Saturday, June 5, 2021

LINK:______________________Square Dance: An American Medley

To attend David Millstone’s on-line talk, presented by Catskills Folk Connection’s Catskills Folk Lyceum on June 23 at 7 p.m., go to this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4140851861

No password is required. Please wait for the host to admit you. To make sure you receive announcements of future speakers on traditional music and dance, and notices about live, in-person dances beginning in September (Covid permitting), please fill out Catskills Folk Connection’s form in the CHAT, during David's presentation, with your name and e-mail address.

David Millstone (Paul Ross photo) 

David Millstone is a preeminent dance caller and historian of American traditional dance, especially contra dance and square dance in the Northeastern U.S. David has been a dance caller for more than 40 years—squares, contras, English country dance, and family-friendly events. He has appeared at venues across North America, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and in eight European countries. With the band Northern Spy, he hosted a monthly dance from 1980–2015. He is past President of the Country Dance and Song Society, and co-ordinates  the Square Dance History Project. David is co-author of Cracking Chestnuts, a book about classic American contra dances; he wrote the contra dance history chapter of Dance a While; he created video documentaries about Bob McQuillen, Dudley Laufman, and Ralph Sweet and he has presented numerous talks on dance history at weekends and dance camps - and now on-line. David has made virtual presentations about traditional music and dance for regional dance presenters, such as the Mt Airy Contra, and for major festivals such as The Flurry. And on June 23, at 7 p.m. he will join Catskills Folk Lyceum on traditional music and dance with his talk about the origins and development of square dancing in the United States.

David’s Catskills Folk Lyceum Talk “Square Dance: An American Medley”

From the Quadrille ...

How did square dancing originate? How did the dancing change over centuries? What are some regional variations found in North America? What created the square dance boom of the 1950s? Eastern and western, traditional and modern, today's square dances are a blend of many cultural influences. Using historic movie footage, audio clips, and photographs in this hour-long presentation, David will explore the complex history of this dance form that is a vital part of American culture. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4140851861

June 23 at 7 p.m.

To "Bird in the Cage" ....

Join us for an enlightening talk and discussion, and watch for opportunities to dance in-person in September.

                                                            Ginny Scheer, Folklorist

                                                            Catskills Folk Connection

                                                            gscheer.mcs@gmail.com

Catskills Folk Connection is supported by the Roxbury Arts Group and is funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts Folk Arts Program, by Gov. Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, by Action and Vision Grants from Humanities NY, and by the O'Connor Foundation.