English Country Dance & Music Weekend

May 9 – 11

Welcome to a lovely and elegant weekend of English Country Dance and Music featuring Bare Necessities and Tom Roby. 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

The festival schedule will be posted here when available. The festival will begin on Friday evening with registration, dinner, and evening music and dancing. Saturday features a full day of workshops and meals. The festival concludes on Sunday after lunch.

Registration

Online registration is now open for English Country Dance & Music Weekend. Click the button below to register adults. To register teens or youth, please contact Folklore Village at (608) 924-4000 or programs@folklorevillage.org.

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

Bare Necessities

“The Bares” are highly respected as dance musicians and well loved for their ability to support and inspire the dancers. Jacqueline Schwab plays piano, Mary Lea and Earl Gaddis play violin, and Kate Barnes is on winds and guitar.

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. They have been a part of Folklore Village’s English Country Dance Weekend for a number of years and are excited to return to play for dancing and teach music workshops once again this year!

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.

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 the QR code below or this link below 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