English Country Dance & Music Weekend

Online May 14-16, 2021

English Country Dance & Music Weekend 2021 will be held as an online event over Zoom videoconferencing! Join us for an immersive and engaging weekend of workshops and virtual balls. See below for registration information, artistic staff bios, and the weekend schedule.
Click here to register for ECD Online!
Festival cost is $90 per person, and payment options are available on the registration page. You will be sent log-in details for the event after we receive your registration and payment. Contact programs@folklorevillage.org or call (608) 924-4000 with questions.

Can’t commit to the whole festival? Purchase separate admission to Friday’s concert or Saturday’s ball for $10 each.

Folklore Village will be hosting a Zoom troubleshooting session for participants on Wednesday, May 12 at 7 pm Central Time. Log-in info for this session will be provided along with the festival access information you receive after you register. Come to the session with any questions you have about using this technology to enjoy the weekend!

 

ECD Online Artistic Staff

Joanna Reiner Wilkinson has taught English country dance for over two decades. Joanna is one of the leaders of the Philadelphia-based Germantown Country Dancers, and she has called dances at events around the country and internationally. She has been a featured caller at notable festivals like NEFFA, Hey Days, CDSS, Pinewoods Camp, and previously here at Folklore Village. Joanna is known for her clear calling and instruction. She loves teaching workshops for ECD callers, and workshops that explore ECD technique, new dances, and how people learn and remember dance choreography. Joanna is also an experienced Scottish country dancer and works professionally in non-profit financial education.

Bare Necessities, a quartet known for its creative interpretations of English country dance tunes, has been playing together since 1980. Earl Gaddis and Mary Lea both play violin and viola, Kate Barnes is on winds and guitar, and Jacqueline Schwab plays piano. Together they have redefined the sound of English country dance music with an improvisatory and playful style that reflects their classical background and extensive experience playing for all kinds of dancing. Besides their own three CDs, they have been putting out recordings for Boston CDS (Country Dance Society) since 1999. The group has played for dancers and audiences from Hawaii to York, England, from Alaska to St. Croix, VI, doing concerts, week-long dance events and workshops.

Rare Privilege features Maria Terres on fiddle and Amy McFarland on piano. Their music has often been described as “way more sound than we ever though two instruments could make.” Devotion to their individual instruments, a sense of innovation, and a deep love and respect for the living tradition of folk music and dance combine to give their music an imaginative and lyrical energy and drive. Rare Privilege plays for New England Style Contra Dancing, Irish and Scottish Social Dancing, English Country Dancing, and many other traditional dance styles. Based in Wisconsin, they have performed throughout the US and also in Canada.


ECD Online Schedule
All times are in Central Time. Please see www.worldtimebuddy.com if you’re trying to figure out what time this is where you are.

Schedule subject to change.

Friday, May 14
6-6:30 pm  Welcome tea & social time

7-8:30 pm  Concert with Bare Necessities

Saturday, May 15
9:30-10:30 am  Dance workshop with Joanna Reiner Wilkinson

11-12 pm  Music workshop with Rare Privilege

12:30-2:30 pm  Caller/musician workshops with Joanna Reiner Wilkinson & Jacqueline Schwab
12:30-1:30  Joanna: Re-entry for Callers – Sharing ideas for post Pandemic
1:30-1:40  BREAK
1:40-2:40  Jacqueline:  Callers & Musicians – Finding a Common Language

3-4 pm  Cooking workshop with J. Miller

5-6 pm  Music workshop with Jacqueline Schwab, Kate Barnes, and Mary Lea from Bare Necessities

8-10 pm  Virtual Ball featuring Joanna Reiner Wilkinson & Jacqueline Schwab
Wear your favorite ECD outfit and enjoy a costume tea at intermission!

Sunday, May 16
11:00-11:30  Social tea

12-1 pm  Closing dance featuring Joanna Reiner Wilkinson & Rare Privilege