Sheffield Eurosession

We’ll be raising voices as well as spirits in March, making ‘mouth music’ for dancing.

On Thursday 4 March, we have a singing for dancing workshop with the wonderful Rowan Rheingans – see below. After the workshop we’ll continue on with our Eurosession to play tunes, enjoy dancing and see some friendly faces – and this month we’ll have a breakout room for chatting too.
NB, We’ll be a week earlier than usual – the first Thursday rather than the second Thursday of the month.

Workshop and session times:
7:30pm – 9:00 pm GMT – Singing workshop  
9:00 – 11:00 pm GMT – Eurosession

Session access and donations:
To to obtain the Zoom details, please pay/donate via our dedicated donations page at https://eurosession.org.uk/?p=3233. We ask for a minimum payment of £2, but if you enjoy our sessions, we suggest you donate £5 or £10 so we can offer musicians and dance teachers fair payment.

Finding your way around:
You’ll have the option to join and leave Zoom breakout rooms to move between the session, workshop, and the bar. See our quick guide if you get stuck.

If you plan to share a tune: 
It may sound better if you turn on the Original Sound feature when playing – please check out the Zoom Help about how to enable this this in your Zoom settings.

About the workshop: 

‘Diddling’ Workshop with Rowan Rheingans: an introduction to singing dance tunes

Across Europe and elsewhere in the world, mouth music (singing wordless tunes) is a common part of folk traditions. The tradition of mouth music isn’t so well documented in England, but in Ireland and Scotland it is still very much alive. And down south in France or up north in Sweden, folk dances are still sometimes danced to a solo singer or a group of singers. It’s a great way to keep a dance moving if instruments aren’t available or to be able to join in with tunes if you don’t play an instrument! 

In this workshop, Rowan will introduce you to using your voice as an instrument for dance tunes. There are vast possibilities beyond just humming a tune! After a vocal warm up, we’ll learn a dance tune by ear and explore how we might approach singing it in our own way. In the workshop, we’ll also listen to some examples of mouth music from different places and we’ll look at a few tools and techniques for singing in a way that is just as exciting as playing a tune on an instrument. 

You don’t need any experience at all for this workshop – just an open mind. Everything will be taught by ear and you’ll be able to make recordings of anything we learn too. 

Rowan Rheingans is an award-winning singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and theatre-maker. Best known for her work with acclaimed bands Lady Maisery, The Rheingans Sisters and Songs of Separation, Rowan has won two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (‘Best Original Track’ in 2016 & ‘Best Album’ in 2017) and is a six-times nominee. Her duo The Rheingans Sisters were recent nominees for the prestigious ‘Best Duo/Band’ award at the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.  

Rowan’s interest in mouth music, or ‘diddling’ as it’s sometimes called in England, began when she was studying the fiddle in Sweden and for the first time came across solo singers holding captivated a whole floor of dancers or audience with tunes rather than songs. She is an experienced folk music educator, running popular singing courses and workshops as part of her trio Lady Maisery. 

Tips for enjoying the evening

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the our previous virtual sessions – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting. Here are some tips for maximum enjoyment:

Everyone:
You can switch views in Zoom between one individual and all participants using the Speaker view / Gallery view buttons (for help see How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout.  
Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / leading the music, and use the Chat feature for background communication.
This month, for the first time, we’re planning to offer a breakout room for chatting alongside the workshop and session. You can choose when to come and go between rooms, but please try to minimise disruption e.g. to a workshop, tune, or conversation in progress as you shift between rooms. See help about Self-selecting a Breakout Room

Musicians:
In our sessions we play tunes for dancing, prioritising dances from the balfolk scene and other traditional genres from across Europe (preferably not English and Irish, because we have plenty of those in other local sessions!).
In the Zoom sessions, only one person (or device) can broadcast at any one time; if you want to play a tune then put a note in the chat about the genre of dance you’ll be playing for – this will help the session organisers to figure out a running order. A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going.
When you’ve been chosen to lead, it’s helpful to let the dancers know about the dance type you’ll be playing, then select Original Sound when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission.

