It was great to see so many dancers at the Christmas party and we will be dancing again as normal on the second and fourth Fridays until 12 April - after which it gets messy with Easter etc so we'll see.
I have a couple of new tunes and dances for the band to try out on Friday 11th so look forward to dancing then.
For reference we are at Lydham Village Hall, SY9 5HG with dancing starting at 8pm
See you there
Paul
Friday, 4 January 2019
Wednesday, 9 May 2018
End of season party
Our sessions stop for the summer with one last dance on Friday 11 May starting at 8pm with the Alphabet Band providing the music.
If you need a local fix for dancing, Guilsfield continue through the summer on a Monday night 7pm start. Best to check with them if it is there week off or you may find a horticultural society meeting instead :-)
Have a great summer
Paul
If you need a local fix for dancing, Guilsfield continue through the summer on a Monday night 7pm start. Best to check with them if it is there week off or you may find a horticultural society meeting instead :-)
Have a great summer
Paul
Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Dancing Friday 23 March
Just a few more dates before we break for the summer - not exactly what you think when you look out and see snow!
However we'll be dancing on 23rd March, and then hopefully on April 13th and 27th with our last session before the summer with the band on 11th May.
Hope to see you dancing soon
Paul
However we'll be dancing on 23rd March, and then hopefully on April 13th and 27th with our last session before the summer with the band on 11th May.
Hope to see you dancing soon
Paul
Friday, 2 March 2018
Dancing on 9 and 23 March
Fortunately the Beast from the East should have dissipated by Friday 9th March when we will be dancing at Lydham Village Hall from 8-10pm. If you are new do come along a little bit early and we can find out your name and provide suitable guidance. We are a friendly bunch and encourage swapping partners during the evening so everyone can learn.
9th March we have the Alphabet Band playing for us
On 23rd we have CDs which means the programme is a bit made up on the night to ensure everyone can dance who wants to. Last time we had fun with lots of 3 and 2 couple sets, whereas normally we more usually gravitate to longways. Don't understand what I'm talking about? DOn't worry as full instruction is provided and dances are tailored to ability
Paul
9th March we have the Alphabet Band playing for us
On 23rd we have CDs which means the programme is a bit made up on the night to ensure everyone can dance who wants to. Last time we had fun with lots of 3 and 2 couple sets, whereas normally we more usually gravitate to longways. Don't understand what I'm talking about? DOn't worry as full instruction is provided and dances are tailored to ability
Paul
Thursday, 7 December 2017
It's Christmas Time :-)
Alphabet Dancers will be meeting on Friday 8th December for our Christmas Party. Dancing from 8pm to 10:30 pm with a break in the middle for bring-and-share finger food. The weather is forecast to be a bit snowy, but it looks like it will be about 1cm in total with rain to wash it away, so we will definitely drive down from the hills to organise.
Dates for the winter term are 12 & 26 Jan, 9 & 23 Feb, and 9 & 23 March 2018, each 8-10pm with the band playing at the first event each month. In addition we will be holding a simple dance as part of the Bishops Castle Arts Festival on Sat 24 Feb from 3:30 - 5pm at the Three Tuns.
Keep on dancing and have a festive time
Paul
Dates for the winter term are 12 & 26 Jan, 9 & 23 Feb, and 9 & 23 March 2018, each 8-10pm with the band playing at the first event each month. In addition we will be holding a simple dance as part of the Bishops Castle Arts Festival on Sat 24 Feb from 3:30 - 5pm at the Three Tuns.
Keep on dancing and have a festive time
Paul
Thursday, 18 May 2017
It's summer!
Our regular Fridays have now stopped for the summer, but we haven't completely stopped yet!
On May 31st we're the guest band & caller at Chetton Folk Dance Club near Bridgnorth. Talk amongst your friends to share lifts, or give Jan & Paul a call
PLUS
On 11 June there is an afternoon dance for the Music Day. Timing is 4:30-7pm and cost is £5 to include refreshments of sandwiches and cake in the break. Our Caller Maggie Hosking leads us as dancers, with Paul Hutchinson leading the band. The melody lines for the music have now been emailed out, so if you'd like to come along and play please book soon to ensure your place. Form can be found http://www.
