The Performers
Bruce Hamilton is a well-respected teacher of English country dancing with 50 years’ experience across 5 countries. He has launched classes, trained teachers, programmed camps, coached performing groups and adjudicated festivals.
A retired research scientist, Bruce is always looking for new ways to understand and present ideas. He tries to weave many threads besides technique and choreography into his lessons. Music, sociability and physiology are his current favorites. People often say they come away with things to think about and ways to grow. His weekend teacher’s class also draws high praise.
Bruce lives in Menlo Park, California with his wife Jo and as many dogs and cats as her rescue operation happens to have on hand. He runs a biweekly English dance class, and is a past president of the Country Dance and Song Society.
Music by Mara Shea, Julie Gorka & Dean Herington
Mara Shea has been happily playing for dancers since the 1990s—mostly English, Scottish, and contra—and is frequently heard at balls, dance weekends and concerts in the US, Scotland, and Canada. She has been on the music staff at Pinewoods, John C. Campbell Folk School, and Harvest Moon ECD Weekend, among others, and has played for many Regency and English country dance workshops and balls. With pianist Dean Herington, Mara led musicians’ workshops for the Scottish country dance group in Lisbon, Portugal. She has many recordings with her contra dance band, The Elftones, as well as with other wonderful musicians such as Dave Wiesler, Rhiannon Giddens, and Julie Gorka. Mara decided to take a year off from teaching in 2018-19 and earned an MLitt in ethnology and folklore at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
For more on Mara, and to listen to some of her music, visit her website: marashea.com.
Julie Gorka is a musician with a wide range of musical interests. She plays Scottish, English, historic, contra dance, and Irish music on piano, harp and fiddle. She’s known for her lively piano back-up style, with driving rhythms and interesting harmonies. She judges around the country for the national Piano Guild.
Julie has made several recordings ,including A Sheep at the Wheel (Scottish and English music) and a waltz CD, In 3/4 Time, with fiddler Mara Shea, and help from Walt Robinson, Ted Ehrhard and Dean Herington.
They will be joined by Dean Herington, mostly on clarinet. Dean has been playing for English, Scottish, contra and more since the 70’s. He co-founded the group FootLoose, and has organized community dances in the Triangle area.
The Dance Hall
The event will be held again at the beautiful Masonic Temple in the heart of Asheville. Beautiful hardwood dance floor, high ceilings, turn-of-the-century ambience – and mostly, room to dance! All dances and workshops will be held on the main floor.
The Schedule
Friday
7:00 pm Welcome and Check-in
7:30 – 10:30 pm Evening Dance
Saturday
Workshops
10:45 – 12:30 noon
Note: $15 extra charge. Extra challenging dances for experienced dancers who are in tune to the music and their fellow dancers, and who enjoy both familiar favorites without teaching and complex dances which reward attentiveness to teaching. Cheerful recovery skills and knowledge of ECD figures and basic repertoire are expected.
Actual Workshop topic TBD
12:30 – 2:00 : Lunch Ramble
Restaurants on your own. You’re right there in downtown Asheville – wander and enjoy!
2:00 – 3:45: ECD Workshop ~ Actual Workshop topic TBD
Actual topic will be determined closer to the event, but we know it will be fun!
Saturday Evening Dance Party
7:15 – 7:30 pm Evening Waltz
7:30- 10:30 pm Evening Ball
Elegant attire welcome but not required.
Enthusiastic attitude absolutely required!
Sunday
11:00 am – 1:30 pm Morning Dance
Although we would love for you to come for the whole weekend, tickets for individual dances will be available at the door.
Logistics
Where to Stay
There are a number of hotels and Bed and Breakfast accommodations are located in or near downtown Asheville, several within walking distance of the dance hall. There are several more budget-friendly hotels are located on or near Tunnel Road, a 5-10 minute drive.
Staying with people in town is always a good idea too. Call your Asheville friends early!
Where to Park
All events are at the Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801. If you’re staying at one of the nearby hotels, use their lot of course.
Otherwise, there is parking available at 35 Woodfin St. for a nominal fee, 2 blocks East. Metered spaces are free after 6PM, and all day Sunday. Parking at Home Trust bank, right across the street, is now $3/hour. If you choose to utilize other parking lots or public garages, note the hourly and daily rates which will be more costly. The best rate at the garages seems to be the garage at 164 College St. – $2 first hour, $1 each additional hour. Street parking on Central Avenue near the YMCA is free, though it requires a window sticker during the workday. There is also free parking in the lots on Cherry Street, just north of I-240, close to the skate park.