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, You can attempt to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!), or dance whatever takes your fancy. More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching!  It’s also fine to turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 😉

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

In February, we’ll be raising spirits with a vibrant music workshop from Denmark

On Thursday 11 February, we continue our lockdown music workshops with Mads Kjøller-Henningsen from Denmark – see below. After the workshop we’ll continue on with our Eurosession to play tunes, enjoy dancing and see some friendly faces.

Workshop and session times:
7:30pm – 9:00 pm GMT – Music workshop  
9:00 – 11:00 pm GMT – Eurosession

Session access and donations:
To to obtain the Zoom details, please pay/donate via our dedicated donations page at https://eurosession.org.uk/?p=3233. We ask for a minimum payment of £2, but if you enjoy our sessions, we suggest you donate £5 or £10 so we can offer musicians and dance teachers fair payment.

If you plan to share a tune: 
It may sound better if you turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session.

About the workshop: 

Tips from Mads for playing for different dances from Denmark...

In this February music workshop, Mads Kjøller-Henningsen will focus on popular types of dance tunes from Denmark, such as polka, waltz and sønderhoning and provide tips for how to get the feeling right for the different dances. [NB. those links demonstrate the dances – take a look!].
The tunes will be simple(ish) to pick up by ear, so as musicians you will be able to translate some of Mads’ danceable rhythm into your own playing (e.g.: Mads in another workshop). Mads can also share some insights and chuckles about the background of Danish folk music.

Mads Kjøller-Henningsen is a professional flautist, multi-instrumentalist, dance instructor, teacher and folk music enthusiast. He studied folk music at the Danish National Academy of Music, and has a fine selection of album releases to browse. Mads has a lot of experience in organising workshops, concerts and conventions, and he is a part of several bands, including the award-winning Floating Sofa Quartet.  Essentially, he’s a talented musician and has great personality, and we think you’ll enjoy his workshop. Get in the mood with these polkas played for #thegoodtune.  

The workshop will begin at 7:30pm. Please be on time for a prompt start.

Tips for enjoying the evening

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the our previous virtual sessions – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting. Here are some tips for maximum enjoyment:

Everyone:
You can switch views in Zoom between one musician and all participants using the option at top right (for help see How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout.  Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / leading the music, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There may also be moments for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
In our sessions we play tunes for dancing, prioritising dances from the balfolk scene and other traditional genres from across Europe (preferably not English and Irish, because we have plenty of those in other local sessions!).
In the Zoom sessions, only one person (or device) can broadcast at any one time; if you want to play a tune then put a note in the chat about the genre of dance you’ll be playing for – this will help the session organisers to figure out a running order. A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going.
When you’ve been chosen to lead, it’s helpful to let the dancers know about the dance type you’ll be playing, then select Original Sound when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission.

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, You can attempt to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!), or dance whatever takes your fancy. More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching!  It’s also fine to turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 😉

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

Constrained again by circumstances, we still can tune in to Eurosession to lift our spirits

On Friday 15 January, we offer the excitement of a music workshop with Naragonia. Read down for details about the workshop. After the workshop we’ll continue on with our Eurosession to play tunes, enjoy dancing and see some friendly faces.

Please note the unusual day and start time for the workshop:
7:45pm – 8:45 pm GMT – Music workshop  
9:00 – 11:00 pm GMT – Eurosession

Session Access and Donations:
To keep our Zoom sessions secure and friendly, we ask participants to provide contact details, and make a small payment. The minimum payment is £2 but if you enjoy our sessions could you donate £5 or £10 so we can offer musicians and dance teachers fair payment?   You can pay/donate via our donations page at https://eurosession.org.uk/?p=3233 to obtain the Zoom details.