Autumn
W miss the second Friday in September and would direct dancers to Bromyard Folk Festival who have a dance in the Falcon Inn on Friday 8th September (and more dancing during the day on 9th September) We are back for the 4th Friday in September (22nd) at Lydham VH and the following Friday (29th September) there is a social dance we are running at Norbury VH, more details later, but open to the public with a small charge to cover costs.
As they say on the TV, Keep Dancing
On May 31st we're the guest band & caller at Chetton Folk Dance Club near Bridgnorth. Talk amongst your friends to share lifts, or give Jan & Paul a call
PLUS
On 11 June there is an afternoon dance for the Music Day. Timing is 4:30-7pm and cost is £5 to include refreshments of sandwiches and cake in the break. Our Caller Maggie Hosking leads us as dancers, with Paul Hutchinson leading the band. The melody lines for the music have now been emailed out, so if you'd like to come along and play please book soon to ensure your place. Form can be found http://www.
Autumn
W miss the second Friday in September and would direct dancers to Bromyard Folk Festival who have a dance in the Falcon Inn on Friday 8th September (and more dancing during the day on 9th September) We are back for the 4th Friday in September (22nd) at Lydham VH and the following Friday (29th September) there is a social dance we are running at Norbury VH, more details later, but open to the public with a small charge to cover costs.
As they say on the TV, Keep Dancing
Sunday, 7 May 2017
Springtime dancing
We met on Friday 28th April and had a great turnout, with a number of trickier dances enjoyed .
We next meet at Lydham VH from 8pm for our final "normal " Friday on 12th May with the band and cake as the last normal meeting, but don't get withdrawal symptoms just yet. We will focus on easier dances to keep a party atmosphere.
On Saturday 13th May there is a Barn Dance with supper included run by the Walking Festival in the 3 Tuns in Bishops Castle, booking essential. Paul will call and the band are playing. When I last heard there were 2 places left
And on May 31st we're the guest band & caller at Chetton near Bridgnorth. I'm sure lift shares can be arranged on 12th if people are interested
PLUS
On 11 June there is an afternoon dance for the Music Day. Timing is 4:30-7pm and cost is £5 to include refreshments of sandwiches and cake in the break. Our Caller Maggie Hosking leads us as dancers, with Paul Hutchinson leading the band. The melody lines for the music are now being emailed out, so if you'd like to come along and play please book soon to ensure your place. Form can be found http://www.
Happy dancing
Autumn
We are back for the 4th Friday in September (22nd) at Lydham VH and the following Friday (29th September) there is a social dance we are running at Norbury VH, more details later, but open to the public with a small charge to cover costs.
We next meet at Lydham VH from 8pm for our final "normal " Friday on 12th May with the band and cake as the last normal meeting, but don't get withdrawal symptoms just yet. We will focus on easier dances to keep a party atmosphere.
On Saturday 13th May there is a Barn Dance with supper included run by the Walking Festival in the 3 Tuns in Bishops Castle, booking essential. Paul will call and the band are playing. When I last heard there were 2 places left
And on May 31st we're the guest band & caller at Chetton near Bridgnorth. I'm sure lift shares can be arranged on 12th if people are interested
PLUS
On 11 June there is an afternoon dance for the Music Day. Timing is 4:30-7pm and cost is £5 to include refreshments of sandwiches and cake in the break. Our Caller Maggie Hosking leads us as dancers, with Paul Hutchinson leading the band. The melody lines for the music are now being emailed out, so if you'd like to come along and play please book soon to ensure your place. Form can be found http://www.
Happy dancing
Autumn
We are back for the 4th Friday in September (22nd) at Lydham VH and the following Friday (29th September) there is a social dance we are running at Norbury VH, more details later, but open to the public with a small charge to cover costs.
Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Lydham Dance 24 March
Following having 30 dancers last time we hope that we'll again
have a good crowd this Friday at Lydham for our normal evening dance
starting at 8pm.
The next dance after that will be on Good
Friday - 14 April. This will be with the band, and last year we had a
great attendance. The weather wasn't brilliant but obviously people are
on holiday and like the opportunity to get out and socialise.
A
reminder that the music workshop is running again this year on Sunday
June 11th. We are lucky to have obtained the services of Paul
Hutchinson to again lead the workshop - his instruction from 4 years ago
is still the peak for me - with Maggie Hosking calling the dances.
I've seen the dance list and there will be a wide variety of tempos to
challenge the band, and a few different dances to entertain the
dancers. Maggie doesn't do difficult - the whole point is to allow as
much music as possible to be played on the day.
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
It's Christmas
Many thanks to all the lovely people who came dancing last Friday I have today passed on £89 in donations to Hope House Hospice.
Have a great Christmas and New Year folks and see you on 13 Jan
Paul
Have a great Christmas and New Year folks and see you on 13 Jan
Paul
Saturday, 3 September 2016
Come dancing restarts
After our break for the summer, we will be restarting dancing again
on 23 September at Lydham Village Hall at 8pm. And we will have the
Alphabet Band playing. So do tell your friends and acquaintances as we
love having new people join us. If you miss this one the next time will
be 14th October, with normal 2nd and 4th Fridays.
But for
those who would like to dance before then, this Friday and all weekend
is Bromyard Folk Festival with a "Day of Dance" starting Friday night
7:30-10:30pm with a contra dance led by Joe Hodgson and The Falconers in
the Falcon Ballroom, and continuing to teatime on Saturday. Dancing on
Saturday starts at 10am with Frances Richardson and Mike Courthold the
callers and music from The Falconers and Weston Country Dance Band.
Tickets for the "Day of Dance" are £20 or you can buy individual
sessions. For more info see
http://www.bromyardfolkfestival.co.uk/artists/programme/
Saturday, 30 April 2016
May dances coming up
7 May Church Stretton, 13 May Lydham, 25 May Chetton
It was one of those 5 Friday months in April, so for those of you thinking it must be Alphabet Dancers this week, sorry it's a week later on 13 May.
However to reduce withdrawal pangs we have coming up:
Saturday 7 May Church Stretton Music Festival with a folk dance concert 11:15-12 in The United Reform Church, followed afterwards by a dance in the URC Hall next door until 2pm. See this poster for details of "The Incomplete Dancing Master Exposed" (I suspect that's me!)
bit.ly/1TlI9MA
If you have a chance to print and distribute please do!
The complete programme for the day can be found here
or at these links bit.ly/1TCd6yC bit.ly/1VFswpb
It looks like a lot is happening and proceeds to a good cause. Hope to see many of you there.
On 13 May we have our last regular dance at Lydham - we'll run a little longer and have cake in the interval. Start 8pm with the band
And to reduce your wait until September Paul & the band are at Chetton Folk Dance Group on 25 May from 8pm-10:15 at Chetton Village Hall. Please come along as visitors and join in. You'll be most welcome.
And if you have read this far - maybe see some of you at Clun Green Man on Sun 1st May- I'll be Cotswold Morris dancing at 12 and 3:15. Bedlams will be in the square from 11am on 2nd May, but my ligaments preclude me from that.
It was one of those 5 Friday months in April, so for those of you thinking it must be Alphabet Dancers this week, sorry it's a week later on 13 May.
However to reduce withdrawal pangs we have coming up:
Saturday 7 May Church Stretton Music Festival with a folk dance concert 11:15-12 in The United Reform Church, followed afterwards by a dance in the URC Hall next door until 2pm. See this poster for details of "The Incomplete Dancing Master Exposed" (I suspect that's me!)
bit.ly/1TlI9MA
If you have a chance to print and distribute please do!
