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New Mexico Folk Music
& Dance Society
FolkMADS Newsletter September - October 2007 Volume 10, Issue 5 P.O. Box 40421, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87196-0421 |
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New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society, a nonprofit organization. |
FolkMADS sponsors Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos contra dances, concerts, camps, and other special events. "Contra" dances include contras, squares, mixers, and couple dances. Unless noted on the calendar, admission is $6 for members, $7 for nonmembers. You need not come with a partner. Free instruction for beginners starts at 7:30 p.m. Dances begin at 8 p.m. and are smoke-free and alcohol-free. Children and teens are encouraged to participate if supervised by an adult. Albuquerque Dances: 1st and 3rd Saturday contra dances, 7:30-10.30 p.m., $6/$7. 2nd Sunday Elegant English and Zesty Contra Dance, 7:00-9:30 p.m., $6/$7. Locations as noted on calendar. Santa Fe Dances: 2nd and 4th Saturday contra dances and some 5th Saturday English Country dances, 8:00-11:00 p.m. Odd Fellows Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Road (south of Cordova Drive on the western side of Cerrillos). Taos Dances: 3rd Saturdays, call for details, 776-1580. ABQ Megaband: Albuquerque Megaband practice is held the Tuesday before the 3rd Saturday dance.
Due to the closing of the Blue Dragon Coffee House, we will likely meet at various places until we can find a permanent home. Check the calendar for the location each month. All acoustic musicians are welcome. Visit the Megaband page for more info and to add your email address to the listserv, or contact Bruce Thomson, 268-6003,
or click here to Santa Fe Jam Sessions: Santa Fe Community Band practice at the ODD Fellows Hall on ODD (1st and 3rd) Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (contact Gary Papenhagen, 242-1104). Slow jam on the 2nd Thursday at 7 p.m. at Katherine Bueler & Gary Schiffmiller's house (995-1125). Beginning and experienced musicians all welcome! Acoustic Jam: 6:30 p.m. before the Albuquerque dances. All acoustic musicians are welcome and all types of music are played. Call Jay Cutts for more information, 281-0684. |
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Albuquerque Dance Committee Meeting |
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Come to the First Gender Free Contra Dance
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“After the Ball Was Over…”(or, What Fun was That! Can We Do it Again Next Year??) The lovely program designed by Mary Beath, with shaded images of summer vegetables, overlaid with the dances typed in fonts clear and elegant, and received by mail in advance, set the tone for the Ball before dancers set foot on the dance floor. Nearly 70 dancers traveled from all over for the Workshop and the Ball, to be expertly coached by Richard Wilson and William DeRagon, and in addition to reconnect with friends they only see on special dance occasions. Rebecca of Taos says the effect of walking into the Ballroom was of coming into a Ball of an earlier period: everyone was in formal dress, and their expressions, though all beaming and happy, were at the same time serious and dignified. Their graceful movements, led by the music, expressed the utmost consideration for all the other dancers and their pleasure at being there. There was a sense of unanimity and good feeling, (a quote from a 19th century handbook) that was very powerful. Early essays used to be written on the qualities necessary to being Ladies and Gentlemen, and they are qualities that are built into the English Country Dance tradition. Example: within every movement and detail, the utmost consideration of respect and courtesy is offered. The Enchanted Assembly was a delightful effort to replicate that feeling and to offer a huge amount of fun in the process. It was quite successful! Nearly a month later, a residual feeling of deep satisfaction remains in those who were there – including the musicians and callers – a “glow” that has not yet been reduced to ashes. Thanks especially for all the hard work: William and Richard, Gemma, Gary, Karina, Della, musicians; Kit French, M.C; Meg Adams, decorator and refreshments; Bob and Nancy for registering and sound; Jim for publicity; Chris C. for being there and seeing us through, and for all the helpers. It was lovely. |
Be an Extra in a Dance Movie Dancers (all levels - beginner to advanced are needed) AND Spectators (you don't need to know how to dance!) DANCERS: This film heavily features West Coast Swing. Costumes should be dance-appropriate (bring 2 outfits - one for country and one for swing). Because this scene takes place in a nightclub they can only accept people who look 21 years old or older. SIGN UP: If you're interested in volunteering your time, go to www.lovendancing.com for more info. There is a link to a page to register and to confirm your availability. |
MegaBand