If you plan to share a tune: 
It may sound better if you turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session.

About the Workshop: ‘accompaniments, harmonies and variations’

In January we are lucky to welcome Toon Van Mierlo and Pascale Rubens from Naragonia.

In the workshop the duo will address accompaniments, harmonies and variations, with Pascale leading on how to provide a strong and steady accompaniment, and how to add harmonies through this role, and Toon focusing on ways to provide variations to the tune. Participants will therefore experience the unfolding deconstruction and playful reconstruction of a musical tune; will have the opportunity to practice the tune from both perspectives, and can gain inspiration for developing a tune to provide a full and rich experience for dancers and/or a listening audience. All musicians who wish to develop their playing of melody, harmony or accompaniment for balfolk music are welcome. 

Toon Van Mierlo and Pascale Rubens formed the duo Naragonia in 2003, and play original, beautiful folk-inspired dance music featuring both an intimate delicacy and sustaining energy. 8 CDs and 2 tune books are testament to the pleasure and creativity of their music. Together and individually, and also in collaboration with many other bands and artists, including the Naragonia Quartet, they are much in demand for concerts and bals. They are also sought after as music teachers, explaining technique for specific instruments, and also the playful joys of composition and ensemble playing.  Pascale focuses on diatonic accordion, whilst Toon began with the uilleann pipes, but also displays talent with a range of instruments. For more details see http://naragonia.com/bio/. 

Please join promptly by 7:45pm GMT to participate in the workshop.

Tips for enjoying the evening

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the our previous virtual sessions – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting. Here are some tips for maximum enjoyment:

Everyone:
You can switch views in Zoom between one musician and all participants using the option at top right (for help see How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout.  Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / leading the music, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There may also be moments for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
In our sessions we play tunes for dancing, prioritising dances from the balfolk scene and other traditional genres from across Europe (preferably not English and Irish, because we have plenty of those in other local sessions!).
In the Zoom sessions, only one person (or device) can broadcast at any one time; if you want to play a tune then put a note in the chat about the genre of dance you’ll be playing for – this will help the session organisers to figure out a running order. A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going.
When you’ve been chosen to lead, it’s helpful to let the dancers know about the dance type you’ll be playing, then select Original Sound when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission.

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, You can attempt to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!). More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching! Or turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 😉

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

Good news is in the air; meanwhile let’s continue dancing, learning and getting together online…

This Thursday, on 10 December, we’ll meet online for a workshop with Koen Dhondt from Frisse Folk. This workshop is intended for dancers, but may also be of interest to musicians who play for dancing – read down! After the workshop we’ll continue on with our Eurosession to play tunes, enjoy dancing and see some friendly faces. NB. Please note the earlier starting time.

Times: 
7:30 – 9:00 pm GMT – Dance workshop  
9:00 – 11:00 pm GMT – Eurosession

Session Access and Donations:
To keep our Zoom sessions friendly and secure, we ask participants to provide their name and email contact, and make a minimum payment of £2. We invite participants who enjoy our sessions to make a donation of around £5, or to offer £10 if you’re able to help us to support musicians and dance teachers with fair payments for their time.  You can pay/donate via our dedicated donations page at https://eurosession.org.uk/?p=3233 and you will then be directed to the Zoom details.

If you plan to share a tune, it may sound better if you turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session.

About the Workshop: ‘Musicality in your Dance’

Are you ready to explore how musical subtleties might inspire you to become more creative in your dancing…?

In December, we are looking forwards to a workshop entitled ‘Musicality in your Dance’ with Koen Dhondt of Frisse Folk.

Thursday’s experiential workshop will provide opportunities to identify to patterns and subtleties in the music, including aspects of musical structure such as patterns, rhythms, and styles, as well as interesting features such as syncopation, tension and improvisation. You will then have opportunities to improvise your own subtle dance variations in connection with these musical features.
This will be a great chance to engage your mind in listening carefully, and to tune into the music with your dance and your body, to create a wonderful harmonious experience. No previous musical knowledge, dance experience or dance partners are required.

