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Callers / Leaders Musicians International Display Teams Sound

Version of 11-Oct-24. Click here to see the performers from 2024 and the programme.

Callers / Leaders

Andrew Swaine

Andrew Swaine Andrew has been dancing since he was little — and he's very tall now! He's possibly the only caller who is well-respected in Ceilidh, Contra and Playford circles alike. He has done considerable research into the early Playford dances. He also plays piano accordion, writes dance tunes (mostly in the French style) and dances with Gog Magog Molly, going back to his days as a student in Cambridge. He now lives in Sheffield with his wife Daisy Black, also an experienced caller. This year he will be leading the workshop to decide the winner of the dance-writing competition. He will be running a workshop for callers and otherwise usefully employed.

Website: andrewswaine.uk

Bob Barrett

Bob Barrett Bob comes from Hertfordshire and is an experienced dance caller and instructor. He started calling at the popular Friday Folk club in St Albans and now appears regularly with local bands at dance clubs and social occasions. For several years he ran a lively Modern Jive club where he taught weekly classes. His aim is to make dancing available to more people and to help them gain the maximum enjoyment from it.

Brian Stanton

Brian Stanton Brian started dancing and calling at barn dances and ceilidhs in his teens and came to folk dancing via ballroom dancing. He has called at various national venues including Halsway Manor and Eastbourne and Chippenham Festivals. He is also chairman of the excellent Mercian Folk Callers' Forum.

He enjoys Playford, modern English and American styles of dance and, as a caller, likes to share his enthusiasm with fellow dancers and to help them to get the most from a dance by encouraging them to think of the two big Ts — Timing and Technique.

Burt Hunter

Burt Hunter has been an avid folk dancer since joining Exeter University Folk Dance Society. He later started the Moorcock Ceilidh Band and has also called for other local bands including Whapweasel, a Hexham Morris spin-off. He has been dancing with the latter for over 30 years, principally doing Cotswold with a bit of Welsh Border and a bit of rapper and longsword. He is a member of Durham English Folk Dance Group and Colin Wallace's Hexham Folk Dance Group. He will lead a maypole dancing event at May Heydays this year.

His interest in Kentucky Running Set began over 25 years ago at Whitby Festival where there are daily workshops. Frustrated at having to wait another 51 weeks for another delve into this fascinating genre he invited a group of friends including Dave Turner, who had been running some of the workshops at Whitby, to meet informally for supper and a session of running set. After an invitation to dance at Washington Old Hall for American Independence Day the group adopted a kit and a name: Rights and Lefts. He has run running set workshops at IVFDF, ICBINI and Chippenham.

Colin Hume

Colin Hume Colin has been a caller for many years and has called at all the major dance festivals in England as well as dance weeks in the USA and the Netherlands and weekends in other countries. He teaches Playford-style, Traditional English, American Squares and Contras, and sometimes other dance forms such as Scottish, Quadrilles and Country Dance Minuet. He believes that if you dance better you will enjoy it more, and he runs workshops for callers and dancers in the hope of confirming this.

Website: colinhume.com

Ivan Aitken

Ivan Aitken, from Reading in Berkshire, is a caller with many years experience. He calls for many clubs and has appeared at most of the major festivals, dance weekends, Halsway Manor and abroard. His extensive repertoire includes Playford, old favourites, modern dances, contras, squares and everything in between. He has a very clear way of explaining even the most complicated moves and is equally at ease calling for experienced dancers or beginners.

Kathryn & David Wright

Kathryn and David Wright Kathryn and David — “The Wrights of Lichfield” in Gary Roodman's dance — have been dancing together for over 50 years. They enjoy both dancing and calling and have a wide repertoire from Playford to American Squares and Contras. They have composed several dances that have achieved widespread popularity both at home and abroad and enjoy sharing their love of dancing with others. They particularly like encouraging good dance technique and enjoy making so-called “difficult” dances accessible.

Linda Moon

Linda Moon Linda, an enthusiastic dancer on both the International and Anglo-American dance scenes, has been teaching various dance styles including Jive and Cajun for over 20 years. She shares her enthusiasm very effectively with the participants. The session is planned to suit beginners as well as improvers.