Tune of the Month: The Next Generation One of the things that’s bothered me for some time is the gerontification of many of the folk music and dance communities. When I started playing for dances the average age of the folks in the hall was mid- to late-twenties. Now our kids are in their mid- to late-twenties, and not a lot of them are playing music or coming to the dances. I’m not a social scientist so I can only guess the causes. And though the causes are important, I think it’s more productive to spend energy developing strategies to encourage more young folks to participate. I’ll explore a few ideas in this column to get us started, and maybe some readers will have other ideas. The first and most obvious strategy is that when young folks come to the jam sessions or dances, make them feel welcome. It’s probably a little easier for dancers because there is so much direct social interaction, but common sense (if you got it) and courtesy (you better have it!) can go a long ways. Introduce them to yourselves and others. Help them with tricky dance calls or steps. Do not criticize their mistakes. And be prepared to rescue them if they’re repeatedly stuck dancing with a dork. For musicians, encourage the newcomers to pick some of the tunes in a jam session. They’re almost certain to pick something REALLY boring like “Boil Them Cabbage Down” or “Soldier’s Joy”, but it won’t kill you to play it again – maybe you can work on a harmony or something. Play other easy tunes during the evening, and play them slow for a while. Help newcomers with tricky passages or chords. Suggest web sites, CDs or music collections to help them build their repertoire, and maybe help them find a teacher if they’re so inclined. Getting new folks to come to the dance or jam session in the first place is tough. It starts with publicity, but most of us aren’t too familiar with this arena. A good web site helps – especially if you can somehow get the word “sex” in the page title. Not too long ago the Albuquerque paper did a big story with nice photos on the local contra dances: attendance at the next dance was about double the usual. For musicians, a regularly scheduled open jam at a public venue (coffee shop, pub, or recreation center) offers a low threat non-judgmental environment for new musicians. They can come or leave as they please without an invitation, and they can sit in the back and play quietly if they’re uncertain about the tunes. But the folks in the front should be aware of them and try to draw them into the main circle. A third strategy that has been used with some success in NM is to offer a 1 credit class through UNM’s music department. Each semester the department offers numerous 1 credit music studios taught by adjunct instructors, usually for no pay. A class taught this past spring by the Virginia Creepers had almost 20 students that consisted of a mix of students (including a couple of music majors) and non-students. The class met for 2 hours each week and involved discussions of music theory, music history and old time music lore (much of it pure unadulterated baloney), instruction on each of the instruments, and a lot of group playing. The principal emphasis was on learning tunes in a variety of styles, and developing the student’s musicianship. After several weeks, the students were divided into two “bands” and the semester culminated with a concert in Keller Hall. The class was always fun and a number of new folks have been recruited into the old time music scene, but it does require a significant commitment from the instructors. If anybody’s got other ideas for recruiting new musicians and dancers to the contra dance and music scene send ‘em to me. It might be a good topic for future columns. Unquestionably the best way to recruit younger folks to the scene is the national success of young hot bands. Uncle Earl is a quartet of excellent musicians who are also dynamic and attractive women. The group consists of Kristin Andreassen (guitar), Rayna Gellert (fiddle), KC Groves (mandolin & guitar) and Abigail Washburn (banjo). They have an active touring schedule and have recorded some really good CDs as a band and as individuals. If any group can lure new dancers and musicians into the fold it’s these ladies. This month’s tune is from their 2005 release “She Waits for Night” on Rounder. The first cut (“Walking in My Sleep”) is a pretty good dance tune and has good words as well.
ABC Notation Words: Chorus: Bake them biscuits baby Pain in my fingers |
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Archive of featured ABC tunes
can be found here.
The Albuquerque Megaband plays for free each month at the 3rd Saturday dances in ABQ, helping to keep FolkMADS going.
A big thank you to all the Megaband musicians!!
FolkMADS thanks the late Blue Dragon Coffeehouse for generously hosting the Albuquerque Megaband
practices for several years until its recent closing.
We will miss you, BD!
The ABQ
Megaband currently meets at the Wild Oats on Menaul (at Juan Tabo) on the Tuesday before the 3rd Saturday dances.
For more information about Megaband, contact Bruce Thomson: 277-4729,
or Jane
Phillips:
898-2565.
Visit the Megaband page for more info or to sign up for the Megaband listserv (e-mail
reminders of practice dates and dances).
