Sheffield Eurosession

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

Summer is unfolding with warmth, downpours, and the Olympics. Perhaps you are heading away next week for summer festivals, but for those of us still in Sheffield, let’s come together for a regular Eurosession, and a dance workshop that can help you add some effortless Scandi style to the schottis – the Swedish version of the schottische.

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. For the workshop, ideally bring shoes with a smooth sole that can turn easily.

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

About the workshop

The schottis is the Scandinavian cousin of the more familiar schottishe, so the basic rhythm is relatively easy to pick up, but in this workshop, we’ll add that all important Scandi svikt, consider some strategies that help to orientate a couple forward on the dance-floor, try out some variations for one or both partners, and add a sprinkling of style flourishes for the full Nordic persona.

You don’t need to bring a partner or have previous experience, but smooth soled shoes are helpful. This workshop is brought to you by Emily Bowden (musician) and Susannah Diamond (teaching the dance).

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.

Sees snart!  [See you soon!]  x Eurosesh

Heia!  Hope you had a fab time at Turbobal, and have enjoyed seeing the election results roll in.

On 11th July we’re back in Shakespeare’s for a regular Eurosession, with a dance workshop on the turning dances of central Sweden or the Norwegian border.

In the Eurosession, you can contribute dance tunes, or sing them, request your favourite dance, chat, drink, and take a break from politics for a bit.

Bring instruments if you want to play later in the session. For the workshop, ideally bring shoes with a smooth sole that can turn easily (and perhaps, supportive underwear!).

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

About the workshop

Depending on interests of participants we will either focus on more well known Swedish polskas, or head towards the Norwegian border for the Polsdans from Finnskogen. Swedish polskor cover a range of styles from elegaic to elastic, whilst the Finnskog brings a driving rhythm to the party. 

The workshop should help you to develop your turning technique with a partner, and to understand how to respond appropriately to different styles of the three-beat music. You don’t need to bring a partner or have previous experience, but smooth soled shoes are helpful, and some may prefer a supportive sports bra for the full Finnskog experience!

This workshop is brought to you by Anna Pack (musician) and Susannah Diamond (dance teacher).

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.

Sees snart!  [See you soon!]  x Eurosesh

We have an exciting workshop and gig forthcoming on 16th June, but we’ll meet as usual on the 13th June for Eurosession, with a dance workshop before the session, which includes an interesting combination of patient gentility, as well as some bursts of energy and vigour.

Bring comfy shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play in the session – it’s a lovely evening in which you are free to play, sing, request dance tunes, chat, drink, and put the world to rights. 

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

About the workshop

The Montagnarde has affinities to the Auvergnat family of bourrees, but instead of being danced simply in couples, the Montagnarde is a community dance, combining a procession, and also bursts of swift travel whilst waving your arms in the air . Expect to improve your footwork for sideways travel, learn a little about about simple foot percussion, and raise your heart rate a touch. This workshop will be brought to you by Susannah Diamond (teacher) and Jo Veal (musician).

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

Keep on caring!
Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe.  Please stay home if you feel unwell.

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16th June workshops

Ps. Here’s more info about the pre Turbobal workshops on 16th June:

The really exciting workshop is in the afternoon and at St Andrew’s. Lucas Thebaut is not only a fab musician, he’s also a lovely dancer and teacher, and for this workshop is offering us 2 hours on dances from his local regions of Poitou and Limousin. Really recommend coming to town for this expert transmission, rather than travelling all the way to France for a similar authentic experience!

We are also offering a second free workshop just before the evening bal, to provide newcomers with a quick intro to the more commonly danced couple and social balfolk dances. This will also be provided by Eurosession regulars, Susannah Diamond (teacher) and Jo Veal (musician). Do flag it up to friends who may be interested in coming along, but aren’t confident about the idea of dancing balfolk, and then, of course, do come along yourself to help them learn more quickly.

Did we tell you already that the bal will be fab? Get your tickets now – on TicketStripe

We are delighted to welcome fantastic French duo Turbobal to Sheffield on their UK tour !

Turbobal are Cécile Delrue-Birot on fiddle, hurdy gurdy and vocals, and Lucas Thébaut on accordions.

Have a listen here

3pm-5pm – Poitou and Limousin dance workshop – exciting opportunity to learn these regional French dances from great dancer Lucas Thebaut.
(PLEASE NOTE: DANCE WORKSHOP WILL BE AT ST. ANDREWS HALL, Upper Hanover Street, S3 7RQ. This is 5 minute walk from Broomhall Community Centre)

ALL EVENING EVENTS ARE AT BROOMHALL COMMUNITY CENTRE.
6-7pm – Shared meal. Bring and share something to eat before the bal. All welcome !
(if bringing food to share, please indicate if veggie, vegan, meat and potential allergens present, thanks!)

7pm-7.45pm Beginners’ dance workshop. Never danced balfolk before ? Don’t worry, just come along to this workshop to learn the basic steps, then you’ll be away!