Update: During the workshop, we will dance to a schottische called New Pneus played by Mister Klof. Get ready with the first 2 minutes of their video on Youtube!

Koen Dhondt has been dancing since age eleven and teaching folk dance classes in Brussels since 2002. He was a founding member of Frisse Folk, a folk dance school with a team of teachers who teach classes all over Belgium. Koen teaches with attention to detail and humour to ensure a pleasant learning experience. He also also studies tango and performs modern dance, and organises dance bals and is a folkDJ with a passion for creating high quality evenings of joy.

Please join promptly by 7:30pm GMT to participate in the workshop.

Tips for enjoying the evening

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the our previous virtual sessions – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting. Here are some tips for maximum enjoyment:

Everyone:
You can switch views in Zoom between one musician and all participants using the option at top right (for help see How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout.  Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / leading the music, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There are also likely to be intermissions for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
In our sessions we play tunes for dancing, prioritising dances from the balfolk scene and other traditional genres from across Europe (preferably not English and Irish, because we have plenty of those in other local sessions!).
In the Zoom sessions, only one person (or device) can broadcast at any one time; if you want to play a tune then put a note in the chat about the genre of dance you’ll be playing for – this will help the session organisers to figure out a running order. A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going.
When you’ve been chosen to lead, it’s helpful to let the dancers know about the dance type you’ll be playing, then select Original Sound (top left) when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission.

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, You can attempt to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!). More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching! Or turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 🙂

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

As the news settles down, fettle your fingers up with some musical playfulness

This Thursday, on 12 November, we’ll meet online for a music workshop with the talented Benjamin Macke from Shillelagh, and will follow on with our usual but not-entirely-normal Eurosession. These e-connected sessions are a good opportunity to play tunes, have a dance or to see friendly faces. NB. Please note the earlier start!

Times: 
7:30 – 9:00 pm – Music workshop  
9:00 – 11:00 pm – Eurosession. 

Session Access and Donations:
To keep our Zoom sessions friendly and secure, we ask participants to provide their name and email contact, and make a payment of at least £2. You will then be directed to the Zoom details.  We invite participants who enjoy our sessions to make a donation of around £5.  You can pay/donate via our dedicated donations page at https://eurosession.org.uk/?page_id=3233

If you plan to share a tune, it may sound better if you turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session.

Introducing Benjamin Macke:

In November, we are excited to welcome back the talented Benjamin Macke for a music workshop.  Benjamin began his career as a musician with classical percussion and jazz drums, but since 18, he has devoted himself to the diatonic accordion (melodeon), and brings playfulness and imagination, to the music, communicating inventively with the dancers and his musical companions.
Benjamin has played with the trio Shillelagh since 2002, applying musical inventiveness to a repertoire from French Flanders, and the other familiar dances found throughout France. He is one half of the superb Macke-Bornauw baroque duo, as well as finding time to participate in a wide range of other projects and teaching workshops all over Europe.
Please join promptly by 7:30pm to participate in the music workshop.

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the our previous virtual sessions’ – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting. Here are some tips for maximum enjoyment:

Everyone:
To switch views between one musician and all participants, see top right on your screen, or https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362323-How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout.  Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / leading the music, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There are also likely to be intermissions for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
In our sessions we play tunes for dancing, prioritising dances from the balfolk scene and other traditional genres from across Europe (preferably not English and Irish, because we have plenty of those in other local sessions!).
In the Zoom sessions, only one person (or device) can broadcast at any one time; if you want to play a tune then put a note in the chat about the genre of dance you’ll be playing for – this will help the session organisers to figure out a running order. A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going.
When you’ve been chosen to lead, it’s helpful to tip the dancers off about the dance type you’ll be playing, then select Original Sound (top left) when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission.

