My dancing life began with Modern Dance at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance at age 5, followed briefly by ballet. Years later, I came across International folk dancing (IFD) at undergraduate school. I kept dancing IFD after my move to CT to attend graduate school. Next I discovered contra dancing in the mid-1980s and fell absolutely in love with the Celtic, French Canadian, and Old-Time music.
In 1987, I discovered the NOMAD (Northeast Music, Art and Dance) Festival. I met Fran & Chip Hendrickson there and, through them, discovered 18th-century and Colonial dancing. At NOMAD, I 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 & supervisor, Assistant Marketing Manager, Business Manager, my own desktop publishing and consulting business – and eventually Dance Caller and Teacher.
Over the years, I’ve led dance programs for schools, homeschooling groups, Maypole and other holiday dances, weekly dances at local senior centers, monthly family dances, and many “Barn Dances/Community Dances” (a little of everything), as well as historical dances and balls for re-enactors and multiple other programs. My repertoire includes International Folk Dance, contra-style dance, traditional square dance, “PlayParty/Singing Games”, Morris & Sword dances, ECD (English Country Dance), historical dances of the Rev War and later periods, and a handful of line dances.
My main passion is using traditional folk dance and music to bring people together in community. The current focus is on community, family, and school dances, whether for groups, local organizations, or individuals. I’ve led programs for 50th anniversaries, 80th birthday parties, block parties – you name it, I’ve probably done a program for it. Workshops and residencies are also available.
“Get a group together – have a dance!”
As Covid started, I began a weekly “DanceTogether…Apart” program on Zoom which focuses primarily on International Folk Dance since that genre lends itself more easily to do solo and online. DanceTogether…Apart has been (and still is) active since April 2020.
“Celebrating Community Through Traditional Dance and Music!”