Mark Elvins

Mark Elvins has been dancing and calling since he was a teenager. Like most of the callers at the festival Mark calls across the board — Contra, Squares, Playford style and traditional English dances. Although his main love is the contras and squares, he relishes the contrasts in style of a totally mixed evening. He also has written many of his own dances some of which are published in the “Both Feet” books. Over the years he has called at most of the major folk dance festivals, however this will be his first time behind the microphone at May Heydays.

Mark believes that dancing should be fun and as lively as the music to which we dance.

Mike Courthold

Mike Courthold Mike has been folk-dancing since 1970 and calling since 1981 for barn-dances, ceilidhs and dances for experts, including dance workshops, weekend residential events, and folk festivals throughout England. Mike is proud to have been Dance Director from 2004 to 2020 for the internationally-famous Chippenham Folk Festival, held over the late May Bank Holiday weekend.

Website: courthold-family.com/mike-courthold

Nicola Scott

Nicola Scott Nicola first started dancing 'The Gay Gordons' at the age of six at home in the kitchen, and has been hooked ever since! She continued dancing Scottish at university and now teaches weekly Scottish Country Dancing classes in Birmingham, taking particular delight in seeing new dancers become confident and take joy in their dancing.

Nicola has also made forays into dance devising, with her dances 'A Trip to Applecross' and 'City Lights' being published by the RSCDS, and a ceilidh dance entitled 'The Haka' becoming a firm favourite, especially at rugby clubs!

As well as Scottish, Nicola calls regularly for American contra and ceilidh dances in the West Midlands area, and enjoys introducing Scottish dances to other local folk dance clubs.

Website: nicolascott.dance Facebook: facebook.com/nicolascottceilidh

Nigel Close

Nigel Close has danced for most of his adult life and was dance director of the display team Woodfidley for many years. He calls for Playford balls, barn dances and club nights far and wide; has taught a wide range of workshops in Hampshire and at Eastbourne, Chippenham and Sidmouth festivals; and leads the Winchester club 'as many as will'.

He believes that dancing is a joy and that part of this enjoyment is in listening and responding to the music — making the music visible in dance.

In his spare time he is the token man in a circle dance group.

Paula Evans

Paula Evans Paula is a singing voice specialist, group singing advocate and qualified Singing for Lung Health Leader. She is passionate about singing and offering ways to breathe as well as we are able — helping as many people as possible know the joyous benefits that singing and breathing together brings to both our physical and mental health. Paula performs in ensembles and as a soloist. In 2025, she will run an African and a Gospel Singing workshop.

Website: paulaevansvoice.com

Renée Camus

Renee Camus Renée won the May Heydays dance-writing competition in 2022 with 'As You Were', and now she is delighted to lead a whole workshop of her own dances in 2025. Renée lives in Los Angeles, California, and is known in the Southern California English Country Dance community for her clear and enthusiastic teaching and inventive choreography. For many years, Renée worked in academia as a dance scholar and ballroom and percussive dance teacher. She has taught dancing, from vintage ballroom to clogging to historical dance, in camps such as Pinewoods, Terpsichore's Holiday, and Cincinnati Vintage Dance Week.

Website: reneecamus.com

Facebook: facebook.com/Renee.Camus.writer.dancer

Rhodri Davies

Rhodri Davies first started dancing and calling while at university in the 1980s. Since then he has called regularly at the major UK dance festivals with forays to the US and Europe. He particularly enjoys the flow of contras, the spontaneity of squares and the energy of recent interpretations of Playford. You will find elements of all of these and more in his workshops and mixed programme dances.

Rhodri is keen to see folk arts handed on to new generations and enjoyed by them: he has appeared at the InterVarsity Folk Dance Festival (IVFDF) 30 times and is now Chairman of Trustees for NYFTE (the National Youth Folklore Troupe of England).

Facebook: facebook.com/RhodriDaviesCaller or @RhodriDaviesCaller

Seth Tepfer

Seth Tepfer is “Atlanta's Dance Magician”, calling dances for adults and children like you've never seen before. He's known for his infectious energy, his short walk-throughs and his 'hash-contras'; Seth's warm enthusiasm is contagious, and gets everyone moving, smiling, and having a great time. Whether squares, contras, or other folk dances, you can be certain that all involved will amble away happy and eager to dance more!