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, You can attempt to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!). More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching! Or turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 🙂

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

As the leaves start to turn to vibrant, reconnect with an autumnal Arin Arin workshop

This Thursday, on 8 October, we’ll meet online for an e-connected Eurosession, and will kick this off with a simple and energisingdance workshop from the Basque tradition. These sessions are a good opportunity to play tunes, have a dance or to see friendly faces.

Times: 
8:00 – 9:00 pm – Dance workshop  
9:00 – 11:00 pm – Eurosession. 

Donations. We normally invite participants who enjoy the evening to make a donation of around £5 to Sheffield Eurosession via our website. 

Venue:  As a security measure we have taken the decision to not publish the details of our Zoom Eurosessions on any public forum. Instead we are asking people to make a donation via our website of at least £2. Please ensure you include your name and email as part of your donation. After you have donated, you will be directed to a webpage giving you the Zoom details for the Eurosession. You can make your donation via our website. 

If you plan to share a tune, it may sound better if you turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session.

About the workshop:

In this month’s dance workshop, we will provide an introduction to the Arin Arin. 
This is a Basque dance that traditionally follows the Fandango, and is danced as a solo social dance; danced in the company of others but without touching them, so it’s perfect for these strange times.
In this introduction we’ll provide a simple basic structure, but will encourage you to incorporate some nifty footwork and to raise your arms with energising style.  So join this month’s workshop to get a spring in your step, a little brain workout, and some great holistic fitness.
You might want a little cushioning in your dance shoes, but you don’t need a huge dance space – if you are on your own at home, dancing the Arin Arin is achievable in a metre or two of space in a kitchen or hallway.

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the our previous virtual sessions’ – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting. Here are some tips for maximum enjoyment:

Everyone:
To switch views between one musician and all participants, see top right on your screen, or https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362323-How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout.  Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / leading the music, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There are also likely to be intermissions for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
In our sessions we play tunes for dancing, prioritising dances from the balfolk scene and other traditional genres from across Europe (preferably not English and Irish, because we have plenty of those in other local sessions!).
In the Zoom sessions, only one person (or device) can broadcast at any one time; if you want to play a tune then put a note in the chat about the genre of dance you’ll be playing for – this will help the session organisers to figure out a running order. A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going.
When you’ve been chosen to lead, it’s helpful to tip the dancers off about the dance type you’ll be playing, then select Original Sound (top left) when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission.

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, You can attempt to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!). More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching! Or turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 🙂

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

The summer may have ended, but Eurosession lives on!

On Thursday 10 September, you have another chance to join our virtually mediated, Eurosession get-together, this time with a Swedish music workshop taught by the talented John-Francis Goodacre.

Venue: Zoom

Times: 
8:00 – 9:00pm Music workshop  
9:00 – 11:00 pm Open session. 

If you plan to share a tune, it may sound better if you turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session (you’ll also need to use a computer and not a phone/tablet).

Donations. We invite participants to make a donation of around £5 to Sheffield Eurosession if you enjoy the evening and this is affordable for you. Donate via our website.

About the workshop:

Transport yourself to the forests and dance floors of western Sweden!

John-Francis Goodacre is a fiddle player from Leicestershire who has lived and studied music in Sweden, where he immersed himself in the fiddle traditions of Scandinavia. In this workshop he will teach a Swedish dance tune, focusing on the rhythm and energy that makes this music irresistible to dance to. The workshop will be taught by ear, and will pay special attention to fiddle technique and bowings – though all instruments are welcome! 

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the our previous virtual sessions’ – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting. Here are some tips for maximum enjoyment:

Everyone:
To switch views between one musician and all participants, see top right on your screen, or https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362323-How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout- Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / leading the music, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There are also likely to be intermissions for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
In our sessions we prioritise tunes from the balfolk scene and other traditional dancing genres from across Europe (preferably not English and Irish, because we have plenty of those in other local sessions!).
In the Zoom sessions, only one person (or device) can broadcast at any one time; if you want to play a tune then put a note in the chat about the genre of dance you’ll be playing for – this will help the session organisers to figure out a running order. A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going.
When you’ve been chosen to lead, it’s helpful to tip the dancers off about the dance type you’ll be playing, then select Original Sound (top left) when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission.

