May Heydays at Evesham:
2022 Programme

Workshops

Karin Bellaart

All: International workshops
Circle and line dances from Greece, Armenia, Israel, Romania and Turkey.  All speeds, all abilities.

Lynne Render

Saturday 9.45: Heymania
Dances with a variety of different heys — mostly contras but definitely one square.

Sunday 11.30: ’Hexcuse me
Dances with a link to the number 6 — either in the name or in the formation.

Monday 9.45:Swings and Roundabouts
A mixture of dances with various swinging and circular moves, Swing-thrus, orbits etc.

Monday 11.30: Mayhem
Dances with unusual progressions or scope for general chaos.

John Sweeney

Saturday 9.45: Zesty Playford
Every generation has its own way of recreating these wonderful old dances.  Some of the key facets of Zesty Playford are up-beat music, lively dancing, improvisation and innovation.  Just bring lots of energy and a smile!

Saturday 14.00: Unusual Formations
Exploring different shapes and patterns. Tempests, Zias, Triads and all manner of wonders!

Sunday 14.00: Waltz workshop — Freestyle waltzing for everyone
You don't need any previous waltz experience to join in — we will be teaching the basics at the beginning of the workshop.  Then, once everyone can walk in waltz time, we will show you lots more variations you can add to your repertoire.  It's easier than you think to look great on the dance-floor!

Sunday 15.45: Isn't It Grand?
A cross-genre workshop looking at some fun and challenging variations on Grand Squares, Grand Heys and Grand Chains!

Joanna Reiner

Saturday 11.30-12.45: What's new?
This workshop features dances, mostly by US choreographers, and mostly written during or recently before the pandemic.

Saturday 14.00-15.15: Something in Common
Although we all do something called English country dancing, repertoires differ greatly on either side of the pond.  Come see what this US caller and this British band have in common!

Saturday 15.45-17.00: The English-Scottish Connection
Many English dances borrow figures and ideas from the Scottish country dance repertoire, and going back in history, there was no distinction between English and Scottish dancing.  The workshop will explore dances that are clearly English, but with a Scottish reference or flair.

Sunday 14.00-15.15: Dovetail & Friends — the complexity of Gary Roodman's dances
Gary Roodman has written a number of challenging, wonderful dances that are rarely seen on social dance programmes.  This session for experienced dancers will cover both the geography and the nuances of some of these gems, including Dovetail, Playing (in) the Field, and others, as time permits.

Monday 9.45-11.00: Borderline English
In the US, there is a clearer distinction made between English dances, contra, and what we call traditional dances.  This workshop will feature English dances that borrow ideas, figures, and tunes from somewhere else, yet maintain their place in the ECD repertoire.

Jenny Norris

Saturday 11.30-12.45: French dance: Connection in couple dances
Exploring ways to connect with the music and your partner in balfolk waltz, schottische and mazurka.

Sunday 14.00-15.15: French dance: Bourrée 3-temps
A high-energy dance from the Auvergne region of France, with lots of opportunity for variations and improvisation.

Mike Courthold

Saturday 11.30: Zesty American Squares
A selection of high-energy American-style square dances, originating from the UK as well as the US.

Sunday 9.30: Contras from the Midwest
Contras originating from the American Midwest, between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains, and north of the Ohio River.  “Midwesterners seem to enjoy dances that twist them up like pretzels, zoom a couple down the set and back, especially those with lots of balances.  They like high energy and lots of surprises.”  (Midwest Folklore)

Daisy Black

Saturday, 14.00-15.14: Nine Days' Wonder
The tall tale of star clown Will Kempe's audacious morris dance of over 125 miles from London to Norwich in 1599.

Never afraid to upstage his peers, Kempe began his journey to raise money and publicity after he fell out with Shakespeare's company.  From the grotty dive of London's South Bank to the muddy potholes of the fens, Will was joined by an assortment of locals, including an unfit butcher and a country lass who kept up with him for a full mile.

Tripping lightly through history with physical comedy and extracts from Shakespeare, this show pays homage to a man who followed the beat of a slightly different drum from everyone else. 

