English Country Dance & Music Weekend

May 9 – 11

Online registration is now closed, but we may still have space for you! Call the office at (608) 924-4000 to inquire.

Welcome to a lovely and elegant weekend of English Country Dance and Music featuring caller Tom Roby and Bare Necessities and Friends (Jacqueline Schwab, Earl Gaddis, Daniel Beerbohm, and Cecile Leroy). More information about the festival will be posted here when available. Questions? Call (608) 924-4000 or email the Program Manager, Kelli Emerson, at programs@folklorevillage.org.

Schedule

Click below to view the festival schedule!

Registration

Online registration is now closed, but we may still have space for you. Call Folklore Village at (608) 924-4000 or programs@folklorevillage.org to inquire.

Full-Time Registration
Adults: $325 before noon Central Time on April 25; $345 after noon Central Time on April 25
Teens: $260 before noon Central Time on April 25; $280 after noon Central Time on April 25
Youth: $170 before noon Central Time on April 25; $190 after noon Central Time on April 25

Part-Time Registration

Adult (ages 18+)

Teen (ages 13 – 17)

Youth (ages 5 – 12)

Friday Evening Dance

Saturday All Day (breakfast – evening party)

Saturday Breakfast

Saturday AM Workshops

Saturday Lunch

Saturday PM Workshops

Saturday Supper & Evening Party

Saturday Evening Party Only (no supper)

Sunday Breakfast

Sunday AM Workshops

Sunday Lunch

$35

$225

$16

$65

$22

$65

$65

$35

$16

$60

$16

$26

$180

$16

$48

$22

$48

$50

$24

$16

$40

$16

$18

$130

$14

$34

$18

$34

$35

$18

$14

$32

$14

Scholarships

It takes a village to put on our festivals. If you sign up to help us out by washing tableware (plates, silverware, and cups) after meals, you can attend the festival for only $120. Dishwashers spend approximately 30 – 60 minutes in the kitchen per meal. Please contact Program Manager Kelli Emerson at 608-924-4000 or programs@folklorevillage.org to inquire about dishwashing scholarships.

Artistic Staff

Tom Roby, Caller

Tom Roby has been teaching English dancing since undergraduate days, and is well-known as an ECD leader on both coasts.  Currently he is one of the main callers for CDS Boston Centre (calling regularly with Bare Necessities and Friends) for both weekly dances and special events. He maintains a busy schedule teaching at festivals, dance camps, and weekends.  Credits include CDSS English and American weeks at Pinewoods, Mainewoods Dance Camp, and dance weekends sponsored by LCFD (gender-free), NEFFA, BACDS, and Cascadia (Seattle).  For five years he taught an intro ECD course, “Dance with Jane Austen” for first-year students at UConn.


Tom works hard to foster community, communicating the skills needed to dance better and to assist others gracefully, and helping everyone appreciate the amazing diversity of styles and music represented by ECD’s 374-year history.  Dancers at all levels appreciate his lively and efficient teaching, clarity, and sense of humor. His dance choreography, “Sunlight through Draperies”, is well known in many ECD communities.


Tom is also an accomplished leader and teacher of Balkan folkdances and of couple dances from Transylvania and Scandinavia.  He frequently teaches lessons for the Boston Mostly Waltz dance.

Bare Necessities & Friends

“The Bares” are highly respected as dance musicians and well loved for their ability to support and inspire the dancers. Known and loved for its creative interpretations of English Country Dance tunes, Bare Necessities has been playing together since 1980. As a group 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. Their music spans the centuries from 16th century early music to recently composed pieces, with a delightful variety of moods and meters that lends itself to their exploratory style and interweaving of harmonies and countermelodies.

Jacqueline Schwab (piano) and Earl Gaddis (violin) of Bare Necessities will be joined this weekend by Daniel Beerbohm (clarinet, flute, and whistles) and Cecile Leroy (cello).

Daniel Beerbohm (NJ) plays clarinet, flute, and whistles and spices his English and contra dance playing from a rich background of swing, klezmer, and classical. He performs extensively with Trio Picante, Hold the Mustard, A Joyful Noise, and Reunion at dance and music events along the east coast and occasionally westward since 1980. More recently he has also joined with members of Bare Necessities for dance weekends in Michigan, northern California, and Cleveland, OH.

Cecile LeRoy (Boston) started life as a classical cellist and has been playing for English and contra dances for the better part of a decade. Besides joining members of Bare Necessities at their home dance in Massachusetts, Cecile also plays for contra and English with her eclectic, groovy trad band Chimney Swift. Drawing from a whole host of inspirations, she brings lightness, depth, and heart to the sound of every group she joins.

Meals

Sharing meals together is an essential part of many Folklore Village events, and Folklore Village festivals feature catered meals prepared fresh in-house by the fabulous RedBarn Catering. Vegetarian and gluten free options will be available at every meal for those who register as vegetarian or gluten free. If you have additional dietary restrictions please let us know via the festival registration form. RedBarn Catering will do their best to accommodate various needs but cannot guarantee all dietary needs will be met. If you have questions or concerns please contact Folklore Village at (608) 924-4000 ahead of the festival.

Accommodations

Bunkhouse (Very rustic): $20 per person per night
Stay on-site within walking distance (about 3 blocks) of Farwell Hall (main activities building). The bunkhouses are heated, with cots provided, and camp-style toilets and handpump nearby. Showers are located in Farwell Hall. Bring your own bedding, pillow, towel, flashlight, etc. Men and woman are housed in separate buildings. Heated and air conditioned!

Tenting: $10 per tent, per night
Many sites are available No campfires allowed. Showers and bathrooms are located in Farwell Hall (main activity building). You can register for tent camping via the festival registration form. 


RV Camping with Electrical Hook-up: $15 per RV, per night
*Extremely limited; reserve early!*
To register for an RV spot with electrical hook-up please email programs@folklorevillage.org.

Other Lodging:

Folklore Village is glad to partner with AmericInn Dodgeville. Use this link for discounted rates!

Other hotels may offer a discount if you mention you are coming to a Folklore Village event.

Deer Valley Lodge (608)924-1600
Best Western (608)935-7739
Pine Ridge Motel (608)935-3386
Quality Inn (608)987-4747