Led by folk dance artist Kerry Fletcher working with a musician, the one day course is for dance educators, callers and others who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in teaching English social folk dance (country, ceilidh and barn dancing) – in schools, community settings and adult learning.
We are keen to increase the pool of people with strong skills in teaching English social folk dance in a variety of settings. No previous experience of English folk dance is required, although prior experience as a dance teacher (in any genre), or of participating in English folk dance, is deemed helpful.
The aims of the course are to:
- Share good practice in teaching social folk dance in schools and community settings
- Provide practical training in social folk dances
- Demonstrate how to plan and adapt dances for varied ages, abilities and settings
- Explore the partnership between folk dance and folk music – including working with musicians
- Signpost further professional development
- Introduce freely available learning resources on the Resource Bank and elsewhere, for using folk music, dance and drama.
- Provide a networking opportunity
Topics covered included:
- Structure and creativity
- Figures, formations and conventions
- Gender-free calling and terminology
- Adapting dances for disabled dancers and odd numbers
- Approaching folk dance as part of the school curriculum and in varied community settings
- Working with music, both live and recorded - phrasing, rhythm and tempo
Before I thought ‘I wonder if...’,
now ‘I know I can!’
Participant
Kerry Fletcher trained as a community folk dance artist and works in wide range of settings and with all ages. Most recently, she has been mentored by Kiki Gale (independent producer) via the Dance UK Dancer Teachers’ Mentoring Programme, (in partnership with Dancers’ Career Development, Youth Dance England and the National Dance Teachers Association). She is the Co-ordinator of the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s national Folk Educators Group, established in 2011 to encourage high quality practice in folk arts education. Kerry is also Co-Artistic Director of Folk Dance Remixed – a dance company working in the outdoors arts arena, they create a sense of joy through performance and participation with their innovative fusion of traditional folk with contemporary hip hop dance and live music, working across generations and cultures. As a community dance artist she runs her own classes and is always keen to encourage new people to English folk dance!
Course content draws from the publication English Traditional Dancing, a copy of which was given to all course participants.
Presented by EFDSS' Dance Development Programme, this course has previously been run at Cecil Sharp House and at The Lowry.
For more information about the next training day or to be added to the mailing list, contact [email protected]| 020 7241 8953