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New experiences in Stockton

8/10/2019

This is a picture of me and three beautiful people who take my folk dance class. This was taken on picture day at Stockton Folk Dance camp. (Not pictured- our dance friend from Creswell who traveled with us.)
I've traveled and roomed with friends to dance weekends in the past. It has always been a memorable occasion. I'm thrilled to have created memories with Kay, Lori and Nancy at Stockton. Among the four of us, we cover a wide spectrum of introvert/extrovert, varying learning styles, and years of folk dance experience. It filled me with delight to watch their interest, delight, playfulness, aptitude, and most of all, I was impressed by their participation. Attending Stockton is a challenge both physically and mentally. I was gratified that we all took care of ourselves - napping when necessary, etc. Hats off to Nancy, who on day 1 decided she wanted to extend her participation and stay for week 2 of camp.

For me, in addition to traveling with friends I had two other epic first-time experiences at Stockton.
Last year at Stockton, we had a teacher from Macedonia who taught a dance that I wanted to teach immediately. But the preliminary notes we were given at Stockton did not accurately reflect the steps we were taught in his class. I sent what I thought were accurate notes to one of the Stockton organizers (my beloved mentor, Loui), and she invited me to join the "research committee".
As an apprentice research committee member, I had a BLAST! The committee works as a team. We pair up to observe the teacher and make corrections to the preliminary notes. (Had I waited for the committee's work last year, I would have missed out on the chance to be on the team!)
I worked with Tom on the research for Gigi's Argentine Tango for couples. Honestly, I would have fervently NOT chosen Gigi's class, had I not been assigned. And then I would have missed the enchanting dance that is the Argentine Tango. And the equally delightful teaching of Gigi and Warren. A couple of near misses there - being on the committee, and tango class. Note to self: keep eyes and heart open to unexpected experiences.
I teamed up with Cricket and Marina for Maurits van Geel's classes. On the research team, they ask our preferences when making assignments. Maurits and his wife Tineke each taught classes. They were my first choice. It was an honor to work on Maurits' notes. My assignment required that I watch Maurits dance. What a job! He's an incredible dancer.
I had fun working with these two researchers. I had fun contributing my observations, drawing on my experience as a dancer and as a musician. I didn't realize how much I rely on the skills I've developed as a musician. I can see how this observation can help inform my dance teaching.

Speaking of dance teaching, I had the opportunity to lead a Dances for All Ages session at Stockton. When I was first approached to lead the session, I pitched doing Welsh dances. I was trying to think of something that would bring new material to community dance teachers like me. What dance instructor couldn't benefit from having a few beginning level Welsh dances in their back pocket?

I chose to teach these dances:
Joc Y Do - a set dance for 4 or 5 couples
Cylch Y Cymry - a circle mixer
Clawdd Offa - a square dance
Rhwng Ddwy - groups of 3 people
Robin Ddiog - both as a circle dance for as many as will AND as a couple dance in a Sicilian circle
I asked an experienced teacher to observe and give me feedback. Suzanne gave me insightful notes. One camper from Seattle told me I did a good job. She didn't usually attend Dances for All Ages and she didn't have much expectation. :-( Another camper from NJ said she would love to be in my class - she complimented my clear teaching. Woo hoo! It was thrilling to teach at Stockton.

Stockton was a big success this year. Only 11 months and 7 days until next time we go to camp!

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Summer at Glasgow

7/10/2019

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I have not held a summer class since 2014. Unlike the past 5 years, I now find myself with a great deal of motivation: there are three - not just one, nor only two - but three dancers in my class who are going with me this summer to Stockton Folk Dance Camp! I will not be driving alone. (Nor will I be able to pick up fellow campers at Stockton airport for a ride to camp.) It's going to be a whole new experience for the three of them -- AND being there with them will be a new experience for me.
I vividly remember last summer at Stockton... every day, I would have an interesting experience and say to myself, "wow! Kay would absolutely love it here!" Somehow, I've encouraged Kay, Nancy AND Lorie to come to camp. I cannot wait to share this experience with friends! Countdown #2 on my phone is set for Stockton: 9 days and 12 hours.

So I'm teaching class again this summer. And again, I can admit that I teach folk dance for selfish reasons. Usually I tell folks in my class that I teach because I'd prefer to have people to dance with. Dancing alone is okay, but not as much fun as with a group. And now I'm holding summer class this year because I want to be in good dance shape for camp! I can do many things by myself to get in shape for dance camp, but I'd really prefer not to dance alone.

Summer class has brought some new folks my way. The summer started with an evening of minimal teaching. I learned that this was not the preference of some folks. So I've been teaching throughout the evening. I envisioned the summer would be more like a party than a class, so I want to incorporate SOME dances without teaching them first. It's another skill that can be learned at a folk dance class -- giving dancers the opportunity to learn by standing behind the line. When we go to Stockton, we're going to have MANY opportunities to stand behind the line of dances we haven't yet learned. So although the summer series is more than half over, I'm still honing the format of the class. Content is based on dancers' requests.

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Gaining confidence as a dancer

6/6/2019

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Tonight is week 10 of spring semester class. One more week, and spring semester will be finished. Next week, we have an international potluck and then dance party. Tonight is a review of all the dances we learned this semester. I like to introduce this review activity as a fun activity while assessing whether dancers learned the material from the semester.
I love the end of the semester. It's awesome to watch the confidence that dancers have gained. Repetition is a worthy teaching tool, as we gain muscle memory.

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Do the clothes make the dancer...?

3/27/2019

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Stockton Barbie and I have matching dance-themed skirts now. Here's hers - mine is identical. They were a gift from Diane, a dancer in my class. She sewed them. They each fit us perfectly. I'm looking forward to going to Stockton with Barbie in our skirts.
Coincidentally, I was also given a fabulous new T-shirt with this inspiring message:

I am so blessed.

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Comparisons are odious

1/20/2019

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I've been thinking about Linda (my former dance teacher) a lot lately. When I think of Linda, I think of her abounding energy, her dark eyes, and her smile. And of course her red boots! My eyes were glued to her boots as I learned the dances.
She taught us style-filled couple dances that I haven't considered teaching these past 10 years... like the hambo. I remember learning Zillertaler Landler (video below) from Linda. I haven't done that dance for over 30 years. But I'll never forget Linda's instruction of sticking the guy's hands in his armpit for that repetitive turn.
On the other end of the energy spectrum, Linda taught us lots of lively dances like Hora Or, Trei Pazeste, Cimpoi, Godecki Cacek, Haroa Haktana, and many more. Linda had a great sense of rhythm. Coupled with her spritely approach to these dances, I was won over immediately.
I don't have a crystal ball, but I wonder how much longer I'll be able to teach. Can I do this for another 20 years? I've been inviting the Universe to bring me someone young who will fall madly in love with international folk dancing, and want to learn ALL of the dances that I know. Maybe a cadre of young people. That would be nice. It's essential to keep passing the tradition forward.

From Jonathan Jensen's song "Spread the Joy",
Spread the joy, pass it on,
May it blossom in our children when we're gone,
For the gift of dance and music has the power to enthrall,
Share the magic, spread the joy to one and all.

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Preserving the tradition

1/9/2019

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I know I shouldn't write in red font, but in honor of Linda's red boots...

The photo above is a group of folks from a SWOCC PE 185 Folk Dance class. It was taken in the 1980s; we were performing, but I'm not sure where. We were doing a lively Israeli dance called Hora Or. The exuberant woman on the left in the red boots (with a scarf on her head) was my teacher Linda. See how light she is on her feet?! Linda sewed many of those costumes we were wearing. She taught us invigorating dances, and she made us look good! Folk dance class was a lot of fun, and I'm forever indebted to Elka for inviting me to come along to her class. Linda was an inspiring teacher, and I loved taking her class.