8pm-10pm Turbobal. Come and dance or listen to fantastic music from Turbobal !

10pm-11pm session. Bring your instruments and join in ! All welcome !

Link for online bookings:

https://ticketstripe.com/sheffield-eurosession-turbobal-2024

Tickets will be available on the door – cash preferred.

How to join in bal folk dances you don’t know!

Eurosession is delayed a week in May but we’ll return to Shakespeare’s on the 16th May, and our pre-session dance workshop is on ‘Dancing by Eye’ – all about how to recognise common bal folk dances, and how to successfully join in a new dance even if you’ve never done it before.

After the workshop we’ll continue with our usual Eurosession, and you are free to play, sing, request dance tunes, chat, drink, and put the world to rights.  Bring comfy shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play later on in the session.

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

About the workshop
Bal folk is a collection of regional dances from across Europe and it’s impossible to know them all. Folk musicians often learn tunes “by ear”. In this workshop, we’ll be talking about the dancing equivalent – let’s call it dancing “by eye”. We’ll be sharing tips on how to recognise common bal folk dances, and how to successfully join in a new dance even if you’ve never done it before. This workshop is perfect for anyone new to bal folk. If you’re not-quite-a-beginner, there will be opportunities to try out taking a lead in group dances in a small, friendly environment.

Jenny Norris will be teaching, with music from Jo Veal. 

Jenny only discovered bal folk seven years ago but has experience in salsa and blues dancing as well as English dance traditions. Jenny has taught at festivals such as Skint, IVFDF and Cenizas, and at bal folk events in Bristol. She enjoys finding the common threads between dance traditions, as well as digging into what makes each style unique. Her teaching focuses on improvisation and connection in lead/follow dancing.

Jo has played French traditional dance music on clarinet since the early 90s, ranging from high-energy, driving bourrées, through to subtle, slinky mazurkas. Her experience as a skillful musician includes playing with top ceilidh band Hekety, klezmer band Minnie Moosika, and the Bell Hagg Orkestar, duos with Andrew Swaine and Anna Pack, and the enthralling improvisations of the Emergence Collective.

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

Keep on caring!
Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe.  Please stay home if you feel unwell.

PS.  Mark your diary: Sunday 16 June
Another fab gig – this time with French duo: Turbobal.
– Listen at: https://lucasthebaut.jimdofree.com/accueil/turbobal/
– See more at: https://www.facebook.com/Turbobal/

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

Coordination, oxytocin, community and endorphins

Did anyone make it to the Sheffield Sessions Festival? What a fab weekend! Eurosession returns to Shakespeare’s on the 11th April, with a pre-session dance workshop on gavotte des montagnes.

Come to the workshop, learn the secrets of coordinating feet and arms with the music, experience the oxytocin embrace of synchronicity, with a community of other dancers, and end up with a sweet endorphin rush.

After the workshop we’ll continue with our usual Eurosession, and you are free to play, sing, request dance tunes, chat, drink, and put the world to rights.  Bring comfy shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play later on in the session.

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

About the workshop

Gavotte des Montagnes is dance from Brittany, where you can still experience these vibrant dances that bring the whole community together.  In this dance, people link up together to form a circle or long snaking chain. It has a 3-part structure, so people firstly have the opportunity to get in synch, secondly to rest while showing some precision listening, and thirdly to let off some energy and demonstrate stamina.

In the workshop, we’ll begin by hearing the rhythm in the music, then teaching our feet to work neatly with the music, and then learn how to enhance the flow of the dance by using the energy in our arms. No partners necessary, just follow the flow of the line. 

This dance provides an absorbing workout for bodies and brains, and is an exhilarating experience on a packed dance floor.  This workshop is brought to you by Susannah Diamond (teacher) and Jo Veal (musician).

Keep on caring!
Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe.  Please stay home if you feel unwell.

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

PS.  Mark your diary: Saturday 16 June
Another fab gig – this time with the French duo: Turbobal.

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

An exhilarating challenge for brain and body

We return to Shakespeare’s as usual on the 2nd Thursday of March, with a pre-session dance workshop for the Congo de Captieux, a dance with many levels of intrigue. Come to the workshop and all will be revealed!
After the workshop we’ll continue with our usual Eurosession, and you are free to play, sing, request dance tunes, chat, drink, and put the world to rights.  Bring comfy shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play later on in the session.

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

About the workshop
Congo de Captieux is a four-person dance from from Gascogne, with the elastic dance style of the rondeau/rondo, a story line with characterful intrigue, and intricate dance figures through which flirtations are played out.
In the workshop, we’ll begin by finding our feet with the beautiful asymmetrical synchrony of the rondeau step, and then learn how to finesse that with the precise stops and stylish turns that are the building blocks of each character’s story. This dance provides an exhilarating challenge for both brain and body, and is a pleasure to achieve successfully. This workshop is brought to you by Susannah Diamond (teacher) and Anna Pack (musician).

Keep on caring!
Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe.  Please stay home if you feel unwell.

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

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh