Letters

NEXT CONTRA DANCE BOOK - June 2015

Hi Everyone

I'd like to produce a second volume of Contra dances from Australian composers, following on from Down Under Contra (http://www.amazon.com/Down-Under-Contra-Keith-Wood/dp/149099520X).

If you would like to contribute please send your dances and any accompanying notes to me along with a half-page bio about yourself. The deal is that any royalties from sales get split between the contributors based on the number of their dances. Preference will be given to those that did not appear in the first edition.

kbwood@iinet.com.au

Please pass this on to any other Contra composers you know of - Cheers - Keith Wood ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

JANE AUSTIN FESTIVAL 2015

Dear Friends Two updates this morning for our two main events this April, straight after the NFF.

JAFA 10-12 April: The full festival timetable is online at http://janeaustenfestival.com/jafa-2015-program-of-events/ and for those particularly interested in dancing in the Albert Hall this April go to http://janeaustenfestival.com/program/dance-program/ You can buy tickets to the whole festival, a day or just the Battle of Waterloo Ball.

19TH CENTURY DANCE RETREAT 13-17 April: We have two twin/double rooms and two single rooms available for booking at Yarrangobilly Caves House - do think about joining us for our 19th century dance retreat - full information at http://www.earthlydelights.com.au/dance-events/upcoming

Hope to see some of you there! Regards, Aylwen

Aylwen Gardiner-Garden Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy Posted by: Aylwen Gardiner-Garden  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bundanoon Dance Fest 2015 - Ray Mulligan - mulligan@netspeed.com

Bundanoon Accommodation - New opportunity – The Pill Factory http://www.thepillfactory.com.au/#

I want to draw your attention to an Opportunity for group accommodation in The Pill Factory (renovated old building on the corner opposite the Motel). 13 double rooms @ $400 each for the weekend (3 nights). The proposition depends on sufficient take-up by DanceFest patrons as the deal requires booking the whole building as a package. Kitchen facilities available. BYO towels and sheets. Payment will be required as soon as sufficient numbers are confirmed. The building can be seen at http://www.thepillfactory.com.au as well as on a number of accommodation websites. Note your booking is for 3 nights.

Where: The Pill Factory, It’s on the corner across the road from the Motel

Bush Traditions is prepared to support any effort to organise a group to take advantage of this opportunity but it will need to happen quickly as we know that other groups are interested in using it.

For this to be viable we would need to have a show of hands from a sufficient number of people ready to commit to taking a room. It will be by room and for three nights. If you are interested please tell us now. You can express interest by going to the doodle page: http://doodle.com/br8iun4kpg2b3cfr and putting your name down.

If sufficient interest eventuates we will

1. Contact you to confirm arrangements 2. Make the booking 3. Confirm that the booking is in place

Payment will be due immediately once a commitment has been made. Bush Traditions can use it’s website to make payments via Pay Pal if and when that becomes viable.

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Letter from Keith Woods,Sydney

Hi Everyone - Welcome to 2015 and a new series of dance workshops in Sydney.

We'll start with a Contra session featuring Australian Contras on Sunday February 15 from 2pm to 5pm at the Pennant Hills Community Centre, Main Hall, at 70 Yarrara Rd, Pennant Hills. The cost is $5. There'll be tea and coffee available.

Anyone is welcome and the dances will be walked through and called.

Join us afterwards for a meal at the nearby Pennant Hills Bowling Club.

The program for the rest of the year is:


 * Sun 15 Feb - Contra – Australian
 * Sun 15 Mar - Keith’s dances
 * Sun 19 Apr - Contra – Rick Mohr
 * Sun 17 May - English Country
 * Sun 21 Jun - Contra – Rerun
 * Sun 19 Jul - Contra – Days of Contra
 * Sun 16 Aug - Keith’s dances
 * Sun 20 Sep - Contra – Seth Tepfer
 * Sun 11 Oct - English Country
 * Sun 15 Nov - Contra – Rerun

I hope to see you there - Cheers - Keith ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONTRA DANCES

kbwood@y7mail.com To austfedsocialdancers@yahoogroups.com.au 12 Sep 2013

I would like to compile a book of Australian Contra dances, both for our own reference and to showcase our dances to the rest of the world.

The plan is to collect Contra dances written here and compile them into book format and I would like about 50 dances to be included. The dances may be edited for consistency of format and terminology.

The book would be self published through CreateSpace (https://www.createspace.com/) and I expect it to sell for around US$15 to $20. About half that would come back as royalties to be split amongst those that have contributed dances. Author copies could be purchased for around $2.50, plus shipping of about the same.

Please contact me (kbwood {at} iinet.com.au) for more information or if you would like to contribute. Please pass this message on to other Contra dance composers in Australia.

Keith Wood

GREAT NEWS FROM KEITH WOOD

The Contra book is now published - http://www.amazon.com/Down-Under-Contra-Keith-Wood/dp/149099520X/. I'll launch it at the National and have all the dances in the main Contra dance from it.

