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In the summer of 1972, a group of young people in Bloomington, Indiana, began a weekly gathering with the purpose of reviving traditional American old-time music and dance. In time, the group became a kind of accidental utopia, a community bound by celebration and deliberately void of structure and authority. In this joyful and engaging book, John Bealle tells the lively history of the Bloomington Old-Time Music and Dance Group -- how it was formed, how it evolved its unique culture, and how it grew to shape and influence new waves of traditional music and dance. Broader questions about the folk revival movement, social resistance, counter culture, authenticity, and identity intersect this delightful history. More than a story about the people who forged the group or an extraordinary convergence of talent and creativity, Old-Time Music and Dance follows the threads of American folk culture and the social experience generated by this living tradition of music and dance.
Throughout history, humans have used dance as a benefit for mind, body, and soul. In some cases, governments or churches have banned certain dances for a variety of reasons. This work provides an exploration of dances banned around the world, then revived by a handful of brave proponents. The sixteen case studies--ranging from Argentina's Tango and Cambodia's Royal Classical Ballet to Brazil's Samba and Ireland's Step Dance--reveal the meaning of the dance to each culture and the importance of the art form to the creation of healthy sociological and political climates. Chapters detail each dance's origins, technical steps and movements, costumes, music, and political history, providing an informative overview of the oppression of dance culture through history. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.
This is the story of English Country Dance, from its 18th century roots in the English cities and countryside, to its transatlantic leap to the U.S. in the 20th century, told by not only a renowned historian but also a folk dancer, who has both immersed himself in the rich history of the folk tradition and rehearsed its steps. In City Folk, Daniel J. Walkowitz argues that the history of country and folk dancing in America is deeply intermeshed with that of political liberalism and the ‘old left.’ He situates folk dancing within surprisingly diverse contexts, from progressive era reform, and playground and school movements, to the changes in consumer culture, and the project of a modernizing, cosmopolitan middle class society. Tracing the spread of folk dancing, with particular emphases on English Country Dance, International Folk Dance, and Contra, Walkowitz connects the history of folk dance to social and international political influences in America. Through archival research, oral histories, and ethnography of dance communities, City Folk allows dancers and dancing bodies to speak. From the norms of the first half of the century, marked strongly by Anglo-Saxon traditions, to the Cold War nationalism of the post-war era, and finally on to the counterculture movements of the 1970s, City Folk injects the riveting history of folk dance in the middle of the story of modern America.
The Contra Dance Encyclopedia is a handbook for musicians who want to play for contra dances. Music from American fiddle tunes to the Irish tradition are presented in sets suitable for playing for dances (as well as sessions, concerts, and other gigs). There is also an extensive section of tunes grouped into Reels, Jigs, and Waltzes that can be used. Included is a short history of contra dance, as well as ideas on putting together a dance band. Instrumental and stylistic techniques for guitar, mandolin, whistle, and fiddle are discussed, as well as band dynamics and orchestration.•
"Cracking Chestnuts" was originally a column that grew out of an exciting gathering in Syracuse, NY in March of 2004, when a group of interested callers spent a day together looking at some favorite contra chestnuts. The column ran in the CDSS News, newsletter of the Country Dance and Song Society. This book is written for those already familiar with the basic figures and conventions of contra dancing and includes useful teaching guidelines. It includes music for each dance, dance level rating, an appendix of 20 additional dances which did not appear in the original columns, and essays on how to call chestnuts, triple minor math, and a biography of Ralph Page and his influence on much of the dance repertoire we use today.
Examines changes in the choreography over the past 20 years of the country dance style that was imported from the British Isles during the colonial period and developed into a popular entertainment in the US. Based on interviews with contra dance composers and leaders, describes how a dance is created, the factors that make it good and influence its reception, and how the recent trends parallel changing interests and priorities of the dancers. Revised from a Ph.D. dissertation for Indiana University in 1992. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR