Berea College Christmas Country Dance School Blends Creativity and Community

Since 1938, Berea College has hosted Christmas Country Dance School annually. Originated to train teachers at mountain schools to teach folk dance to their students, Christmas School now welcomes more than three hundred people each year. The staff are all internationally known musicians, dance leaders, craftspeople, and storytellers. Among them are Kentucky’s Folk Heritage Award Winners Donna and Lewis Lamb. Participants range from complete beginners to leaders in their own communities who come to hone their skills.

Director Joe Tarter has prepared a program of classes that combines old and new, familiar and fanciful. People who have attended Christmas School in the past will find offerings they remember, such as Appalachian Dance, English Country Dance, Rapper sword dance, Clogging, recorder, harmony singing, and basketry. Both beginning and experienced dancers have a wide range of options during the six class periods offered daily.

This year’s program also includes unusual classes like Contras with a Special Twist, taught by Kathy Anderson, widely known for her quick, clear teaching style, good flow, and unusual figures. She says this class is “not for the faint of heart.” The dances in this class with thrill and challenge the most experienced contra dancer with wild geography, surprising figures, tricky transitions, and new time signatures. Rick Mohr will offer a class in the Ilmington tradition of Cotswold Morris, which has rarely appeared at Christmas School. Music classes include unusual choices as well. Wayne Hankin of Cirque du Soleil teaches a class in Jaws Harp, and Steve Hickman, known to many as a master of English, Scottish, Irish, contra and swing dance music, will teach a class in Hambone for “a face-slapping good time” of body percussion. Eric Crowden teaches Temari craft at both the beginning and intermediate levels.

Advance registration is required.  Registration received with full payment by December 1 will merit a discount.

For information and to register for Christmas Country Dance School, contact 985-3431 or ccds@berea.edu or visit the website at Country Dance School.