Folks interested in the history of contra dancing in New England and upstate New York in the post-World War II era may enjoy watching a series of six videos from this year’s Dance Flurry.
I was the moderator, and I started out by commenting on how strange it felt to be part of a panel billed as “Old Timers Talk.” Panelists included Dudley Laufman and Bob McQuillen, New Hampshire artists well known in the traditional dance community and each a recipient of the CDSS Lifetime Contribution Award; Ralph Sweet, longtime Connecticut dance caller and leader of a singing squares workshop this summer at Timber Ridge; and Bill and Andy Spence, musician (hammered dulcimer, Fennig’s All Stars) and organizer (Andy’s Front Hall, and founder of the Old Songs Festival). Lots of good stories!