Sheffield Eurosession

If you can walk you can dance, if you can chant, you can sing.

Hope everyone has been enjoying the warm spring days.  In a week’s time, it is predicted cool down, so we might cope with dancing at Eurosession!  Plus the workshop won’t be too energetic – it will be a singing workshop  – the one rescheduled from March: 

For this pre-session workshop in May, we will share some ‘singing for dancing’ traditions from Europe. Come and learn a few songs and techniques that can set a whole room dancing.  See more about the workshop below.

As usual, we’ll follow the workshop with a more eclectic Eurosession, in which you can contribute dance tunes, request your favourite dance, or relax, get a drink, and chat. Some dances are easier with smooth-soled shoes that turn easily.  If you’re a musician and would like to play for the dancing, bring your instrument.

Singing (for dancing) workshop: 8pm – 9pm
         Eurosession: 9pm – 11pm
Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB

About the workshop

There are still several traditions across Europe of singing for dancing.  In these traditions, the music for the dancing comes from a lead singer rather than from musicians, with or without vocal assistance from the dancers themselves!
 
In this workshop, we will offer a chance to learn a few songs from Brittany, France and Sweden. The emphasis will very much be on generating rhythm for dancing, and learning techniques of call and response, and learning by ear, rather than memorising words or creating wondrous harmonies, but participants will have time to read the words and make sense of the meanings. Optionally, you can also experience the joy of dancing at the same time as singing, or at least, singing for others to dance to.

This workshop is brought to you by Susannah and Tamora from Eurosession. 

Donations
We suggest £5 for the workshop and/or £5 for the session (unless you are contributing by playing in the session). Also, any extra helps us to offer affordable entry to our sessions and bals, and fair fees to teachers and musicians. We accept cash or PayPal transfers (see our donations page).

Caring for others
We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage you to look out for everyone’s well-being.

See you soon, 
xx Eurosesh

A quintessential partner dance, with some advanced variations

Spring has sprung, the clocks have changed, and it should be easy to find your way this month to Eurosession for a pre-session workshop on the most quintessential partner dance (the waltz) and some of its more complex variations. See more about the workshop below. 

As usual, we’ll follow the workshop with a more eclectic Eurosession, in which you can contribute dance tunes, request your favourite dance, or relax, get a drink, and chat.  For the workshop and for dancing, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes that can turn easily.  And of course, bring an instrument if you’d like to play in the session. 

Dance workshop:   8pm – 9pm
Eurosession:  9pm – 11pm
Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB

About the workshop

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘waltz’?  Do you imagine whirling away in a romantic swirl, or do you worry about treading on a partner’s feet?  Do you think ‘Hmm, I know how to do that already?’  Or do you think ‘I wish I could do those weird funny time waltzes?’  It’s time to address your hopes, your fears, and your assumptions!

For our April workshop, we welcome Dan Hammond (whistles) and Anne Wyatt (cello) who have prepared a fine selection of waltzes of familiar and rarer balfolk flavours.  With the help of Susannah Diamond (dance teaching) we’ll address the basic principles of the waltz, how to adjust and polish your style for different types of waltz, and how to decode and decide what kind of waltz to dance.

Donations
We suggest £5 for the workshop, and/or £5 for the session if you aren’t contributing by playing music. Any extra helps us to offer affordable entry to our sessions and bals, and fair fees to teachers and musicians. We accept cash or PayPal transfers (see our donations page).

Caring for others
We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage you to look out for everyone’s well-being.

And finally
We plan to reschedule the Singing for Dancing workshop for May.  Keep an eye out for the confirmation…

See you soon,
x Eurosesh

Apologies, the planned Singing for Dancing workshop has now been cancelled due to family circumstances (Susannah). We’ll reschedule it soon, so keep an eye out via our mailing list or Facebook page for announcements.

And, instead this month month, we suggest beginning the session a little earlier – at 8:30pm.

