Keeping traditional dance alive in Bromsgrove T wo organisations belonging to Bromsgrove Ar ts Alive are keeping traditions alive from home and abroad and extend a warm invitation to new members. What better way to warm up in the cold weather than with some enjoyable movement and exercise?
Avoncroft Folk Dance Group is a traditional folk dance group that has been going for over 70 years and enjoys everything from barn dances to the more formal ones that you might see in Pride and Prejudice or Poldark. It’s a great way to meet people, make friends and get some gentle exercise. Novices are welcome and all dances are walked through first with all the instructions given by a caller. They can also offer an illustrated talk on English folk dance to other groups. They meet on Thursdays from 8pm to 10pm at Avoncroft Arts Centre and Liz Stanton (01905 353995) would love to hear from you if you would like to know more. Or how about Appalachian step dancing? Step on Board is a local group which is always on the lookout for new dancers and musicians to join them. They perform at fetes, carnivals and a variety of other events. They’ve been Wassailing in January (the ancient tradition of blessing the orchards to drive away evil spirits and ensure a good crop of apples) and have appeared at Frankley and Blue Cross fetes as well as folk festivals. No experience is necessary, although if you have danced before, especially tap or Irish, it’s an advantage. Appalachian style dancing is basically a conglomeration of various styles which could be attributed to the settlers who went to America looking for a new life. North West clog, Irish and Scottish steps are evident as well as native American, European and Afro-Caribbean. The style has developed to be loosely based on the sort of formations you might find at a barn dance. They have musicians to accompany them - guitarists who can play basic chords in G and D are welcome along with lead instruments like the banjo, fiddle etc. They are proud of being able to carry their own stage and are totally self-contained. They meet just over the Lickey Hills in Turves Green on Monday nights and if you feel like having a chat before taking the plunge, give Cynthia a call on 07828 716842. Find out more about what’s going on locally on the amateur scene visit the Bromsgrove Arts Alive website www.bromsgroveartsalive.co.uk for all contact details.
40 Completely Bromsgrove