Ted Morse

Ted Morse Ted is a caller from Oxfordshire with over 60 years' experience, calling and leading a band on accordion. In his teaching days he ran teachers' courses and called for many children's festivals. He has been a Morris dancer and a number of the dances he has written reflect the figures and music of the ritual ceremonial dances of England. He has been a frequent tutor at Halsway Manor during the past 15 years leading many of the festive house parties and family weeks.

Musicians

Box of Frogs

Box of Frogs Linda and Ali play joyful music that makes you want to dance! From contra to English and beyond, listen out for their great interplay and have fun.

Dampier's Round

Dampier's Round are Peter and Moira Gutteridge, who bring a lively sound on a variety of instruments — mainly fiddle, guitar and bass, but sometimes keyboard and EWI (from electronic wind instrument, pronounced EE-wee). They have established a reputation as a Folk Festival Dance Band, a Playford Ball Band, or Ceilidh or Barn Dance Band. They have also run workshops in playing folk music at Halsway Manor, Folk Festivals, Chinnor, and the Oxford Music Day.

Website: dampiersround.co.uk

Doug Eunson & Sarah Matthews

Doug Eunson and Sarah Matthews Doug and Sarah are experienced dancers as well as talented musicians; as a duo they play regularly for dancing and also form the core for other dance bands performing at festivals across the UK. For ceilidh, they pick great English traditional and self-penned melodies, enriched with harmony, and strong driving groove!

They are also enthusiasts of European dance music and bring some of their self-written tunes into this traditional genre — you will not be able to sit this out!

Website: dougandsarahduo.wordpress.com
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/category/Artist/ Doug-Eunson-and-Sarah-Matthews-Duo-135954693183823

Folkus Pocus

Folkus Pocus are “One of the hottest dance bands in the UK” according to the Country Dance and Song Society of America. They are as equally well known for their lyrical, sensitive playing of Playford-style dances, as they are for their energetic, driving contra and barn dance music. No matter what style of dance they play for, they are always creative, fresh-sounding and really understand how to transport dancers on a musical journey.

As a band, their own musical journey has seen them playing music right across the UK, in Belgium, Germany and Holland, and during the pandemic they were live-streamed into several different countries simultaneously! Their CDs of dance music have been purchased by dancers as far away as Japan, and they've even been broadcast on Chinese TV whilst performing for an event as part of the 2012 London Olympics!

Folkus Pocus are husband and wife team Caroline Hollingshurst on violin, flute and recorder and Dan Hollingshurst on piano. Both are music teachers and choir leaders, and in case you're wondering about their band name, Dan might even show you a card trick or two when he's not playing!

Facebook: facebook.com/p/Folkus-Pocus-100063442766615

Nicky McConkey

Nicky McConkey Nicky played fiddle with “The Night Before”, now plays with “Chaotic Good”, and is best known for high-energy contra dance music and Scandinavian dance music.

Old Time Contra Band

The Old Time Contra Band is a four piece dance band based in the South of England. Formed in 2022, the band plays Old Time American music with a driving piano accompaniment.

Steve Blake plays banjo and fiddle in Cut A Shine and The Old Time Wasters. He is a dance accompanist at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and has been MD/composer for choreographer Lea Anderson MBE for 35 years. His knowledge of Old Time fiddling tunes and techniques is well-known.

Will Dawson is a five-string banjoist from north London, raised on the many regular Old Time sessions occurring in the capital over the past decade and earlier. Though mostly focused on the Old Time genre, he also occasionally plays English folk tunes with a small collective.

Vivian Li is a musician and composer based in London. She plays mandolin with her bluegrass trio Lunch Special and Gypsy Jazz trio Swing Train 42. She is a regular at bluegrass/Old Time sessions and can often be found at bluegrass festivals in the summer.

Gareth Kiddier has played for contra dance with English Contra Dance Band for many years, and has played in a few ceilidh bands. His rhythmic piano style is pared down to suit the Old Time groove.

Knotted Chord

One of the UK's top folk dance bands, Knotted Chord is a regular visitor to folk dance clubs and folk festivals around the country and is a popular choice for barn dances and ceilidhs at private parties including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, fundraisers, and community events.

Band members live in Harrogate and Market Deeping and we aim to meet up somewhere in the middle.

Website: knottedchord.org.uk

Mollie & Dave

Mollie Koenigsberger (fiddle in various bands) and Dave Yeomans (accordion in Deo Volente) are two experienced musicians teaming up again having previously performed together at Sidmouth Folk Festival 2019 and 2022, Llanishen Folk Dance weekend 2021 and May Heydays last year.