The complete programme for the day can be found here
or at these links bit.ly/1TCd6yC bit.ly/1VFswpb
It looks like a lot is happening and proceeds to a good cause. Hope to see many of you there.
On 13 May we have our last regular dance at Lydham - we'll run a little longer and have cake in the interval. Start 8pm with the band
And to reduce your wait until September Paul & the band are at Chetton Folk Dance Group on 25 May from 8pm-10:15 at Chetton Village Hall. Please come along as visitors and join in. You'll be most welcome.
And if you have read this far - maybe see some of you at Clun Green Man on Sun 1st May- I'll be Cotswold Morris dancing at 12 and 3:15. Bedlams will be in the square from 11am on 2nd May, but my ligaments preclude me from that.
Friday, 1 April 2016
Upcoming dates
We've some lovely opportunities to dance to live music coming up.
Our normal Alphabet evenings on 8 April and 13 May will be with the marvellous Alphabet Band providing the music, and 22 April we have CDs. 13 May will be party night as our last regular meeting until September as we take a break for people to enjoy the outdoors, so there will be cake and a slightly longer dance.
Locally Church Stretton Music Festival has a dance in the URC Church Hall over lunchtime on Saturday 7 May following on from a concert of dance music in the URC Church from 11-12am. This features two excellent experienced musicians in Brian Stone on fiddle and John Dudley on melodeon and will be a great sound. Paul will be calling with them in the church hall.
And the Alphabet Band have been invited to play for Chetton Dance Group on 25 May at Chetton Village Hall, again with Paul calling. This is definitely the last appearance before the summer, and there won't be club that Friday due to the Bank Holiday so do come along and support the band.
Put Bromyard Folk Festival in your diaries for September 9-11th, where the "Day of Dance" will incorporate a dance on the Friday night and workshops on the Saturday. There will be ceilidhs, concerts and lots going on. To allow as many as possible to support Bromyard, Alphabet Dancers will resume on 23 September 2016
A note on road works - they are all finished!
Our normal Alphabet evenings on 8 April and 13 May will be with the marvellous Alphabet Band providing the music, and 22 April we have CDs. 13 May will be party night as our last regular meeting until September as we take a break for people to enjoy the outdoors, so there will be cake and a slightly longer dance.
Locally Church Stretton Music Festival has a dance in the URC Church Hall over lunchtime on Saturday 7 May following on from a concert of dance music in the URC Church from 11-12am. This features two excellent experienced musicians in Brian Stone on fiddle and John Dudley on melodeon and will be a great sound. Paul will be calling with them in the church hall.
And the Alphabet Band have been invited to play for Chetton Dance Group on 25 May at Chetton Village Hall, again with Paul calling. This is definitely the last appearance before the summer, and there won't be club that Friday due to the Bank Holiday so do come along and support the band.
Put Bromyard Folk Festival in your diaries for September 9-11th, where the "Day of Dance" will incorporate a dance on the Friday night and workshops on the Saturday. There will be ceilidhs, concerts and lots going on. To allow as many as possible to support Bromyard, Alphabet Dancers will resume on 23 September 2016
A note on road works - they are all finished!
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
New members
A great turnout at the Arts Festival means we have a few new people enquiring about learning to dance.
Our regular Friday night sessions are designed with some teaching and the dances are chosen to suit the level of ability - though sometimes pushing the limits otherwise you don't progress. All dances are walked through and called throughout. We recommend dancers mix, rather than sticking with just one partner all evening as at some other clubs. This has great benefit for beginners as they have a partner that can help them, and anyone coming alone is not singled out looking for another singleton making it much more welcoming. Plus the more experienced dancers get a sense of welcoming new pwople into our wonderful world of dance. And if all that fails the caller will try and match people up.
