Unlock the magical mazurka, and join some inventive festive spirits down the pub
About the evening: To help some of our newish participants get the most from Eurosession and balfolk, this dance workshop will focus on unlocking the secrets of the magical mazurka. All feet welcome (experienced or otherwise) to help us get everyone moving… After the workshop we’ll continue the evening with a festive feel, slipping in as many seasonal tunes as we can manage to dance as we can manage to pair with a traditional dance from elsewhere in Europe. So we encourage musicians to get your merry thinking caps on and bring some seasonal tunes to start off the festive season with good cheer!
Key Details: Dance workshop: 8:00 pm to 9pm Eurosession: 9: 00 pm to 11 pm Venue: Shakespeare’s Pub. S3 8UB
About the workshop
Mazurka magic – photo credit: Ben Reid
The mazurka is a beautiful and intriguing couple dance; with a marvellous and mesmerising lilt and potential for twisting momentum or blues style undulations. The workshop will demonstrate and explain its mysteries, and provide variations for those who are already initiated!. You can expect to experience euphoria at unlocking the secrets of the mazurka rhythm, tune your responsiveness to your partner, and make new neural connections along the way. Bring shoes that turn easily. This workshop is brought to you with teaching from Susannah Diamond, and music from Jo Veal.
Caring for others 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 if you give more then we can better support our teachers and musicians with fair payment. We accept cash or card.
We are delighted to welcome French accordionist Martin Coudroy to Sheffield for a sublime evening of music and dancing.
Martin is one of the foremost diatonic accordionists in the Balfolk scene. With his sensitivity and technical prowess, compelling energy and deep sense of connection between musician and dancer, this event promises to be magnificent – don’t miss it!
Here’s a little clip of Marin’s effortless playing – join us to be entertained and inspired:
Schedule: 7:00pm Music Workshop (open to all) 8.30pm Bal 10.30pm Session
Tickets: £10 / £5 Music workshop £10 / £8 Bal
Venue: Broomhall Centre, Broomspring Lane, Broomhall, Sheffield S10 2FD. See map
Musicians workshop with special guest Esbjörn Wettermark Calling all musicians for a fabulous workshop focusing on the repertoire of Hälsingland in northern Sweden. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from an expert in music of the region. 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. Note the slightly earlier start!
Bring comfortable shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to dance or play later on in the session. We’ll be hosted as usual by the ever popular Shakespeare’s hostelry.
About the workshop This workshop will focus on polskas, waltzes and other tunes from Hälsingland, in northern Sweden. We’ll look at style, ornaments and groove and maybe some harmonies. Hälsingland is one of the “big” folk music counties in Sweden with famous fiddlers like Hultkläppen and Snickar Erik as well as modern performers such as Draupner and Lena Jonsson.
All musicians welcome. Although primarily taught by ear, sheet music will be available during and after the workshop.
Esbjörn Wettermark is an authority on the music tradition of Hälsingland and Sweden. He was awarded the title Riksspelman in 2005 and is a woodwind specialist with the clarinet as main instrument. Now based in Sheffield he has worked with the folk music scene in Sweden and England for many years.
Esbjörn Wettermark
Caring for others 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 if you give more then we can better support our teachers and musicians with fair payment. We accept cash or card.
An introduction to a marvellous world of music and dance The kids are back to school, students are flocking to University, and it’s a good time for everyone to learn new skills. Maybe you already enjoy live music, and like dancing at a gig or a ceilidh. Now we offer you the chance to enter a marvellous world of European music and dance, Brexit hasn’t made this out of reach – euro-folkies get together once a month upstairs in Shakespeare’s Pub, Sheffield, and we invite you to come join us for an intro dance workshop, followed by a Eurosession of tunes and dancing. For the workshop bring comfortable shoes that turn easily, and/or an instrument if you want to join the session later.
About the workshop This workshop will introduce you to a few of the most common styles of balfolk dancing found at bals and festivals across the channel in France, further afield across Europe, and in the balfolk scene in this country. No partner or particular previous dance experience necessary; we hope experienced dancers will also help in welcoming newcomers to Eurosession and the balfolk vibe. You can expect to find a mellow ease through dancing with others in communal rhythms, learn how to lead and/or follow in a partner dance, and express your individuality in dances that freedom of expression. This workshop is brought to you by Susannah, who has many years of balfolk teaching experience, and Jo Veal, whose clarinet playing creates beauty, joy and an irresistible impulse to dance.
The beautiful world of balfolk – vibrant and dreamy layers of experience
Caring for others 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 if you give more then we can better support our teachers and musicians with fair payment. We accept cash or card.
