Thursday 10 October: Eurosession with Auvergnat bourrées workshop

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.

Jenny and Jo on the dancefloor.
Jenny dancing at Skint Festival . Credit: Luc Rocher.

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