An evening of English Country Dance

Join musicians, and callers Thomas and Rachel Bending, for an evening of traditional English Country Dancing.

This dance is part of our ‘Playing for English Country Dancing’ Weekend and if you’d like to make a night of it, we’re offering a ‘gig, dinner and evening dance’ ticket - this entitles you to a seat at Jacqueline’s afternoon Be The Light gig, a two-course dinner at the manor, followed by dancing.

The Team

Participants on the ‘Playing for English Country Dancing’ course.

Pianist Jacqueline Schwab (USA) has long lifted country dancers off their feet in the USA and beyond and is delighted to be returning to Halsway Manor. With the quartet Bare Necessities, she has explored flowing, improvisatory ways of playing for country dancing, and in the past, has also taught English dancing, and reconstructed dances. She has a music degree from the New England Conservatory, majoring in piano improvisation. She has played for many styles of dancing. In her teaching, she enjoys encouraging students to play with command, intention, dance lift, improvisatory freedom, and, most of all, heart. To find out more about Jacqueline’s work in film, as a concert pianist and dance discography please visit: https://www.jacquelineschwab.com/

Ali Messer plays for English country dancing and contra and has fun with improvisation to enable movement and to spark joy! She plays piano accordion a bit like a melodeon, and adapts her playing in conversation with the dancers, caller and other musicians.

Thomas Bending has been dancing and calling Playford, English country dances and contra since his university days, and has called everywhere from major festivals to local barn dances. He wants to encourage dancers to dance with the music and to think about those they're dancing with ... at the same time.

Rachel Bending has been dancing and calling for nearly 40 years. She loves encouraging people to play and explore the interplay between dancers and music.