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, You can attempt to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!). More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching! Or turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 🙂

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

Time for an evening’s entertainment during your staycation?

On Thursday 13 August, you have another chance to join our virtually mediated, Eurosession get-together, this time with a Swedish Menuet workshop taught by the fantastic Jessica Abrahams.

Venue:  Zoom

Times: 
8:00 – 9:00pm Dance workshop  
9:00 – 11:00 pm Open session. 

If you plan to share a tune, it may sound better if you turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session (you’ll also need to use a computer and not a phone/tablet).

Donations. We are now inviting participants to make a donation of around £5 to Sheffield Eurosession if you enjoy the evening and this is affordable for you. Donate via our website.

About the workshop:

Jess began European folk dancing in 1986 , and delighted in exploring French/Breton dance and Scandinavian dance. 6 years later she started passing on her expertise, and has taught at festivals and dance club meetings in the UK, and also abroad in France, Portugal, Germany, Sweden.  More recently she has shared selected videos online – see Bright Heart Moves On. 

The dance she’ll focus on in the workshop is the Swedish Folk Menuet (i.e. Minuet), which has a lilting sense of elegance and grace. It is traditionally a partner dance but there is little actual contact with the partner, so it can also be danced solo very successfully – very handy in the current circumstances!

In most of the dance you don’t have to do any turning, so it can be a relaxing break from high energy polskas, but can also be spiced up with optional turns and also feels great when danced energetically to faster music.  The dance is delightfully versatile because unless you are a purist, it can be danced enjoyably to any steadily pulsing music which can be counted in sixes, such as slängpolskas, other even-beat polskas, some bourrées, and 3/2 hornpipes. 

In this workshop Jess will encourage you to enjoy the feeling of being ‘with’ the music, and also share some transferable skills relating to your body awareness and movement coordination.  The workshop is suitable for anyone who can hear beats in the music and walk in time to them.  Join us on Thursday to reconnect with your body’s love of movement.

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the our previous virtual sessions’ – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting. Here are some tips for maximum enjoyment:

Everyone:
To switch views between one musician and all participants, see top right on your screen, or https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362323-How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout- Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / leading the music, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There are also likely to be intermissions for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
In our sessions we prioritise tunes from the balfolk scene and other traditional dancing genres from across Europe.
In the Zoom sessions, only one person (or device) can broadcast at any one time; if you want to play a tune then put a note in the chat about the genre of dance you’ll be playing for – this will help the session organisers to figure out a running order. A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going.
When you’ve been chosen to lead, it’s helpful to tip the dancers off about the dance type you’ll be playing, then select Original Sound (top left) when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission.

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, You can attempt to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!). More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching! Or turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 🙂

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

2020-06-04 BY SUSANNAH DIAMOND

Ready for another virtual Eurosession?

On Thursday 9 July, you have another chance to join our virtually mediated, Eurosession get-together.   The basic plan is the same as last time, but this time we’ll have a music workshop taught by the wonderful Emily Bowden.

Times: 8:00-9:00pm Music workshop;  9:00-10:30 pm Open session. 

Venue:  Zoom

Times: 
8:00 – 9:00pm Music workshop  
9:00 – 10:30 pm Open session. 

Important: If you plan to share a tune, please use a computer and not a phone/tablet, and check out how to turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session.

