This summer there is a unique opportunity to listen and dance to the stunning New England band Airdance, led by Rodney Miller. Airdance includes Rodney Miller, David Surette, Mary Cay Brass, Stuart Kenney and Sam Zucchini Brewton in a dazzling combination of fiddle, guitar, piano, bass and percussion that makes ‘a dance for the ears’. This exceptional combination represents a living bridge between the 250 year contradance music tradition of New England and the contemporary tradition being practised today all over the United States and now in the UK.
So what is contra dance anyway?
HIGH ENERGY contra is lively and friendly like English ceilidh. The dancers are in two long lines. The moves are interesting but not too complicated. The music is based on traditional Celtic and French-Canadian tunes, with the swing you find in bluegrass. And that’s why so many of our leading dance musicians have become so interested, especially fiddlers such as Flos Headford, Judith Cooper, Jackie Allen and Brian Stone.
What are the roots of contra?
Another fiddler from the US, Donna Hebert said that: ’
Fiddling in New England has always been tied to dancing from its earliest beginnings in the 1600s. The lives of early settlers were hard, and music and dancing was a very welcome break from their labours, serving a valuable social function in the communities of New England. The New England tradition of community contra and square dancing and fiddling has come down to us unbroken today from colonial times…. Perhaps the biggest influence on the current wave of interest in contradancing and its music was a group begun by New Hampshire dance leader and musician Dudley Laufman in the late 1960s. His "Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra" toured all over New England, ..and attracted hordes of hippie teenagers and dancers of all ages with the old dances and a big band playing terrific tunes from Ireland, Scotland and Quebec.’When Rodney Miller recorded Airplang, contra dance music was revolutionised into the dynamic and inspirational fusion of Celtic, traditional and jazz material that makes it so exciting today. Rodney Miller is widely considered to be the foremost exponent of New England style fiddling. His recordings such as Greasy Coat, Airplang and New England Chestnuts have become classics for fiddlers world-wide. Many of his original compositions have gone on to become fiddle tune standards, played by the bands in the UK who are spear heading the development of high energy contra here. You have heard of these bands before: groups including Big Bad Contra, Alterations, English Contra Dance Band and Fiddlin Around.
Now here is your chance to get a glimpse of the roots of contra..
If you are a dancer you can take part in Contra Hothouse and the dance tour in late July or meet the whole of Airdance at Sidmouth in August. If you are musician you can meet Rodney at Folkworks or Contra Hothouse. The band will be bringing a newly recorded CD Flying On Home (release date June 1st) with them. Be amongst the first to hear it... And to hear Airdance live? The tour begins on 21st July and ends on 8th August. Ring 0208 894 1537 for details. See also the links below if you are on the website!
Ali Ellacott
March 2003
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