I started dancing in 1976, when the predecessor of CDNY was NYDAC, the New York City Dance Activities Committee of the Country Dance and Song Society which then had its headquarters near Penn Station, before settling in Haydenville, MA.
We had contradancing and English country dancing at Metropolitan Duane Hall (now the Church of the Village) on 13th Street and 7th Avenue in New York City, sometimes both on a Saturday evening. There used to be weekends at Hudson Guild Farm in New Jersey, before True Brit or Weekend Whirligig. There used to be the advance English dancing class from 7 to 8 pm on Tuesdays, in which you had to pass a dancing exhibition of adanced skills to get in. Before I started dancing, there used to be morris classes on Tuesdays after 10 pm. I remember Bertha Hatvary and Christine and Ed Helwig, and the Chelsea English Country Dancers and Sharon and David Greene in the nineties. There used to be a monthly series of contra dances in Brooklyn at the Living Room on 7th Avenue and 9th Street in Park Slope in someone's living room (now a real estate office) whose overhead balcony held their kitchen and bedroom (wide enough!) I'd love to hear from you. Please write.
The Solstice Dance was a blast! Even the technological problems with the sun added to the enjoyment, at least for the people who weren't actually involved in trying to make it work.
Brooklyn Swing Ensemble is a great band! and Danny Elias in particular had a spectacular night, adding his voice to the mix of instruments.
But mainly, Tori Barone has such a warm and inviting presence, calls an interesting mix of dances with lots of swings, and seems to make dancers of all levels feel cared for. She handled the beginners' workshop especially well. We must have her back soon!
I was a door volunteer, so I didn't dance in the first half, which you might think would be a drag. Actually I found, when I got dancing in the second half, that the brief conversations I had had at the door with so many of the people on the floor really enriched the experience. I mention this because I know Sarah has trouble sometimes finding door volunteers. Try it, you'll like it! And yes, you miss the first half of the dance, but you don't have to pay that night OR the next time you come dancing!
I enjoy the American dances a lot, but I would like a greater variety of dance styles. I would like to have swing or cajun dances at C.D.N.Y. There are many local bands that would probably perform at a reasonable fee. Does anyone else feel this way?
I think the CDNY blog is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI started dancing in 1976, when the predecessor of CDNY was NYDAC, the New York City Dance Activities Committee of the Country Dance and Song Society which then had its headquarters near Penn Station, before settling in Haydenville, MA.
We had contradancing and English country dancing at Metropolitan Duane Hall (now the Church of the Village) on 13th Street and 7th Avenue in New York City, sometimes both on a Saturday evening. There used to be weekends at Hudson Guild Farm in New Jersey, before True Brit or Weekend Whirligig. There used to be the advance English dancing class from 7 to 8 pm on Tuesdays, in which you had to pass a dancing exhibition of adanced skills to get in. Before I started dancing, there used to be morris classes on Tuesdays after 10 pm. I remember Bertha Hatvary and Christine and Ed Helwig, and the Chelsea English Country Dancers and Sharon and David Greene in the nineties. There used to be a monthly series of contra dances in Brooklyn at the Living Room on 7th Avenue and 9th Street in Park Slope in someone's living room (now a real estate office) whose overhead balcony held their kitchen and bedroom (wide enough!) I'd love to hear from you. Please write.
The Solstice Dance was a blast! Even the technological problems with the sun added to the enjoyment, at least for the people who weren't actually involved in trying to make it work.
ReplyDeleteBrooklyn Swing Ensemble is a great band! and Danny Elias in particular had a spectacular night, adding his voice to the mix of instruments.
But mainly, Tori Barone has such a warm and inviting presence, calls an interesting mix of dances with lots of swings, and seems to make dancers of all levels feel cared for. She handled the beginners' workshop especially well. We must have her back soon!
I was a door volunteer, so I didn't dance in the first half, which you might think would be a drag. Actually I found, when I got dancing in the second half, that the brief conversations I had had at the door with so many of the people on the floor really enriched the experience. I mention this because I know Sarah has trouble sometimes finding door volunteers. Try it, you'll like it! And yes, you miss the first half of the dance, but you don't have to pay that night OR the next time you come dancing!
I enjoy the American dances a lot, but I would like a greater variety of dance styles. I would like to have swing or cajun dances at C.D.N.Y. There are many local bands that would probably perform at a reasonable fee. Does anyone else feel this way?
ReplyDelete