January 2022

Starting the year on a positive note – yes really. The last quarter of 2021 was actually busier than expected and I had more December bookings than for many years. Just now it is a bit quiet but that is normal for January even if the reasons might be slightly different this time. Read on for more about Dance Classes, Grants, Gigs and Mummers.

It was great to be back at Cecil Sharp House with the English Country Dance classes and the numbers for the first term were the best yet. Now job-sharing with Erin we used recorded music for the term but now we are back to live music and people are really enjoying getting back to dancing. Alongside this I did a couple of dance clubs and, while there were fewer Barn Dances with a live band, I have been doing more of them with recorded music which really works for smaller crowds.

To help me move forward with all of this I applied for, and have been awarded, a micro grant from EFDSS to get suitable technology so I can move forward from the CDs I have been using for years to equipment more suitable for the digital age. My deepest thanks to EFDSS for this and the support I have been receiving from them over the years. A shout out here for the wonderful Folk Educators Network and in particular the Open Space Sessions that happen every fortnight. Brilliant finding out about what others are doing, networking and just raising the spirits.

So, what else has been keeping me busy. Care Homes have given me a large part of my work averaging about one a week; different themes and different ways of responding (as well as different protocols). Each one is different and while most are enjoyable some of them are brilliant fun which is a fantastic bonus. One theme was Oktoberfest and I enjoyed an all day event with all the Bratwurst etc in Hemel Hempstead. I was also booked to play Scottish Music at a dinner party and Victorian Carols for one day at Rochester Dickens Weekend. I think that the most ironic event of the year has to be Maypole Team Building which had been planned for September actually taking place in late November – about as far from May as you can get!

Finally there was St Albans Mummers on Boxing Day; back live and I was asked to reprise my role as The Doctor. What a great year to have that opportunity with everything that we have all been through and the magnificent but challenging work of the NHS it was wonderful to try and find the amusing side of it all. There is a new website and Facebook page and we will be looking for new recruits for this year’s shows.

Looking forward it seems that everyone is slightly nervous about committing to events but there are definite signs of movement, new projects in the planning and the prospect of great celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee. Hoping to be back with more positive news very soon. Watch this space.