Bubbles

Saturday 15.45-17.00: Northamptonshire Dances
Dances written by Northamptonshire Dancers and Callers in a mix of styles and formations, many with their own little 'quirk'.

Colin Hume

Saturday 15.45-17.00: Squares in several styles
Playford, Quadrille, Scottish, American: the English may have invented squares but they've travelled everywhere.

Jeannie Byron-Williams

Sunday 9.45-11.00 : More Dancing Queens
Still not ABBA!  Could be queens in history or maybe it's queens of dance!

Kathryn and David Wright

Sunday 11.30-12.45: Callers' Workshop
Interactive discussion on calling, including preparation for Callers' Showcase.  Callers for the Showcase have already registered their interest, but others will be welcome to participate in the discussion.

Sunday 15.45-17.00: Callers' Showcase
Callers who have pre-registered will be calling dances.  They need dancers to call to, so dancers will be most welcome.

Brian Stanton

Sunday 11.30-12.45: An English Miscellany
A variety of interesting dances that are perhaps not so well known.

Amira

Sunday 14.00-15.15: Bollywood workshop
Join Amira for a lesson in Bollywood dance. Learn  some of the mudras (hand gestures) used in Bollywood and intricate footwork.  We may also include some Bhangra to get the heart rate up and the shoulders bouncing!

Sunday 15.45-17.00: Belly dancing workshop
Come and learn the art of Middle Eastern dance, more commonly known as belly dance!  Learn how to hip drop and shoulder shimmy — there is a lot more to belly dancing than simply shaking your belly!

Andrew Swaine

Sunday 9.45-12.45: Playford Dance-writing Competition
Andrew will call the dances; the dancers will give their comments and then vote.  There are 8 dances to be tried out, so we will continue this session through the break.

Andrew's suggested Criteria for judging

• Original idea:  Provides a new experience to the dancers.  One good idea that makes the dance memorable.
• Satisfaction:  Were people enjoying themselves?  Does everyone get to share the fun?  Does it flow?  Does it match the values of dancers?
• Accessibility:  How much effort does it take to get the dance?  How hard is it to teach?  Has it got a good storyline and familiar concepts that make it easy to understand?  Are there sufficient scenarios where we would like to dance this dance?
• Musicality:  How does it fit to the music?

Andrew would like you to vote from 1 to 4:

1. Would avoid:  In its current form, I'd sit out this dance if I knew it was being called.
2. Indifferent  I'd do this dance but it wouldn't be one of my favourites.
3. Enjoyable:  I'd enjoy doing this dance again if it was called.
4. Exceptional:  This is a great dance I'll be talking about – I'd actively ask to do it again or would call it myself.

Sunday 1400.1515: Fun and Funky Contras and Squares
A selection of contras and squares, some with unexpected twists.

Liz Bartlett

Sunday 15.45-17:00: Jane Austen / Regency workshop
After watching the Jane Austen Dancers perform at lunchtime, come and have a go at Regency/Jane Austen dancing, to live music from Purcell's Polyphonic Party.  No partner needed, as we're on hand to join in!

We'll dance in Jane Austen's footsteps — from her favoured Cotillion to a Quadrille figure (both with fancy footwork), a carefree Country Dance and a gentle Waltz Country Dance (which helped to make the new scandalous Couple Waltzing accepted).

Nigel Close

Monday 11.30-12.45: RONdevous with Mr Coxall
Suffolk caller Ron Coxall's dances range from simple contra-style romps to elegant English country dances.  Many have a distinctive quirk and all are set to great tunes, some lively and some achingly lovely.  And he's got a subtle sense of humour!

Maureen Knight

Monday 11.30-12.45: Music with Maureen
Are you daunted by the idea of a music session full of “proficient musicians” and quick tunes that you don't know, can't play by ear or can't read music fast enough, or are you trying out a new instrument?  If so, come to a slow session of easy-peasy familiar dance tunes for players like you!  Play what you can in a friendly, supportive session for a small number of people.  Definitely not for people who are already proficient players!

It would help Maureen plan if you could Contact Mecki in advance to say what instrument you're bringing and how many notes/chords you actually know!

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