SO come along on March 11th for an 8pm start when we have the live music from the Alphabet Band to help us enjy ourselves. Lydham Village Hall on the junction of A488 and A489. If coming from "Wales" the junction of A489 north of Lydham is out of action for roadworks so you need to divert through Bishops Castle
Our regular Friday night sessions are designed with some teaching and the dances are chosen to suit the level of ability - though sometimes pushing the limits otherwise you don't progress. All dances are walked through and called throughout. We recommend dancers mix, rather than sticking with just one partner all evening as at some other clubs. This has great benefit for beginners as they have a partner that can help them, and anyone coming alone is not singled out looking for another singleton making it much more welcoming. Plus the more experienced dancers get a sense of welcoming new pwople into our wonderful world of dance. And if all that fails the caller will try and match people up.
SO come along on March 11th for an 8pm start when we have the live music from the Alphabet Band to help us enjy ourselves. Lydham Village Hall on the junction of A488 and A489. If coming from "Wales" the junction of A489 north of Lydham is out of action for roadworks so you need to divert through Bishops Castle
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
What do we do?
For those asking, what is English Country Dancing, then this clip from Poldark might give an idea. We aren't so well choreographed or as elegantly dressed (21st Century after all!) but it gives the idea of moving with music in coordination with others.
https://youtu.be/cUIYFrTMGsc
Saturday, 9 January 2016
New Year, New Dancers
A brilliant time last night at Lydham Village Hall for the first clubnight of the year and 26 dancers. Plus caller and 6 in the band so many thanks to all the helper sin the kitchen making drinks
Given so many newcomers we focused on getting through the dances in an orderly fashion. The "1's lead down and cast back" in Sun Assembly did cause a little confusion with newcomers trying to work out where they sarted the next round but otherwise everyone coped admirably.
Dances included: Gued Man of Ballangigh, Sun Assembly, Childgrove, Dartington, Turning by Threes, I care not for these ladies, Halfe Hannekin and Circassian Circle.
The band played beautifully throughout.
Next clubnight 22 January starts at 8pm
Given so many newcomers we focused on getting through the dances in an orderly fashion. The "1's lead down and cast back" in Sun Assembly did cause a little confusion with newcomers trying to work out where they sarted the next round but otherwise everyone coped admirably.
Dances included: Gued Man of Ballangigh, Sun Assembly, Childgrove, Dartington, Turning by Threes, I care not for these ladies, Halfe Hannekin and Circassian Circle.
The band played beautifully throughout.
Next clubnight 22 January starts at 8pm
Sunday, 1 November 2015
Ball
Some photos from the Ball can be seen at
https://www.facebook.com/nick.
We all had a lovely time and the music was fantastic for dancing. Due to enjoying ourselves so much we did leave out a couple of dances, but we'll be going through them on 13th November when the band will agian be playing for us at Lydham VH, 8pm start dancing :-)
Here's just a ;little clip from the playout
https://www.facebook.com/nick.
We all had a lovely time and the music was fantastic for dancing. Due to enjoying ourselves so much we did leave out a couple of dances, but we'll be going through them on 13th November when the band will agian be playing for us at Lydham VH, 8pm start dancing :-)
Here's just a ;little clip from the playout
Monday, 19 October 2015
Latest dances for the BAll
We still have a few tickets for the 250th Anniversary Ball for Bishops Castle Town Hall - and we have one more session where we will be running through dances on 23 October. And there will be cake in the interval.
Last time we ran through:
Fandango
Merry Salopians (or The Old Mill)
Shrewsbury Lasses
Shropshire Lass
The Physical Snob
Turning by Threes
Wakefield Hunt
All were successfull, though Merry Salopians was thought to perhaps require a bit more work!
Last time we ran through:
Fandango
Merry Salopians (or The Old Mill)
Shrewsbury Lasses
Shropshire Lass
The Physical Snob
Turning by Threes
Wakefield Hunt
All were successfull, though Merry Salopians was thought to perhaps require a bit more work!
