My dancing life began with Modern Dance at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance at age 5. This was followed by a bit of ballet, which has continued to be one of my loves. After no formal dance training for many years, I came across International folk dancing while at Antioch College and danced most Friday nights. I kept dancing IFD after my move to CT to attend graduate school. Then I discovered contra dancing in the mid-1980s and fell absolutely in love with the Celtic & French Canadian music.
In 1987, I found the NOMAD (Northeast Music, Art and Dance) Festival. (2007 was the 20th anniversary and final year.) I met Fran & Chip Hendrickson there and, through them, discovered 18th-century and Colonial dancing. At NOMAD, I participated as a caller the 2nd year, joined the Committee to help out the 3rd year, and served on the Board of Directors and Programming Committee for most of the rest of its 20-year history.
During these years of dancing, I held other “day jobs” – Special Ed teacher and supervisor, Assistant Marketing Manager, Business Manager for a Marketing & Management Consulting Company, my own desktop publishing and consulting business – and eventually Dance Caller and Teacher.
I’ve led dance programs for homeschooling groups, monthly family dances, and a whole bunch of what we call “Barn Dances” (a little of everything), as well as historical dances and balls for re-enactors and all kinds of other programs.
A Friday morning “Traditional Country Dance” session is finishing its third year at the Bethel, CT Senior Center where we include a lot of traditional square dances, along with circle, longways, and folk dances.
My current focus is on community, school, and family dances as well as historical dances for re-enactments, libraries, historical societies or anyone interesting in creating a Colonial Ball or other historical dance event. Workshops and residencies are also available.