I'm the girl in the photo who is facing the camera... wearing a big white apron and knee socks. I would never have imagined back then that I'd be teaching these dances in a PE class at SWOCC 30-40 years later.
This week, I was contacted by the SWOCC librarian. She had a notebook of instructions from dances taught at PE 185. She said she never had the heart to dispose of it, and asked if I could put it to good use. There had been cassette tapes to go with the notebook, but she said those were long gone. (I remember borrowing those cassettes years ago from the 3rd floor audio-visual part of the library! I thought they were so cool!) How thoughtful of Linda to make all of this information available to the community by putting it in the library. Yet another thing to admire about her!

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Stockton Research Committee

11/16/2018

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Every year of Stockton Folk Dance Camp, a syllabus is created that includes folk dance descriptions and notations for each dance that is taught. I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to serve on the committee that researches these descriptions and notations for the 2019 camp, and hopefully for many years beyond.

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Dancing with things and stuff!

11/16/2018

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I'd seen the folk dance High Green Mountain performed last July when I had the opportunity to participate in a musical performance for the Mildred Hill concert series in Port Orford. I've since learned that there are two versions (maybe more) of this dance. I'm referring here to the dance based on the teachings of France Bourque-Moreau.
Vicki I's dance group from Port Orford performed a modified version of the dance to accommodate limited dance space in the carpeted church sanctuary. Even in the confines of that situation, the dancers each carried and shook bells on their hands. The unevenness of the music really caught my attention. Two weeks later, when it was featured in the "Dances for All Ages" segment at Stockton Folk Dance Camp, I knew I wanted to include this dance in my fall semester class.
The "patty cake" part of the dance - when dancers approach the center of the circle and do a series of thigh pats and bell flings, then go back out of the center and do a totally different sequence of thigh pats and bell flings - is my favorite part. I love that the sequences and the music are "crooked".

Also new this semester, we are doing a peppy Sicilian Tarantella. And we're using tambourines.

Up until now in my life, the only times when I initiated dancing with a thing in my hand was holding a hankie between the first and second person on a Sytos... and o-n-c-e as a short line leader on a U Sest. I've held things that other dance leaders used in a class at Stockton or Pourparler (I'm still looking for just the right time to pull out the from-stoic-to-silly balloon dance that I learned from Bobi). But this is really the first time I've introduced dancing with stuff. My opinion: it's terribly fun. My most sincere thanks to William who brought a big bag of bells and tambourines to class. Now that we have them, I'm on the hunt for other dances that use bells and tambourines.

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The View From My Dulcimer...

10/19/2018

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In Goldendale, WA, just over the border from Oregon, there is a lovely art museum - Maryhill Museum. Gail and I had talked about visiting for a long time. We picked a date, and made plans to go.

Often, we'll try to combine our travel with visiting a dance, a jam session or sing-along in the community where we're going. I contacted Sue, a friend in Hood River, to ask if there was anything happening in town that weekend. She said that originally WAS the date of the regularly scheduled dance, but the band had to cancel due to a death in the family.

Gail and I play music and we've played for dancers many times. She plays bouzouki and I play hammered dulcimer and penny whistle. Together, we are The Little Match Girls. We offered to play for the dance. And so it was back on!

Though few in numbers, the dancers were enthusiastic. Sue was flexible and masterfully lead the group with a variety of set dances and a southern running square dance. At one point, we relied on some international folk dance music that I had on my phone. We danced Jocul Mosilor, a Romanian line dance, and Wassouma, a fun dance from Suriname which the kids especially liked. A good time was had by all!

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Sto Barb

9/29/2018

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Stockton Folk Dance Camp is an annual gathering of international folk dance aficionados and guest instructors. It's a week-long extravaganza of dancing. And then repeated for a second week!
One way the camp raises money for people seeking scholarships to attend camp is by having an auction each week during camp.
At camp this summer, Susan Gregory created and donated an amazing auction item - she outfitted a Barbie doll with a wardrobe of ethnic dance costumes, dance-branded casual wear, and other assorted fun pieces. She made a Stockton Barbie to be auctioned off each week at the auction.
I was thrilled to have been the high bidder during the first week of camp!

Check Out her Stockton folk dance camp T-shirt and choice of reading material! I'll post some pictures of her in her fabulous costumes here, and you can also follow her on Instagram.