A rich historical experience close to home
4th of JULY WEEKEND 2009 at Lake Cumberland in southern Kentucky
DANCING TOGETHER
THREE CENTURIES OF FOLK DANCE TRADITIONS
AN INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILY EXPERIENCE OF LIVING HISTORY
Grandparents and grandchildren are especially invited to have this experience together.
Also welcome: Mom and Dad, Aunt Myrtle and Uncle Jim, kids, teenagers, ETC.
THE PROGRAM
Just as in Kentucky pioneer days, you will keep the old folk dances alive by doing them together. No experience is needed -- the main step is called "walking." Each dance is taught by a simple walk-through, then done "for real" with music. Participants learn several dances during each 2-hour session. No dance will be too "lively" for grandparents, but fun is guaranteed. Historic folk dances survive because they're fun and easy to learn (those that weren't, didn't).
DANCES progress through 300 years (1650-1950). The accompanying MUSIC, authentic to each period of dance, is lively, pretty, happy, the ancestral origins of today's bluegrass and old-time music. You will experience old ENGLISH country dances; American COLONIAL longways sets; squares and circle dances of the REVOLUTIONARY era; the westward movement through Appalachia; CIVIL WAR era quadrilles and regional squares; late 19th Century NEW ENGLAND contra dances; and widely popular squares and contras in 20th-Century America.
LIKE PIONEERS…while learning formations, figures and historical context of these antique dances, you will personally experience the vanishing art of families and friends making their own entertainment (as before radio, TV, video games, i-tronics, etcetc).
AND MORE: For energetic youths, vigorous ANCIENT SWORD DANCES also are offered each afternoon (adults are welcome in these classes too).
At each EVENING DANCE PARTY participants will enjoy several of the best-liked dances they've learned so far, plus other ever-popular and easy-to-learn folk dances. After dancing, all will gather around the large fireplace for STORYTELLING: Grandparents will relate "How it was when I was your age" to give youths a sense of changes that occurred over only two generations; youths will be encouraged to ask questions of the storytellers. AND there will be special surprises each evening…
Dancing children should be at least eight years old to be physically big enough to dance comfortably with adults. One adult for each youth please. Adults are responsible for youth supervision, including participation in dances where all will be needed as partners. No child care is provided at this event.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND MEALS
Lake Cumberland 4H Educational Center, perennially popular for folk dancing, offers lodging, meals, large wooden dance floors and social interaction all under one roof. This rustic modern conference center is in a remote, peaceful wooded setting high above Lake Cumberland. Staff have long experience in accommodating folk dancers.
FOR SCHEDULE, DETAILS and FEES please contact:
Don and Sylvia Coffey: 502/747-5700 or dscoffey9@mis.net or PO Box 1367, Frankfort Kentucky 40602
Joyce Belcher, Director, Lake Cumberland 4H Educational Center: 270/866-4215 or Joyce.Belcher@uky.edu