Eurosession: 8:30pm – 11pm

Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB

We suggest a £5 donation to the session if you aren’t contributing by playing music for the dancing. Any donations help us to keep Eurosession inclusive and offer fair rates to teachers and musicians. We accept cash or PayPal transfers (see our donations page).

Caring for others: We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage you to look out for everyone’s well-being.

Slow turns and fast spins – showing off with Norwegian style

The dark nights are still with us, so we are heading to Norway for a pre-session workshop to blow cobwebs away with the pulsing energy of a traditional nordic dance. Note that you’ll find the workshop easier if you wear smooth-soled shoes that can turn easily. See more about the workshop below.

As usual, we’ll follow the workshop with a more eclectic Eurosession, in which you can contribute dance tunes, request your favourite dance, or relax, get a drink, and chat.

Dance workshop: 8pm – 9pm
Eurosession: 9pm – 11pm
Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB

About the workshop

In this whistle-stop workshop, we’re focusing on an enthralling four-part dance from Norway. We’ll first tune into the distinctive pulse of the pols dance style, and then continue by practicing a slow reverse turn. We’ll also introduce a couple of ways to change from a close couple frame so you are dancing alongside or in front of a partner, perhaps showing off a little! There may also be time to try out fast spins both individually, and as a couple. So this is a workout for your brain as much as for your body. Expect to end this taster wanting to find out more!

This workshop is brought to you by Lucy Huzzard (musician), and John Stewart (teaching the dance). Lucy is a fantastic musician and also teaches Scandinavian dance with the The Third Beat Dance Collective. John has been sharing his love of European dance at events up and down the country for many years. No need to bring a partner, but note that you’ll find the workshop easier if you wear smooth-soled shoes that can turn easily.

Donations
We suggest £5 for the workshop, although any extra helps us to offer affordable entry to our sessions and bals, and fair fees to teachers and musicians. We accept cash or PayPal transfers (see our donations page).

Caring for others
We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage you to look out for everyone’s well-being.

See you soon, x Eurosesh

Regathering after the festive break and bal

Hope you’ve had a good festive break and are ready to return to Eurosession in January. Some of us have already begun January in style, with a lovely bal with Cedric Martin and Sam Godefroi at the Broomhall Centre, welcoming travellers from afar.

Hot on the heels of the bal, we return to Shakespeare’s this Thursday for our usual Eurosession. Although we might revisit some dances from the bal, we’re going to skip a formal workshop and jump straight into a slightly earlier Eurosession at 8:30pm.

So join Eurosession for another great fix of music, dancing and catching up, to banish darkness and bring cheer to your week! In the session, you can contribute dance tunes, request your favourite dance, or relax with a good drink from Shakey’s excellent selection.

Eurosession: 8:30pm – 11pm
Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB

Donations
Entrance to the session is free although any donations help us to keep Eurosession inclusive and offer fair rates to teachers and musicians. We accept cash or PayPal transfers (see our donations page).

Caring for others
We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage you to look out for everyone’s well-being.

See you soon, x Eurosesh

Open 2025 with the buzz of a balfolk big night out

On the first Saturday of the year, Euroession brings you Cedric Martin and Samuel Godefroi. We encourage you to join us for a dance workshop with Cedric himself, and a shared meal, although you can arrive later for the excitement of the bal. Bring instruments if you’d like to join the post-bal session to play for further dancing.

Schedule
5:00 pm: Doors open
5.15-6.45 pm: Dance workshop – learn some from Cedric’s home region
6.45-8:00 pm: Communal meal – bring food to share
8.00-10.00 pm: Bal – A full on balfolk dance experience
10.00-11:30 pm: Session – Bring your instruments and join in – all welcome

Venue and hospitality
Broomhall Centre, Broomspring Lane, Sheffield S10 2FD
There is no bar at the venue so feel free to bring your own bottle.
If you are joining for both the workshop and the bal, we invite you to bring a dish for a bring-and-share meal. (Please label your contribution to show veggie / vegan / meat and any allergens present).

