November 20, 2009
Art
Smith's Contra
Dance Calendar
FYI and if you know someone who may be interested, please pass this along.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
************************************************************************
The following is from the Country Dancing in Kalamazoo e-mail that
George Broomell sent out earlier this week. Some of you may have
already seen it, but for those who haven't, it seems important enough
to include here.
The bad/good news:
I know some of the longer-time dancers noticed the obituary for Martin
Gal found fairly prominently on p3 of Sunday's Gazette. Others may have
missed it, and want to know about it. Many others may have seen it, but
not known of any CDK connection. Those who started with CDK within
about 10 years have no idea how much we owe to Martin and Jean
Gal.... Obituaries and
the deaths they commemorate often bring forth some good feelings to go
with sadness that accompanies any death. The piece on Martin in the
Gazette accents his talents as a storyteller. The obituary from the
funeral home web site, in a minimalistic obituary, mentions
country dancing among his many other interests and accomplishments.
Neither give ANY idea of how much CDK in particular owes to the Gals.
Martin and Jean Gal were essentially the founding parents of CDK. They
were quick to point out that they were not THE first, but only among
the first of the small group dancers that began to get together for
country dancing in the Kalamazoo area. I gather from talks with Jean
that their interest was given the greatest boost by a week at Christmas
Dance School at Berea College, Ky., in the (late?) 70's. (This would
not be far away from my own week there in 1976 and Nancy's in 1977, but
I think Jean and I resolved that we were probably not both there at the
same time.) By the time Nancy and I moved up here from Ky. and found
CDK in 1989 or so, Jean was the primary organizer and caller for the
group, which filled half or more of the Grange on good nights. Martin
was a good dancer, called on occasion, and supported Jean as the real
driving force in CDK. Jean Gal was the one that got CDK incorporated
when the Grange was in danger and might be "available" for purchase.
(Luckily, the Ostemo Township stepped up and has made our lives
easier.) Jean was the one that organized and choreographed a CDK "demo"
group for many years, drawing on her Broadway (yes, NYC) experience to
devise a good show. Jean organized English "tea dances", where we
actually shared hot tea in china cups on cold Michigan Sunday
afternoons. Many others contributed, but Jean and Martin were the ones
that kept CDK ticking into the mid 90's. In the later 90's they
"retired" from leadership of CDK and worked harder at storytelling,
especially in schools, though they still danced often for some time.
Sometime around 2000, they faded out of CDK and moved to the northeast
to be closer to their children and grandchildren and I lost contact,
which I regret.
So to me, while I am greatly saddened at Martin's passing, I am so
grateful and happy that he existed and did the wonderful things that he
did, including working with Jean in growing CDK. Martin was aging some
when they moved from Kalamazoo. Since I never caught up with Jean and
Martin after they moved, I have been afraid for years that Martin had
died long ago and I did not know, so I am pleased to now find that he
has lived on this long and that there was no earlier report to have
missed! The world is better for the time he was here. He was 83. He had
a good life and did a lot! He was a special man, very quiet, exuding
peacefulness and balance in a topsy-turvy world. A good dancer who knew
good dancing when he saw it and loved it for its own sake. Who can ask
for more. Shalom, Martin!
-GB
For those who knew Martin, or just want to know more:
The Gazette/Mlive links to their (horribly cluttered) web pages. The second has a good photo.
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-36/1258264209281240.xml&coll=7
http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/kalamazoo/obituary.aspx?n=martin-gal&pid=135965451
The funeral home web site:
http://obit.beersandstory.com/obit-726429
(If these do not automatically link, copy the line and paste it into the URL window on the browser)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
************************************************************************
This dance list will not be sent next week on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. Please have a safe and thankful holiday.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contra Dance sponsored by Allegan Woods Folk Arts Cooperative
Friday, November 20, 7:15-10 p.m.
Mike Clark calling to music by Golden Griffon
$8/person, $5/student, free under 6, $20 cap/family
Please bring a snack to share
Park Township Community Hall, Ottawa County Fairgrounds, on the way to Holland State Park.
For more information call 616-402-6434 or 616-772-0411
http://home.earthlink.net/~hollandcontra/hollandcontra.htm
In the event of bad weather call to confirm!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contra - Jams, live music, called dances, sponsored by Grand River Folk Arts Society
Friday, November 27, instruction 7 p.m., dance 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Live music, called dances, bring your instrument or dance shoes. Learn dance etiquette, call a dance, or play dance music.
$6/person
Please bring a snack to share
5th Street Hall, Saint Adalbert's Aid Society, 701 5th Street NW, Grand Rapids
NW corner of 5th St. and Davis, near St. Adalbert Basilica
Callers and musicians contact: fri.contra@grfolkarts.org or 616-361-9219
http://www.grfolkarts.org/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Friday Dance sponsored by Grand River Folk Arts Society
Friday, December 4, instruction 7 p.m., dance 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Music by Old Gray Cats
$3 under 12, $6 members, students and seniors $7, others $8
Please bring a snack to share
5th Street Hall, Saint Adalbert's Aid Society, 701 5th Street NW, Grand
Rapids NW corner of 5th St. and Davis, near St. Adalbert Basilica
For more info, Jeff at 616-532-3787 or sat.dancebooker@grfolkarts.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goshen Community Contra Dance
Saturday, December 5, instruction 7:30 p.m., dance 8 - 11 p.m.
Karin Neils calling to music by Goldmine Pickers
$7 general, $4 student, under 12 yrs are free, maximum family cost $18
Please bring snacks to share at the break.
First United Methodist Church of Goshen, corner of 5th and Jefferson
Streets, Goshen, IN
Call 574-533-3836 for more information
http://www.godancing.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just for Fun dance sponsored by Country Dancing in Kalamazoo
Sunday, December 6, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Waltz, contra, English, etc.
Local callers calling to recorded music
$4 students, $5 others
Oshtemo Grange Hall, 3rd Street at H Avenue, west of Kalamazoo. From
I-94, exit 74 north (US 131) to exit 38 west (M43), west to second
light (9th Street), north to H Avenue, west to 3rd Street.
Call 269-372-7613 for more information
http://www.albion.edu/math/ram/cdk/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
************************************************************************
DANCE WEEKENDS/CAMPS/LESSONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
************************************************************************
OTHER EVENTS, with dance and/or music
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The K'zoo Folklife Organization:
Sunday, December 6
1:30 pm Songs of the Season
2:15 pm Carol Singing
Everyone welcome, free will donations accepted
Stryker Theatre, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 North Rose St., Kalamazoo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Grand River Folk Arts Society web page is at:
http://www.grfolkarts.org/
Saturday, November 21, Drew Nelson
Saturday, December 12, Ralston Bowles
Saturday, December 19, GRFAS Annual Christmas Concert with the Blue Water Ramblers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goshen Community Contra Dancing
http://www.GoDancing.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back-