Keeping Thyme

Julia Day, Shane Day and Tina Brown were part of the legendary “Wild Thyme”, and have been playing as “Keeping Thyme” since 2000. They provide good, danceable music with energy or a gentle touch as required, in many styles, and will still be smiling at the end of the festival.

The Twangtown Paramours

The Twangtown Paramours are an award-winning husband and wife Soulful Americana duo from Nashville. They are three time Kerrville finalists and winners of Texas's Wildflower Contest. Other artists have started to record their songs. Lead singer MaryBeth Zamer used to sing background vocals for Eva Cassidy. Writer, producer, and guitar player Mike Lewis is the author of a number 1 platinum-selling hit in Korea and sometimes plays upright bass for Jimmie Dale Gilmore. The last Twangtown Paramours album reached number 11 on the UK blues charts. Their new album will be released in January.

At May Heydays they will be leading two songwriting workshops and playing a set of their tunes in the main hall to entice you to practice your jiving skills.

International

Bob Robinson

Bob Robinson has been dancing Balkan and other international dance for over 30 years. He teaches regularly at Barlow International Folk Dance Group in Manchester, and has led workshops in Canada, USA, Poland, Australia and the UK. He has collected dances from dance teachers in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Romania and Armenia and from many of the top European and North American teachers. His evening will be Balkan dances, both traditional and modern.

Colin & Sally Hersom

Colin & Sally Hersom Colin and Sally Hersom are long-time members of the Oxford International Folk Dance Group. Over the Covid years they ran acclaimed Zoom and outdoor sessions to keep the group active.

On Friday evening they will present another selection of dances that their group enjoys. All dances will be accessible to everyone and will be recapped or taught as necessary.

Confluence

Confluence are an instrumental meeting of cello (Gill Redmond) and accordion (Alasdair Paton) based around the New Forest. They join traditional folk music from the UK with melodies from continental Europe, and self-penned tunes. They take influences from their diverse musical experiences in classical, jazz, baroque as well as folk — providing listeners with a fresh take on familiar material. Since they played for the Euro dance at Chippenham festival in 2018, Confluence have played concert sets at folk and cabaret clubs in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. They have also been playing for bal-folk dancing around the south of England at Brighton, Bristol, Reading and for their own Euro Bal Wessex events in Hampshire and Dorset. Confluence are looking forward to sharing their experience and enjoyment of the European dance repertoire at the Euro Bal.

Facebook: facebook.com/confluence.duo

Faren

Faren Faren are Chris Edmunds, Dave Eggs and Maya Buckley. They enjoy playing the eclectic mix of music offered by the International dance scene, and in addition to accordion, clarinet and percussion like to spice up their performances with other instruments for added flavour. You may find yourself dancing to the sound of a Bulgarian shepherd's flute (kaval) or be transported eastwards by the distinctive sound of the oud or the powerful rhythms of the davul. Above all, Faren love the interaction between musicians and dancers: a two-way exchange of energies that adds an extra dimension.

Mitko

Mitko Mitko (Dimitar Petrov) is a professional dance teacher and choreographer of Bulgarian and Balkan folk dances. For more than 35 years his main interest has been researching the unique and diverse folkore traditions and styles in all the ethnographic regions in Bulgaria. For 26 years he performed all over the world as a professional lead dancer with one of the best professional ensembles in Bulgaria, Ensemble Trakia — Plovdiv, under the leadership of one of the best dancing teachers, Professor Kiril Djenev.

At May Heydays he will teach mainly Balkan and maybe some line dancing.

Website: dimitarpetrov.wixsite.com/folkdanceplus

Peter Clifton

Peter Clifton Peter has learned French and Breton dance, mainly through festivals in France and Brittany. His key interests include couple dancing, Breton and dances from the Vendee and Poitou regions. He ran French Dance Stroud for several years and has led workshops further afield in different festivals and for other dance groups. He is a dance teacher at the regular Kinnersley dance events and runs the French and Breton dance week at Halsway manor. He will spend some time covering leading and following with the support of Karen Prager.