Cheers - Keith

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Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy

Dear Friends

It might seem like there’s loads of time before Sat. 21st February when we have our ‘Mystery’ dance night (with mask if you like!) at All Saints Church Hall Ainslie and Sat. 7th March when we start our new A.N.U. ‘Dancing through the Ages’ course … but for the following reasons you’ll want to start planning for both now.

With respect to the ANU course, enrolments are now open and there’s only 50 places available. Last year all places were taken by the end of February so to ensure yourself, family and friends a place do get to the ANU Sports Centre front desk in the next week or so (there’s still no on-line booking). It will be great to have you in the class whether returning or for the first time... and if you have done the course before and are able to be on campus tomorrow sometime between 10:10am and 2:30pm, please come and say hello to Aylwen at the Market Day stall in the tree-line University Avenue (between the Union Bridge and Bruce Hall- not far from the Sports Centre where you enrol)… and if you have time, she’d love your help handing out flyers and answering questions.

With respect our All Saint’s Mystery dance night, don’t forget the invitation for people to bring friends who’ve not been before (and if you yourself were at our ball last month, don’t forget your first time guest is free) and any first-time guy who arrives in time to dance the first dance of our February ball will receive a complementary ticket for our March ball. So do ponder this coming week who you might ask.

For yourself and friends, please find attached the two most relevant flyers.

The other opportunity to catch up with us this coming week and help us entice the public to join us, is at a stall Aylwen is running from 9am this coming Sunday under the trees on the patio area above the merry-go round in civic as part of the National Multicultural Festival. Lots of us will be there—perhaps in regency costume… but you can come dressed as you like.

Thanking you in advance for any contribution you can make to helping us get newcomers on-board for a fun 2015.

Yours sincerely, John (& Aylwen).

Jane Austen Festival Australia Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy John Gardiner-Garden's Historic Dance book series

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Received from the International Dance Council

Dance Day Preparations forwarded by Heather Clarke

On the 29th of April, as every year since 1982, Dance Day will be celebrated all over the world by millions of dancers. It is an initiative of the International Dance Council CID, UNESCO, Paris.

Visit the website: www.danceday.cid-portal.org     You will find there: Guidelines and ideas for celebrating The official message for Dance Day, as well as previous messages Events by country Instructions on how to formulate your announcement (see Home Page of the above site) Send your event to be posted there. Send email to your contacts to visit it.

With my best wishes for our Day

Alkis Raftis President of the CID

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MATTHEW FLINDERS AND THE GLORIOUS 1 JUNE from Heather Clarke

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Matthew Flinders’ death. A highly significant event in Flinders’ life was the battle known as The Glorious First of June. Three dances were devised to celebrate the great naval battle. Here is one of them, along with the fascinating history of Matthew Flinders' flute.

View on http://www.colonialdance.com.au

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NATIONAL FOLK FELLOWSHIP

Greetings ALL

Have you thought about applying for the National Folk Fellowship? No matter what your age or folky interest we encourage you to apply.

More information on the Folk Fellowship is here http://folkfestival.org.au/apply/national-folk-fellowship/ or contact me personally for further information.

The National Library of Australia’s Oral History and Folklore collection contains interviews and recordings on a broad range of folky topics, not only music. Dance, spoken word, poetry, crafts, protest and songs of activism are all in there and many recordings are now on line. http://www.nla.gov.au/what-we-collect/oral-history-and-folklore We encourage applicants to research, develop their particular field of interest and perform at the National Folk Festival and National Library.

Please have a think about it!

Rob Willis

http://www.nla.gov.au/what-we-collect/oral-history-and-folklore

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Yarrangobilly Caves house 19 Century Retreat - 13 to 17 April 2015

Dear Dancing Friends, we are very close to finalising numbers for our Yarrangobilly Caves House 19th Century Retreat and John and I would love to have your company! Please do consider taking up one of the ten beds we have left.

See see http://www.earthlydelights.com.au/dance-events/2014 for photos and programs from the most recent retreat and download an information pack for 2015.

From lunch time on Monday 13 April to the morning of Friday 17 April (the 4 days and nights that fall directly after the National Folk Festival and then Canberra’s 2015 Jane Austen Festival Australia) stay in beautiful heritage accommodation, wear clothes of yesteryear, journey over successive days from the 1820s to the 1890s, and enjoy morning dance workshops in an airy room at one end of the complex and evening balls in a mock-tudor hall at the other—both with excellent wooden floors.

When not dancing or sharing in scrumptious everyone-helping-out-meals in one of the several cooking and dining areas, lap up wondrous caves, thermal pools, river walks and bush tranquillity. Start planning your day and evening dress (we may be able to help newcomers with hire) and why not this year join those in Victorian bathing costume? In 2015 we will also be adding in an outdoor barbeque with games and a trip to a nearby homestead which used-to hold dances—and for keeping the dance experience alive after the event, instructions and music for all 80 or so dances danced will be available in the latest edition of John’s Historic Dance books.