Tickets
~ Bal only: £10
~ Bal + dance workshop: £10/£12/£15
Tickets available via Ticketstripe and on the door (unless sold out).

About the band
Sam and Cedric both have renowned from other bands: Cedric has led tours with Expire, Big Jeans and Salmanazar (see https://martincedric.jimdofree.com/), whilst Sam played with the balfolk trio Blam! which combines neo-trad, song, and world music influences (listen at https://soundcloud.com/blamfolk).
Samuel has experience on fiddle and with tune composition, whilst Cedric’s training in classical piano and percussion are distilled into his button accordion skills. Enjoy all these talents combined with humour and drive for the evening bal.

About the workshop
Cedric will teach dances from Alsace, the region of France where he has roots. Then later in the bal we will be ready to dance them with confidence (when the band will include in their playlist some of the dances particular to Alsace alongside other more familiar balfolk repertoire).

Caring for others
A quieter room will be available at the venue. We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage you to look out for everyone’s well-being.

See you soon, x Eurosession

Coming together to lift everyone’s spirits

It’s December, the month of sociable indulgence. Join Eurosession for an evening of midwinter cheer, tuneful creativity, and some dancing to lift both arms and spirits!

In the pre-session workshop we’ll transport ourselves to Portugal for some enjoyable and convivial dances. See more about the workshop below. As usual, we’ll follow the workshop with a lovely Eurosession, in which you can contribute dance tunes, request your favourite dance, or relax, get a drink, and chat.

For musicians, we have a challenge for you this week – can you identify any festive tunes that would add a little merriment to our traditional European dancing?

Dance workshop: 8pm – 9pm
Eurosession: 9pm – 11pm
Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB

About the workshop

In the workshop, we’ll take in some traditional and ever popular favourites such as the Repasseado, Regadinho, and Evra Cideiras, These dances are sociable and fun. Some dances are simple enough for children to dance, whilst some will bring the whole body alive with quick wits and nimble feet. We’ll also add a sprinkling of the characteristically expressive Portuguese style to the steps. Expect to end the workshop with a satisfied glow.

This workshop is brought to you by Emily Bowden (musician), and Susannah Diamond (dance teacher). Emily is a talented fiddler who shares her expressive playing with several bands and through her teaching. Susannah has been teaching European dance at Eurosession for many years.

Donations
We suggest £5 for the workshop, although any extra helps us to keep Eurosession inclusive and offer fair rates to teachers and musicians. We accept cash or PayPal transfers (see our donations page).

Caring for others
We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage you to look out for everyone’s well-being.

See you soon, x Eurosesh

Sat 4th January – Save the date!
We’re hosting an exciting January gig with Duo Martin Godefroi – mark your diary for a pre-bal dance workshop with Cedric and Samuel, followed by a marvellous evening bal!

Sharing the balfolk love

Following on from yet another wonderful Skint festival, we’d love to share the magic of balfolk with even more people.

So, for our workshop in November, we are offering a ‘bal basics’ workshop – a welcoming introduction to some of the most popular European couple and arm-in-arm linked dances. If you are already an expert, then invite your friends. If you are new but wondering what it is all about, then this is for you!

As usual, we’ll follow the workshop with a lovely Eurosession, in which you can contribute dance tunes, request your favourite dance, or relax, get a drink, and chat. Bring instruments if you want to play later in the session.

Dance workshop: 8pm – 9pm
Eurosession: 9pm – 11pm
Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB

About the workshop

Depending on interest and experience in the room, we demystify the popular balfolk shottiche, waltz and mazurka dances and explore some of the different options for leading and following and responding to the music. You will also experience the basic principles and conventions for joining an arm-linked communal dance from Brittany, or other social dances from across Europe.