See off the summer with soundwaves and centrifugal movement In September, we’ll travel metaphorically north to become better acquainted with Slängpolska – a beautiful and easy dance style from Sweden. If you can walk with a beat, you can enjoy this dance. 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 comfortable shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play later on in the session. We’ll be hosted as usual by the ever popular Shakespeare’s hostelry.
About the workshop Slängpolska is a mesmerising dance style from Sweden. In the workshop we’ll unpack a few variations from a more conservative structured style to a more free-flowing version. We’ll focus on whole-body movement, communication, and flowing transitions. There will be opportunities to learn nifty footwork and strategies for working with centrifugal spin. This workshop is brought to you with music from Anna Pack, and teaching from Susannah Diamond. Come ride the soundwaves, and share a sweetly dizzying, drug-free, legal high.
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 cash donation for the workshop, although if you give more then we can better support our teachers and musicians with fair payment.
No Zoom: Due to low Zoom uptake in recent months, we’re no longer offering a Zoom option for our regular sessions.
This August, we are saying adieu to one of the committee. Come to our summer gathering to give Nicky a good send-off.Correction! we aren’t saying adieu to Nicky this August!*
*Apologies for misinformation… twas midnight at a festival, when I realised I’d not sent out the publicity out that should have gone out 3 days before. Yikes! So due diligence went out the window… and apparently Nicky’s plans had changed; she won’t be at Eurosession in August (meh!), but hopes to make it in September (yay!) – Susannah
Anyway, although some folk will be out and about at summer shenanigans, many said they still wanted to come to an August Eurosession. Let’s do it!
We’ll not have a workshop; we’ll have a slightly later start and head straight into Eurosession with offers and requests. Bring comfortable shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play in the session.
Keep on caring! Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe. Please stay home if you feel unwell or have tested positive for Covid-19.
Donations: Donations for workshops help us to support our teachers and musicians with fair payment.
No Zoom: Apologies, we’ve decided that due to low interest in the Zoom option last time, we’ll not offer Zoom for our regular sessions in future.
The heat is on…. As July hurtles forwards we’ll celebrate French Bastille Day, with a waltzing workshop offering insights into different styles. After the workshop we’ll continue with our usual Eurosession of offers and requests. Bring comfortable shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play later on in the session.
Keep on caring! Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe. Please stay home if you feel unwell or have tested positive for Covid-19.
About the workshop: The waltz is the most fundamental of couple dances, and this workshop will include the basic principles of the folk waltz, and take in a couple of contrasting styles from France and Scandinavia, as well as sharing ideas as to how to work well with a partner, and how to vary the dance according to dynamic styles and tune construction.
Smooth-soled shoes that turn easily are helpful, but no need to bring a partner. Instruments are welcome for playing in the session. Music and teaching from Nicky McConkey, J2ohn Stewart, Daisy Black, and Andrew Swaine.
Donations: We suggest a £5 cash donation for the workshop, although if you give more then we can better support our teachers and musicians with fair payment.
Zoom: Although we will stream from Shakespeare’s again this time, you’ll need to obtain new Zoom details via our donations page.
Mellowing in the summer warmth, in June we revisit Brittany with Gavotte des Montagnes, an invigorating dance of community and mystery. With a sprinkling of exercise, togetherness, laughter and achievement, you can expect to induce some happiness hormones in return. After the workshop we’ll continue with our usual Eurosession of offers and requests. Bring comfortable shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play later on in the session.
Fest noz à Acigné, Attribution: CC BY-SA 4.0 Aloisbreizh from Wikipedia
Keep on caring! Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe. Please stay home if you feel unwell or have tested positive for Covid-19.
About the workshop:
Gavotte des Montagnes is a communal dance revived in Brittany in the 1970s; here’s why it’s popular: First, from the musicians, comes an intriguing thread of melody seeping through the conversations and luring dancers onto the dance floor. Then the gavotte rhythm steps up to an insistent driving undertow, galvanising a line of dancers into one pulsating unit, with a simple but subtle eight step pattern. In the middle of the dance there is a meandering break in the music, with some meaningful musical phrases. The dancers respond with arcane embellishments and an insouciant air. Equally mysteriously, the initial insistent rhythm returns to power the dancers through another pulsing journey.
So, come one, come all, hear this call! Join us to find out how to minimise your input effort and maximise your staying power for a long night of dancing. Get a gentle brain workout too, with some unexpected coordination of your extremities. Music from Anna Pack, teaching by Susannah Diamond.
Donations: We suggest a £5 cash donation for the workshop, although if you give more then we can better support our teachers and musicians with fair payment.
