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| Celebrating Dance Master Philippe Callens - Halsway Manor |
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English Country Dances with Simone Verheyen (B) & Madeleine Smith (UK)
 Music: Paul Hutchinson (UK), Karen Wimhurst (UK), Dries de Maeyer (B) For whomDancers with a basic knowledge of Playford and English dance traditions.For experienced dancers who can dance all figures of English Country Dances without instruction.
What This midweek course is a tribute to the inspirational and much-missed dance master Philippe Callens (Antwerp, 21 March 1962 – Esneux, 17 February 2021) and his wide-ranging enthusiasms – from English dance reconstructions through to dances in the New England style and his own stylish English dance choreography. In 1990, Philippe founded the Anglo-American Dance Shop (AADS) in Belgium with Luc Blancke and Frieda Van Vlaenderen, bringing dancers from across Europe to dance with Philippe and the best of American and English teachers. During this special week at Halsway, AADS will launch a new collection of Phillipe’s unpublished dances alongside an accompanying CD featuring accomplished musicians Paul Hutchinson (accordion), Karen Wimhurst (clarinets) and Dries de Maeyer (recorders and whistles). Dance caller Simone Verheyen, a long-standing friend of Philippe will be joined by the well-loved EFDSS gold badge holder Madeleine Smith. Dynamic, live dance music was a passion for Phillipe and during the afternoons, the emphasis will be on exploring Madeleine’s statement “dance is music made visible”, as well as giving dancers a chance to participate in music workshops led by virtuoso wind player Dries de Maeyer. > When
From Monday December 2 (4 pm), till Friday December 6 (10 am), 2024
Where
Halsway Manor - National Centre for Folk Arts Halsway Ln, Crowcombe, Taunton TA4 4BD UK Callers Simone Verheyen started dancing at the ripe old age of 11 and hasn’t stopped since. Influenced by Philippe Callens and AADS, she discovered the English Country Dances and New England Contra Dances in the late eighties, and this repertoire has been her favourite pastime ever since, especially the English repertoire. Having been one of Philippe’s closest friends, she is very fond of his dances and for her it’s a point of honour to keep his legacy alive. Her repertoire stretches from the earliest Playford collections to contemporary choreographers. Simone regularly teaches in Flanders and the Netherlands, She has also taught in England, Scotland, Wallonia and Germany. Madeleine Smith learned her art from some outstanding teachers, including Pat Shaw and Ethyl Anderson. She is known for her clear calling and teaching, her sense of fun, and her ability to use her extensive knowledge of country dancing and its historical context to create interesting workshops and dance programmes. As a musician, Madeleine works on the principle that ‘dance is music made visible’, and puts the tune, phrasing and rhythm at the centre of her teaching. She was the recipient of an EFDSS Gold Badge in 2022.  During this celebration we have great musicians. Based in Brussels, Dries de Maeyer is a young, virtuosic recorder and whistle player spanning the Baroque music through to Belgian, Swedish and English folk repertoire. He will explore ornamentation, arranging and some Belgium tunes with those participants who bring along instruments. A well known face at Halsway, Paul Hutchinson is regarded as one of the top accordionists in the country. His versatile and imaginative approach to rhythm, voicings and melody not only infuses the much-loved repertoire of Belshazzar’s Feast, Pagoda and Clarion (to mention a few bands) but has delighted dancers worldwide. Karen Wimhurst is a composer and clarinettist spanning jazz, classical and traditional musics. Karen and Paul joined forces as Pagoda Project. Their album Clarion/Pagoda Duo received 5 star reviews in Songlines and FRoots and was featured on Songline’s Top of the World CD. Programme
English Country Dance.
Price
Full board per person (tuition, activities, all meals & accommodation): £430– single ensuite room £390– sharing an ensuite room £390– single non-ensuite room £355 – sharing non-ensuite room Camping per person (tuition, activities, all meals): £260 Non Resident (tuition, activities, all meals except breakfast): £240 Registration
How to Book
Most courses are fully booked well in advance. We work on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you are interested it’s worth making a booking enquiry early to secure your place! First choose the course you would like to come on via our ‘What’s On’ pages, then express your interest in reserving a place by complete a booking enquiry – each page has a book now button, or you can call to book over the phone. We’ll ask your preferred accommodation type – so let us know if you prefer camping, single, double, or a shared room. Some courses ask for your playing ability (beginner, intermediate, advanced etc). When we receive your enquiry we’ll check availability and call you to confirm your booking with a deposit. Full payment is due 6 weeks before the workshop date. In the event of cancellation the following rules apply: If you cancel more than 6 weeks before the event you are entitled to a full refund less £60 per transaction. If you cancel your booking more than 2 weeks before course start date, you are entitled to 50% of the total balance paid. If full balance is unpaid no refund will be due. If you cancel your booking less than 2 weeks before course start date, you are not entitled to any refund. If a course / event is cancelled by Halsway Manor Society, we will offer you a full refund. We also strongly advise taking out travel insurance. We cannot reimburse travel costs or other losses incurred by you in the event of cancellation by us or you. About a month before you arrive we’ll send out arrival information including any course-specific information, details about your stay and useful information. Terms and Conditions To see our standard Terms and Conditions please go to our site. You may view our Privacy Policy there. Further bookings information If you would like any more information or would like to book over the phone please ring 01984 618 274 ext 1 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm.) or go to our contact us page. We look forward to seeing you soon! …a performance packed with stunning musical technique and interpretation of original material interspersed with wonderfully humorous introductions! What a treat….! Fine Times Recorder otherwise specified, our midweek courses check-in from 4pm on a Monday and check out by 10am on Friday, and our weekend courses check in from 4pm on a Friday and depart on Sunday by 4pm. Dinner on the first night is usually at 6.30pm, and in general, no formal teaching or introductory sessions take place until after this. Enjoy the area, bring a friend, share a room, & save money You can book on a course at Halsway and bring a friend who can explore the area while using Halsway as a base for meals and accommodation. Halsway Manor is in the Quantock Hills (England’s first designated National Landscape (formally AONB). We’re just minutes away from the West Somerset Railway (Britain's longest steam railway), a short drive or bus ride from Somerset’s Jurassic coast (ideal for fossil hunting), and surrounded by dramatic scenery and changing landscapes, from the wild hills of Exmoor to the flat expanse of the Somerset Levels. |
