Christmas Country Dance School at Berea College is a Holiday Tradition
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11/02/2009
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 Christmas Country Dance School is only two months away, with dancing, song, and creativity from early morning until late at night. From December 26 to January 1, Berea College rings with the joy of more than three hundred folk dancers, musicians, and crafts people from all over the world. Classes are held from 9a.m. to 5p.m., with evening dances beginning at 7:30 each night and a New Year’s Eve Ball on December 31. The deadline for advance registration is Nov. 2, but applications will be accepted as space permits. There are also some public evening dances during the session. For information call 859-985 3431. Christmas School boasts a world renowned dance faculty. Gene Murrow has been teaching and calling English Country Dance at clubs, workshops, festivals and balls throughout the United States and Europe and plays recorder for dances. He will teach English Country Dance and Recorder classes. Roo Lester, a specialist in Scandinavian dance is known nationally for her clear, positive teaching that incorporates background information, styling and technique. Laurie Cumming performs and teaches step dances and sword dancing. She is a past member and teacher of Toronto Women’s Sword. She will teach Ontario Step Dance and Rapper. Jim Morrison will also teach classes in Rapper, as well as Longsword and Minuet. Mary Harrell brings enthusiasm and a sense of fun to beginning English Country Dance classes. Cis Hinkle brings Mindbending contras and Snappy Squares from the Nifty 50s. Returning this year is clogger Heidi Kulas, who toured internationally with Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble and directs the percussive dance company Sole Impact, based in Western North Carolina. Frank Jenkins, in demand in Kentucky and surrounding states for his clarity, ease, good humor and for creating a sense of community among dancers, teaches Appalachian Mountain Dancing.
Returning to Christmas School this year are musicians Earl Gaddis of Bare Necessities, Elvie Miller of Air Dance, Anna Patton and Ethan Hazard-Watkins of Elixir, Grammy nominee Andrea Hoag, and Jonathan Jensen, composer of brilliant English Country Dance tunes and waltzes. New this year is Naomi Morse, from the “mega fiddle band” Childsplay. Well-loved local musicians, an integral part of the central Kentucky dance scene, bring warmth and a sense of family to the week. Atossa Kramer, Al White, Alice White, Lewis Lamb and Donna Lamb play for classes and evening dances. To stimulate other avenues of creativity, Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly lead harmony singing, dulcimer, and harmonica classes, Jim Pfitzer teaches storytelling, Janet Northern teaches basketry, Kent Gilbert leads Shape-Note Singing, and Eric Crowden teaches Temari Craft. More information about these classes and more can be found at Christmas Country Dance School , along with registration forms. |
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| CONTACT: Joe Tarter, Director Christmas Country Dance School 859-985-3789Susan Spalding, Director Dance Programs 859-985-3142
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