Early influences were the Reading Traditional Step Dance and Clog Group, where he became a key member, dancing (group and solo clog) at different events and festivals. He was part of a small active research team, supported by the EFDSS, into clog dance and step dancing in Norfolk. He contributed through dancing and playing in films including those on Dick Hewitt, Pat Tracey and Sam Sherry, with the aim of recording an archive of the tradition.

Peter Winn

Peter Winn Peter has been dancing Argentine tango for 28 years. For the last two years he has been running the Tango 42 dance school in Barnt Green, north Worcestershire, where he teaches alone and with his wife, Sharon Balamoody. He has previously taught tango in Oxford, Heidelberg and Birmingham.

Peter started tango in 1996, making a three hour round trip twice a week from Oxford to London to have lessons with Miguel Gonzalez. He's subsequently had lessons with a long list of teachers based across Europe and in Buenos Aires. The most famous of his teachers are Carlos Gavito, Geraldine Rojas, Javier Rodriguez and Pablo Veron, the last three having appeared in Robert Duval's film, Tango Assassin, and Pablo Veron also having been the lead dancer and choreographer in Sally Potter's film, The Tango Lesson. However, he is also proud to have had lessons with many many talented dancers and a full list of his teachers and influences can be found on the Tango 42 Facebook page:

facebook.com/groups/tango42/about

Rhythm Generation

From humble beginnings in Senegal, West Africa, Cheikh Diop, founding owner and creative director of Rhythm Generation, is a master in the craft of making and playing traditional percussion instruments. He also sings and teaches African dance moves.

Through his talent, dedication and charisma Cheikh was invited as an ambassador of the arts to take part in a cultural exchange project to the United Kingdom where he shared and taught the traditions of West African music, dance and stories.

At May Heydays, he will offer two workshops: one concentrating on drumming (drums provided) and the other walking us through a dance routine. Cheikh makes his lessons fun and anyone can take part and enjoy the moves.

Website: rhythmgeneration.co.uk

Helena and Jan

Helena and Jan Helena Pecháčková and Jan Páv Hornyák have been dancing English and Scottish Country Dances for the past ten years, and recently started calling them at their own club in Prague, Czechia, because of a lack of opportunities to dance these. They came to Evesham two years ago to experience English Country Dances as they are danced in England, returned last year, and now they would like to share a small piece of their national dance tradition with us.

Ygra

YGRA Ygra: Balkan Folk dance experience

Ygra brings the lively spirit of Balkan folk dance to London's folk dance scene. With their captivating live performances, immersive dance workshops, and vibrant events they call “Balkan ceilidhs”, the band unveils the captivating beauty of traditional Balkan melodies and dances. From acclaimed venues like Jamboree and Rich Mix to festivals like Wilderness and IVFDF, Ygra's energetic music and expert dance instruction create an unforgettable experience. Embrace the joy of Balkan folk traditions as Ygra bridges cultures and celebrates community in the heart of London.

Display Teams

Sound

The Sound Collective

Sound Engineers and Sound Systems will be provided for all live music by the Folk Dance Sound Collective (FDSC). This is an informal collective of folk dance musicians who are keen to give dancers the best kind of sound experience. They differ from the usual sound engineers at large events because they really understand the dynamics of a dance. You need to hear the caller clearly, but the band and their music should lead you in your dance.

Saturday	14.00-15.15	Competition:
Saturday	19.30-22.30	John Playford Ball
Sunday	9.45-11.00	Callers' Training
Sunday	11.30-12.45	Callers' Showcase
Sunday	14.00-15.15	Dancing Previous Competition Winners

Friday	20.00-22.30	English, Ancient & Modern
Saturday	9.45-11.00	English workshop
Monday	14.00-15.45	Final Mix

Saturday	9.45-11.00	Calling American Squares Positionally
Saturday	11.30-12.45	Thomas Bray's Country Dances
Saturday	14.00-15.15	The Hey
Sunday	9.45-11.00	Colin's Compositions
Sunday	11.30-12.45	Callers' Showcase
Sunday	19.30-22.30	Playford-plus Ball
Monday	11.30-12.45	Playford, known and unknown

Saturday	11.30-12.45	Mixed w/s
Saturday	19.30-22.30	American Dance
Sunday	15.45-17.00	Mixed w/s
Monday	11.30-12.45	Mixed w/s

Sunday	14.00-15.15	Sum Dances
Sunday	15.45-17.00	A Cook's Tour

May Heydays at Evesham:2025 Performers