To keep the cost to the bare minimum necessary to cover accommodation, organisers, dance leaders, musicians and game contributor give their time for free. Only 42 beds are available and over ½ have already been reserved by returnees from last year… so get your expression of interest and payment in quickly for one of the remaining beds! While they last you can choose either:
 * Bed in a double or twin room without an ensuite (ie. shared toilet & shower) either in 1901 or 1917 wings | 4 nights for $360 - BUY NOW!
 * Bed in single room without an ensuite (ie. shared toilet & shower) in 1901 wing (by application) | 4 nights for $430 - BUY NOW!
 * Bed in one of the 3-4 person accommodation with ensuite in 1917 suite | 4 nights for $430 - BUY NOW!
 * Double or Twin with ensuite in 1917 wing | 4 nights for $480 - BUY NOW!
 * Bus transport to and from Yarrangobilly | $100 - BUY NOW!

To take exclusive possession of the buildings we’ve had to pay for all beds in advance, so please do register soon to help us out of debt! Later this year we will keep in good touch with all participants re: detail plans and proposed bed and kitchen groupings.

Payments can be also be made directly to John or Aylwen in a class or by electronic deposit in ‘Earthly Delights’ BSB 112-908 Acc 121 607 765.

Aylwen Gardiner-Garden - Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy -  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WATERLOO BALL IN LONDON JUNE 2015

I have received the following invitation from London. Please contact me if you're interested and I'll forward the accompanying flyers. I know there are a number of Waterloo Balls planned in Australia as well - just as there were in 1815!! Happy dancing, Heather Clarke


 * Greetings from the old country! I am contacting you regarding our Grand Waterloo Ball in London in June 2015 to see if any of your members may be planning trips to UK or Europe next year . I wanted to let you know about this particular spectacular occasion in London, and  wonder if you would be so kind as to circulate amongst your members and other dance groups in Australia.


 * News of a remarkable event has reached Mrs Bennet's ears! It seems that our gallant boys in uniform, led by the indomitable Arthur Wellesley, have beaten the odious despot Napoleon Bonaparte at a place called Waterloo in the Low Countries! (Apologies if you already aware of this stupendous news: but news travels slowly down to Longbourn). To celebrate this wonderfully patriotic moment and our escape from the Damoclean threat of tyranny, Mrs Bennett would like to announce a Grand Waterloo Ball to be held on 20th June 2015 at the prestigious venue of the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London. First Call is 7pm and the Taps at 11pm. Carriages at 11.15pm.Field rations for the troops (a cucumber sandwich would be welcome after that affray) and a glass of celebratory beverage will be offered. A drinks bar will require your guineas.  Dress uniforms will be welcome, especially if accompanied by a campaign medal or two, but otherwise the expected haute couture for persons of the first quality in 1815 is anticipated. Musicians Green Ginger will lead the salute and fanfares.  Dancing mistresses Diana Campbell and Libby Curzon will guide the dancers through the minefield of the dance floor with the tactics and strategies necessary! If you would care to publicize the event which will be raising money for our brave returning heroes via the charity Help for Heroes, please do circulate the attached flyer to your dancing friends.Tickets are available by completing the attached application form as instructed, or by online submission via www.MrsBennet.co.uk. Yours in anticipation of a grand rout to celebrate peace in Europe!

Libby Curzon, on behalf of Mrs Bennet's Ballroom ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EARTHLY DELIGHTS HISTORIC DANCE ACADEMY

John and Aylwen Gardiner-Garden. www.earthlydelights.com.au ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 * 1. Books - The new revised and expanded 2015 edition of my Historic Dance volumes is now available. The copies we took delivery of this week look beautiful. Apart from covering every aspect of western European (and new world) dance from earliest times to 1900, they include music, instructions, background and sources for about 1,000 dances. The first volume covers from earliest times up to 1550, the next five volumes the next five 50 year periods, the last four volumes the next 25 year periods. As well as getting the volumes you first think of I recommend getting the volumes either side—dance never fits into boxes and is indeed overflowing from each book (even at 740 pages a book)!Also now available, 10 years after my 2 volume 2005 Lost Dances set, is a new volume of ‘Lost Dances’ I’m calling Odd Delights.
 * Ordering options for all the above are at http://www.earthlydelights.com.au/books-cds/shop . For orders of 5 or more volumes placed with us directly before this Wednesday we can offer a substantial discount and have available for pick up at Easter (or posting if necessary).
 * 2. Break - 2-break) For an idyllic break out of town after JAFA, do join us at the Kosciusko National Park’s heritage Yarrangobilly Caves House for our Victorian-era dance and costume retreat. Still a few beds left and a beautiful ballroom awaits us.
 * Any questions on any of the above, please don’t hesitate to email us or phone us on 0409 817 623.