NB. This event is free, but if you enjoy the evening, and can afford to do so, please donate to Age UK’s Coronavirus emergency appeal:  https://donate.ageuk.org.uk/public/donate.aspx?content=coronavirus-a

About the workshop:

Emily is a musician, composer and teacher from London. She began her musical life as a classical violinist, and fell in love with folk music and improvisation in her early twenties. Her compositions have become core repertoire for the Anglo-Belgian Balfolk Trio, ‘Emily and the Simons‘. 
In this workshop, Emily will teach one or two of her wonderful tunes, with tips about working with other musicians to create a marvellous experience for dancers.  All are welcome, although confidence with your instrument and with learning by ear will be helpful.  Bring your hunger for playing, and come drink your fill!

The rest of the evening should provide the same experience as the two previous months’ – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting:

Everyone:
To switch views between one musician and all participants, see top right on your screen, or https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362323-How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout- Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / playing, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There are also likely to be intermissions for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going. One person (or device) will broadcast at any one time; wave your instrument when you want to play, or use the ‘raise your hand’ feature, and the lead musician can choose/nominate the next player. 
When you’ve been chosen to lead, select Original Sound (top left) when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission. 
NB. Mute your audio when you are not the lead musician and are just playing along at home. If you think you know the genre of dance that you might be playing, tip the dancers off at the start of your tune – thanks! 

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, There may be some experimental attempts to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!). More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching! Or turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 🙂

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh

Ready for another virtual Eurosession?

On Thursday 11 June, we will be offering another wonderful virtually mediated, Eurosession get-together.   The basic plan is the same as last time, but this time the dance workshop will be taught by Lucy Huzzard, of the fantastic Third Beat Collective.

Times: 8:00-9:00pm Dance workshop;  9-10:30 pm Open session. 

Venue:  Zoom 

Important: If you plan to share a tune, please use a computer and not a phone/tablet, and check out how to turn on the Original Sound feature in your Zoom settings before the session.

NB. This event is free, but if you enjoy the evening, and can afford to do so,
please donate to Age UK’s Coronavirus emergency appeal: https://donate.ageuk.org.uk/public/donate.aspx?content=coronavirus-a

About the workshop:

Lucy Huzzard will be bringing the attitude and energy of this Norwegian competition dance to the confines of your kitchen/living room/shed. This traditional dance ranges from walking with attitude, to spinning on your head, and Lucy will be focusing on some tricks and flair to add to your next dance-off. Expect a fair workout! (No head spins thankfully!)

Wear comfortable clothes, shoes that can turn easily and ideally with springy insoles for additional comfort. This workshop will be a great way to free up the body from crouching at computer screens, and reward yourself with some zestful stretches. Lucy has trained in Sweden and is part of the Third Beat Collective; this workshop is not to be missed!

The rest of the plan is basically unchanged from last time – marvellous musicians, delicious dancing, and a bit of chatting:

Everyone:
To switch views between one musician and all participants, see top right on your screen, or https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362323-How-Do-I-Change-The-Video-Layout- Please mute your audio when you are not speaking / playing, and use the Chat feature for background communication. There are also likely to be intermissions for general chat and catching up.

Musicians:
A few of our session regulars will be on hand to get the music going. One person (or device) will broadcast at any one time; wave your instrument when you want to play, or use the ‘raise your hand’ feature, and the lead musician can choose/nominate the next player. 
When you’ve been chosen to lead, select Original Sound (top left) when you want to play, and turn it off again for normal voice transmission. 
NB. Mute your audio when you are not the lead musician and are just playing along at home. If you think you know the genre of dance that you might be playing, tip the dancers off at the start of your tune – thanks! 

Dancers:
Get your dance shoes on; if you have a danceable space, book it for the evening, There may be some experimental attempts to dance the right genre of dance at the right time (albeit half a beat behind!). More important is to dance as though no-one is watching, or as though you can cheer up everyone else who is watching! Or turn your video off if you feel freer dancing in private.

Eurosession is an inclusive and caring space for all.
Invite your co-space-sharing mates / family / teddy-bear along if appropriate 🙂

See you soon,
xx Eurosesh