Saturday, 26 September 2015
More dances successfully trialled
At the club on 25th September we successfully worked our way through:
Bar a Bar
Childgrove
Fandango
Hunsdon House
Indian Queen
Lovely Nancy Johnson
Wakefield Hunt
A lovely evening. Someone commented "Could we all move at the same time" which means the idea of dancing together and to the music has been taken onboard. And it looked magnificent when it did all click:-)
A donation of £15 was made to Macmillan following the cutting of the teapot cake and sale of some apples. Well done all
Bar a Bar
Childgrove
Fandango
Hunsdon House
Indian Queen
Lovely Nancy Johnson
Wakefield Hunt
A lovely evening. Someone commented "Could we all move at the same time" which means the idea of dancing together and to the music has been taken onboard. And it looked magnificent when it did all click:-)
A donation of £15 was made to Macmillan following the cutting of the teapot cake and sale of some apples. Well done all
Monday, 21 September 2015
Ball dances progress
Our Ball on 31 October for the 250th Anniversary of the Town Hall in Bishops Castle is progressing. Last time we danced:
Barbarini's Tambourine
Indian Queen
Shrewsbury Lasses
Childgrove
Fandango
Turning by threes
Wakefield Hunt
plus gathering Peascods as a starter
More fun and games on Friday 25th where we'll try to get through another half dozen of the Ball dances.
If you want tickets for the Ball, email alphabetdancers@gmail.com - they are starting to sell well so don't leave it too long as numbers are limited
Barbarini's Tambourine
Indian Queen
Shrewsbury Lasses
Childgrove
Fandango
Turning by threes
Wakefield Hunt
plus gathering Peascods as a starter
More fun and games on Friday 25th where we'll try to get through another half dozen of the Ball dances.
If you want tickets for the Ball, email alphabetdancers@gmail.com - they are starting to sell well so don't leave it too long as numbers are limited
Thursday, 3 September 2015
Dancing restarts 13 September at 8pm
Welcome back to the autumn programme of dancing at Lydham. We will be having our first session with the band on Friday 11th September with an 8pm prompt start. We will be looking at the dances for the 250 Anniversary Ball which is on 31 October in the evening, and for which the dances will be drawn from the list below.
For those of you wondering what a "Ball" is, it's a posh fancy dress dance. You can come dressed from the 18th century, or from 21st Century. For men Black tie is modern, or period costume; for ladies Ballgowns or long type dresses. But don't worry too much, just make an effort. Kilts are allowed if you have one!
We have 4 weeks to go through the dances, decide which ones might cause problems and leave them off the schedule;-) All dances will be walked through on the night, and once you buy your ticket you will get a copy of all the dance notations (if that means anything to you!).
There is limited space in the Town Hall so do let me know as soon as possible if you want to come. It should be a fascinating evening as the venue is laying on some 18th century nibbles. Tickets are £10 , doors open 7pm, dancing starts 7:15 and carriages at 10pm.
Arcadian Nuptials
Thompson 1765
Bar A Bar duple
proper longways 1718 **
Barbarini’s
Tambourine Longways duple minor Walsh, 1745
Childgrove DM1:
1701-1728 *
Christina by Naomi
Alexander duple improper longways **
Fandango 3
couple longways set Thompson, 1774
Hunsdon House 1665
Square *
Indian Queen duple
proper longways 1701 *
Lovely Nancy Johnson
1744 Longways, Duple Minor ¾ *
Merry Salopians; or
Women and Wine (aka The Old Mill)—3-cu. set (3/2) (G) Walsh, 1718
**
Mutual Love
(Thompson, 1777)**
Portsmouth 1701 *
Red and All Red
Thompson, 1757
Shrewsbury Lasses
3 couple longways set set Thompson, 1765
Shropshire Lass 1710
3 Cple set *
Take
a Dance
The Comical Fellow
1776, 40 Bars
The Physical Snob
3 couple longways set set Unidentified collection, c. 1790
Turning By Threes by
Gary Roodman circle for 3 couples
Wakefield Hunt
Longways triple minor (triple progression) Thompson, 1779
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