IN FRENCH

weekend IN Old Sweetsburg

OCTOBER 26, 27 and 28, 2012

SEVENTH EDITION

ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE

Dancing is a social activity that has always been a part of English life. In the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the English bourgeoisie’s week was usually given over to activities such as business and trade, with not much time for leisure. At the weekend, however, they fled the city for the comfort of their country homes. There, they devoted themselves to recreation and cultivating their social life.  They invited relatives, friends and neighbours to partake in the merriment. Come the evening, everyone danced at the ball, which is why the dances they did were known as country dancing.

Country dancing is therefore a particular kind of social dance that was practised in England, mostly by the upper classes of the time. It is done in contra dance formation, that is, a line of gentlemen facing a line of ladies; each couple goes through a number of figures and movements in relation to the other couples. The dances are sometime easy and sometime more difficult. They are, first of all social, and therefore conducive to friendly conversation among participants. It’s the kind of dancing described in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811, Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813 and many others. You may have seen some of Jane Austen’s works put to screen in recent years.

A WEEKEND OF DANCING

The purpose of the weekend is for everyone to share a dance experience, more particularly, English Country Dancing. Participants will embark on a journey to the past through music and dance, in an atmosphere of pleasure and simplicity.

Sweetsburg, an old quarter of the town of Cowansville, is well known for its beauty. All the weekend activities will be held at Sweetsburg Manor, a Victorian home built in 1868.

PROGRAM

Friday, October 26: English Country Dance class /  8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (More difficult dances / with CD)

Saturday, October 27: English Country Dance class / 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Saturday, October 27: Costume Ball / 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (With Ensemble Rufty Tufty, from Montreal )

Sunday, October 28, 11:00 a.m. to noon: Farewell Dance (with CD)

MUSICIANS

For both the Saturday workshop and the ball, the musical group Rufty Tufty from Montreal, with Sally Campbell, Isabelle Robichaud, Sean McCutcheon et Gaetano Rondelli, will provide the music. 

DANCE MASTER AND DANCE MISTRESS

Arduina Alonzo and Michel Landry will be the dance mistress and master. They will lead the workshops on Friday night and  Saturday afternoon in French and English. At the ball, Michel Landry will be the dance master. All the dances on the program will be explained and then danced. The ball is geared toward people with some experience in English Country Dancing, and therefore attendance at the workshops held during the year will be to their advantage. For the ball, period attire is encouraged but not required.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Lodging at Manoir Sweetsburg (sorry, already full)

Other places near the Manoir

To inquire about availability, rates and reservations in the area, please contact the following directly:

Le Clos Dauphinais, 300, Mooney St., Cowansville, Quebec, J2K 1E1, Phone: (450) 263-3633

Domaine sur la Colline, 1221 Principale St., Cowansville, Quebec, J2K 1K7, Phone: (450) 266-1910 or 1-888-222-1692

Le Passe-Partout, 167, Pierre-Laporte St., Cowansville, Quebec, J2K 2G3, Phone: (450) 260-1678

Masypa, 500, Lebeau, Cowansville, Quebec, Phone: (450) 263-6403 or 1-888-244-6403

Helene's Place: Elegant Victorian country home, 10 minute drive from the Manoir. Reasonable price! 

Info: helene_coutier@yahoo.ca Phone: (514) 362-0423

 

City of Farnham: Gite poussière de lune, 240 Yamaska St., West, J2N 1H2, Phone: (450)293-1057

Hotel Days Inn, 111, Place Jean Jacques Bertrand, Cowansville, QC, J2K 3R5, Phone: 450-263-7331 or 1-877-263-7331

IT’S A DATE!