Zoom: We’ll stream from Shakespeare’s as usual. Zoom details can be obtained via our donations page.
In May we are revisiting the Mazurka, a pearl of balfolk couple dances. With music from Jo Veal, Anna Pack, and teaching by Susannah Diamond, the workshop will be both an intro to mazurka for recent newcomers, and provide tips around connection and style for more experienced dancers.
We’ll continue from the workshop to our usual eclectic Eurosession. We had an extra Eurosession in April, so May has come around rather quickly, but we look forward to another cracking night on the 12th.
Keep on caring! Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe. As dancing can involve being in close proximity to others, please stay home if you feel unwell or have tested positive for Covid-19.
About the workshop:
The mazurka is a favourite and satisfying couple dance, adaptable to many styles of music, from brashly energetic through to languidly intimate, some of them coexisting on the same dancefloor… as shown in this video with Naragonia.
The dance swept from Poland into France in the 1830s, and was later influenced by ballroom and blues. In the workshop we’ll explain the basic structure of the mazurka and highlight how to achieve some of the different springing, swirling, and swaying possibilities. Along the way we hope you’ll pick up some tips for achieving a satisfying connection with your dance partner, and an understated stylishness.
Bring comfortable shoes that turn easily, and/or instruments if you want to play later on in the session.
Donations: We suggest a £5 cash donation for the workshop, although if you give more then we can better support our teachers and musicians with fair payment.
Zoom: We’ll stream from Shakespeare’s as usual. Zoom details can be obtained via our donations page.
A magical Scandinavian extra for musicians and dancers in Sheffield!
We’re offering a bonus Scandinavian evening in April to bring magical powers for your dancing or musicianship, or at least to lift to your spirits! The nearby Scandimoot festival sold out this year within 3 hours(!), but for those of you unable to make it to the festival or indeed to Sweden, Eurosession is delighted to host two Scandimoot teachers for a bonus Scandi evening in Sheffield, with a music workshop plus a dance workshop followed by a combined session.
Keep on caring! Eurosession is a welcoming community and we want everyone to feel safe. As dancing can involve being in close proximity to others, please take a lateral flow test beforehand if you can, and stay home if you feel unwell or have tested positive for Covid.
About the two workshops and session:
Fredy Samuel Lundh will lead a music workshop focusing on how to make a tune inspire the dancing with characteristic Swedish lilt, ornamentation and emphasis. Later in the evening you may find you have gained magical powers to propel a roomful of dancers around the dancefloor! The workshop should appeal to players of any melody instrument who are comfortable with learning by ear.
After the music workshop, musicians then have options to continue directly on to join the dance workshop, move next door for a cosy session in the side room, or take a break for Shakespeare’s fine selection of ales, or find food nearby to the pub.
Isa Holmgren will lead a dance workshop with a focus on the two Scandinavian favourites of polska and schottis, which will help you to survive on any Scandinavian dance floor, finding the magic of powering a turn with the music. For those with some familiarity, the workshop will help you to polish your techniques for turning and being in synch with your partner and the energy of the music. You will also experience the treat of dancing to Isa’s magical lilting (singing for dancing), with options to join in some singing if you choose. No need to bring a partner, but smooth-soled flat shoes are recommended.
After the workshops we can all reunite for a final music and dance session of offers and requests. Continue below for more info about both teachers, and also about the donations and zoom details:
Isa Holmgren
Isa grew up in the traditional dancing scene around Värmland, Sweden, and her experience as a folk dancer and musician is rooted in the asymmetrical rhythms and melodies of the dance music from the Sweden-Norway border. She has worked as a dance teacher in both Sweden and abroad.
Isa excels at singing, especially in the style of ‘slåttetralling’ or ‘lilting’, where she brings together her years of research of vocal traditions and her experience as a dancer. She studied at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Traditional Nordic Folk Music at the Oslo Academy of Music.
Fredy Samuel Lundh
Samuel‘s musical career began at a young age. Growing up in a very musical environment, he got to know the world of music through violin, guitar and (Sweden’s national instrument) nyckelharpa. Listen on spotify…
He studied at the Goteborg music academy, has played and performed in many different collaborations and is now best known as the founder and nyckelharpa player of the duo Bäckafall.
Samuelalso works as a producer and artistic director and has lots of experience with leading bands and of teaching Swedish traditional music.
Donations: We suggest a £5 cash or card donation for the workshop, although if you give more then we can better support our teachers and musicians with fair payment.
Zoom: We’ll stream again from Shakespeare’s into our usual Zoom room so you can tune into the pub from your home. You can obtain the Zoom details in return for a small donation – see our Donations page.
