be joining the teaching staff to teach banjo alongside his brother Dave Bing, who will once again be teaching fiddle.  This impossible-to-surpass brother team will be assisted by Kate Lissauer, John Whelan and Peter Dunn, who offer one-on-one support to beginners, and workshops in backup guitar, and singing with your instrument. 

Dave Bing, known internationally as a master fiddler and hugely knowledgeable carrier of American traditional and bluegrass fiddle styles, is also a highly accomplished banjo player and guitarist, and excellent singer.  He has many years of teaching experience at home and in the UK, and is regarded as one of the best and most accessible music teachers around.  His brother Tim has been the undefeated state champion of clawhammer banjo playing for many years, and is also a superb bluegrass player and fine old-time singer.  Together, the brothers have a dynamic musical rapport which is second to none, and which inspires just what we are hoping to foster at this old-time music week—a better understanding of the music and how to share it with others.  Duet and ensemble playing are part of the programme, as is development of technique and repertoire, and support for individual style.  All levels of ability are welcome, and classes, which are usually about 6-7 strong, have included complete beginners alongside highly experienced players.

The residential week is held in a beautiful and remote part of mountainous southeastern Spain, an hour's drive north of Almeria.  The site is self-contained, all meals are provided, and rooms are shared with one or two other people.  Double rooms for couples are available.  Non-playing spouses, friends and family members are welcome, but we must charge the same fee to everyone.  £475 per person, £240 per child 14 or under, and £375 for participants who are camping on site.  There is plenty to do in the area and nearby, including sightseeing in the national park, visits to beaches, rock climbing, hill walking, and visits to Granada or other places of cultural interest.  (Although we have found in the past that no one particularly wants to go anywhere else once they have arrived!)  Room, full board, tuition and use of all facilities, including a 20-meter swimming pool, are included in the price.  Participants must provide their own transportation, and we can help and advise with that, and can arrange transport from Almeria airport, which can normally be shared with other participants.

A deposit of £100 will secure a place on the course.

For more information, any questions, and photos, please contact Kate Lissauer at kate_at_katelissauer_dot_com , or 01373 474 110.  

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Bath – French Dance & Music weekend

1st – 2nd Nov 2008 Le Grand Bal de Bath  A weekend of mainly French (and Belgian) music and dance. With dance and instrument workshops where some of the greatest exponents of their craft teach you to dance and play music. Saturday Bal and Sunday Concert where the finest musicians play for you to dance, watch and listen. Instruments include: Hurdy Gurdys, Melodeons, Bagpipes, Guitar, Bombard, voice, violin, cittern, clarinet. More info see http://www.myspace.com/hotspringsdance

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Ickeford, Herts – French danincing

Danse Herts – Second Sunday every month, Icklewood near Hitchin, Hertswww.danseherts.co.uk

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Ira Bernstein and Riley Baugus: Banjos, fiddles and feet

National tour

(dates correct at time of writing) 

Thu 6  Nov New Greenham Arts, Newbury, Berks (with The Mandolinquents)

Sat 22 Nov Boughton Monchelsea, Kent

Sun 23 Nov Rusthall, nr Tunbridge Wells - booking 01892 543544

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