Country Dance Society,
Boston Centre
present

The Second Annual Sword Workshop Extraordinaire

12 Fabulous Workshops & 6 Fabulous Teachers!
with Judy Erickson, Great Meadows Morris and Sword, Steve Corrsin, Jan Elliott, Kari Smith and Tony Barrand

Saturday, March 29
10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The International School of Boston
40 Matignon Road, Cambridge, Mass.
Click here for the school Web site, which offers directions

Cost: $20

Registration

Teachers and Workshops Judy Erickson
Choreographer, teacher of longsword and clog, and leader of Orion Longsword.
Sandy Boys- An intermediate class. Appalachian-style longsword, inspired by American square dancing. Experience with longsword or Appalachian stepping preferred.
Take Five, Take Two – Another take at ”Take Five”, the rhythmically challenging dance Judy choreographed to Paul Desmond’s lyrical, hypnotic composition. For experienced dancers.
Where’s the Action? – An explanation of how various dance elements work for the dancers inside the set, and for the audience viewing from the outside. Open to all.

Great Meadows Morris and Sword
Tom Kruskal’s prestigious “rapper academy” for teens with Peter Kruskal & Gillian Stewart
Beginning Rapper – A workshop for all to try this exciting fast paced form of ritual dance.
Rapper Technique – A variety workshop on aspects of rapper that bring awe and excitement to the dance: precise stepping both beginning and advanced , flipping and special figures.
Advanced Rapper – Great Meadows will share some of the complicated figures that they have developed over the last several years.

Jan Elliott
Long-time sword dancer and teacher, known for her concise and enthusiastic teaching.
Sowerby – Open to all, including newer dancers. Sowerby is a classic longsword dance with some interesting twists. Jan will teach this dance as interpreted by the Vineyard Swordfish in the 1990s, focusing on sword handling, good dance movement and musicality.

Steve Corrsin
Author of Sword Dancing in Europe: A History
Buffens – A dance for four, from 16th century France. Especially good for small teams.
Frantisek Pospisil’s European Sword Dance Film – A fascinating film by Czech ethnographer from the 1920s-30s showing footage of sword dancing ranging from Goathland, England to Croatia and Slovakia.

Kari Smith
Teacher and leader of longsword, Northwest Morris, clog dancing and singing.
Singing – Learn or create calling-on songs that precede the dance. An element often missing in today’s repertoire. Assisted by Tony Barrand.
Longsword for Kids – For ages 9 to 12. This workshop is free of charge.

Tony Barrand
Morris Elder and Song Guru.
Dance on Video – Explore the various Longsword, rapper and European sword dances that are available online in Dr. Barrand’s web-based archive, and learn how to use the site’s search facility.

Schedule

10:30-11:45 a.m.: Advanced Rapper Technique, w/Great Meadows (Room 2); European sword dance film w/Steve Corrsin (Room 3)

noon-1:30 p.m.: Sandy Boys, intermediate level, w/Judy Erickson (Room 1); Beginning Rapper, w/Great Meadows (Room 2); Sword videos, w/Tony Barrand (Room 3)

1:45-3:15 p.m.: Sowerby, beginner level, w/Jan Elliot (Room 1); Advanced Rapper, w/Great Meadows (Room 2); "Where's the action?" w/Judy Erickson (Room 3); Kids' Longsword, w/ Kari Smith (Room 4)

3:30-5 p.m.: Take Five, Take Two, advanced level, w/Judy Erickson (Room 1); Buffens, beginner level, w/Steve Corrsin (Room 2); Singing in the dance, w/Kari Smith and Tony Barrand (Room 3)

5:15-6 p.m.: Gathering

Click here for a PDF version of the schedule

There is limited space for these workshops. Registration and payment in advance is required to guarantee a place. All Workshops open to age 13 and up (except for Longsword for Kids)