This workshop is brought to you by Jo Veal (musician), and Susannah Diamond (dance teacher). Jo plays clarinet in several bands and ensembles and plays expressively for a range of different dance styles. Susannah has been sharing her love of dancing with Eurosession for many years.

Donations
We suggest £5 for the workshop, although any extra helps us to keep Eurosession inclusive and offer fair rates to teachers and musicians. We accept cash or PayPal transfers (see our donations page).

Keep on caring!
We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage you to look out for everyone’s well-being.

See you soon, x Eurosesh

PS. We’re planning an exciting January gig – mark your diary for Saturday 4th Jan!

For our October Eurosession, we’re heading to the high mountains in the middle of France. Auvergnat bourrées are intriguing dances of connection and challenge, danced to driving rhythms.  Depending on space and inclination, they can be danced with wild waving of arms, and percussive foot frapping, or with skilful control and precision.  

As usual, we’ll follow the workshop with a juicy Eurosession, in which you can contribute dance tunes, request your favourite dance, or relax, hydrate and chat. Bring instruments if you want to play later in the session.

Dance workshop: 8pm – 9pm
Eurosession: 9pm – 11pm
Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB

About the workshop

We will be focusing on two person Auvergnat bourrées which are a kind of hands-free cooperative game between the dancers, facilitated by the underlying energy of the musician.

In the workshop, we’ll begin by ensuring familiarity with the simple dance step and style, then develop a common understanding as to the rules of formation and engagement for the patterns of the dance, and the skills of observation and negotiation that underpin the connection and cooperation in the dance, and finish with optional embellishments which can add a personal flourish to the dance experience.

This workshop is brought to you by Joel Stewart (musician), and Jenny Norris and Susannah Diamond (dance teachers). Joel has a particular love of Auvergnat tunes, and we are looking forward to dancing to his fiddle. Jenny and Susannah are local to Sheffield, but both are experienced in teaching dance and have enjoyed finding connection in Auvergnat bourrées.

Donations
We suggest £5 for the workshop, although any extra helps us to keep Eurosession inclusive and offer fair rates to teachers and musicians. We accept cash or PayPal transfers (see our donations page).

Keep on caring!
We welcome diversity in our community, and encourage attention for everyone’s well-being.

See you soon, x Eurosesh

PS. Don’t forget that this Thursday (the 3rd October) there is also the fantastic opportunity to learn from, dance to, and listen to Planchee, with Mike James, also at Shakespeares. https://wegottickets.com/event/631965

A music workshop and bal with inventiveness and passion

We are delighted that September’s Eurosession on 12th September will feature special guest musician Elye Cuthbertson as part of his tour, so we will enjoy both a music workshop and bal with Elye, with our traditional Eurosession to finish. Not to be missed!

Elye is bringing a new sound to the folk scene with his unique approach to the melodeon. Combining his training in English folk as a teenager with his passion for Balfolk and other traditions from throughout Europe, Elye’s compositions reflect his varied influences. Elye’s skill and inventiveness has been demonstrated through performances around the country, including his own concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Timings
7.30-8.15: Music Workshop
8.30-9.45: Bal with Elye
9.45 onwards: Session

Venue
Shakespeare’s Pub ~ S3 8UB
 Real ale, craft beer, and music

About the workshop

Elye will lead a workshop on joining in with tunes in sessions, with particular focus on making the tunes groovy and danceable. We will focus on picking up rhythms and harmonies rather than the details of melodies.

About the session

We’ll round off Elye’s bal set with our own Eurosession, in which you can contribute dance tunes, request your favourite dance, or relax, sample Shakespeare’s beverages and chat. Bring comfortable dance shoes with smooth soles if you want to dance later in the session. 

Donations

Suggested minimum contributions:
• Workshop only £5
• Bal only £5
• Both £8

Carry on caring

We encourage everyone to support the well-being of others at our events.

Looking forward to seeing you there!
x Eurosesh