Please note that The Dancers Weekend will be at Miserden this year.
What to expect?
A self-catered weekend camp from Friday evening to Sunday late afternoon at a village hall with dance workshops during the day and social dancing in the evenings. This camp is aimed at anyone who wants to dance even more, improving and widening your skills and experience. We’ll adapt the instruction to include everyone who’s had a basic level of experience and up.
Brian started dancing and calling at barn dances and ceilidhs in his teens and came back to folk dancing via ballroom dancing. He regularly guest-calls at many folk dance clubs around the Midlands and has also been Dancing Master at a number of period balls. He has had the pleasure of hosting events at The National Folk Art Centre at Halsway Manor in Somerset and has called at various Festivals around the UK. He loves Playford, modern English and American styles of dance and, as a caller, enjoys sharing his enthusiasm with fellow dancers and helping them to get the most from a dance by encouraging them to think of the two big Ts, Timing and Technique.”
The music is from Dampier’s Round, who over the last 40 years have played Sidmouth, Whitby, Broadstairs and Eastbourne festivals. They frequently appear at dance events at Halsway, playing what is often described as very danceable music. They have also played internationally – at dance events in Germany.
Dances cover a variety of styles, especially Contra, Playford and Modern English but might include squares, harder ceilidh, scottish, running set and beyond.
We’re planning chances for everyone to call, suggest favourite dances or pick something we’ve probably never done before to try from a selection of dance books.
Between the workshops there’ll be time to explore the village, an optional trip to a nearby hostelry for lunch and a cream tea to finish the weekend.
You don’t have to camp if that’s not your thing: commuters and B&B’ers welcome!
This weekend is likely to be mainly adults. Accompanied children are welcome to take part in activities primarily with adults, we don’t have separate events planned. Our bank holiday events and summer camps are more likely to have other families and other children. See Programme page, or contact the office to find out more.
Lots more information about what happens at a Folk Camp can be found in the Camper’s Guide.
Location
Miserden Village Hall, Miserden,Stroud, GL67JA
What3Words to find this Folk Camp: plantings.strength.shielding
Google Map to plan your route and for co-ordinates click here.
Miserden is a small village surrounded by beautiful Cotswold countryside. Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud are all nearby but the village is so attractive you may want to just sit in the field and admire the view. The village pub is very welcoming and people often enjoy a session combined with a pub lunch. Miserden is set in beautiful wooded hills and valleys between Stroud and Cheltenham, Miserden is in a walker’s paradise. Historic Cheltenham is just 9 miles away and Cirencester and the Cotswold Water Parks are well worth a visit. Ask the locals the history of Whiteway. Miserden village is part of the well known Wills Estate.
More local information.