Nelson Town Hall

Pot luck, followed by dancing with calling by Lisa Sieverts, music by Harvey Tolman, Gordon Peery, and probably a plethora of other musicians. At some point the dancing stops and people migrate to Center Pond for fireworks.

The Monadnock Folklore Society presents the Nelson Second Saturday Contra Dance on January 14th, featuring Lisa Sieverts calling with Roger Treat on fiddle and Gordon Peery on piano.

Dancing begins at 8:00 PM. Beginners and singles are welcome — there is a short orientation before the dance for early arrivals — and all dances are taught throughout the evening. Admission is $8, $6 for senior citizens and students. For more information call 603.762.0235 or visit http://www.monadnockfolk.org. The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contradances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

The Monadnock Folklore Society brings this community event to the Nelson Town Hall each year, admission is $5, and treats are appreciated for the dessert potluck. This year the evening will begin with a holiday concert featuring a selection of traditional and original seasonal music; as part of the concert 2011 Johnny Trombly Scholarship recipient  will entertain us with their musicianship. The Folklore Society invites you to bring along your favorite holiday dessert and we’ll supply the beverages for the intermission. After the concert the chairs and benches are cleared to make way for a traditional New England Contradance. Unfortunately, or not, the dance is often interrupted by various groups of unsavory characters presenting their idea of seasonal entertainment. These diversions, sometimes involving costumed individuals making complete fools of themselves or performing ancient ritual dances to help us through this dark time of the year, are generally tolerated as once they are applauded and fed we can return to dancing the night away.

Dudley Laufman will lead the dancing at a special Old Home Week edition of the Nelson Saturday Contra Dance on August 6th.

On a recent episode of the NH Public Radio program, The Exchange, host Laura Knoy said, “When he raised the roof at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 with his country orchestra, Dudley Laufman energized the youthful crowd and helped re-light the torch for traditional country dancing that had been carried at the time by a few old-timers. He helped create a movement of contra dancing and contra music that has played out in the churches and barns of small town New England for more than a quarter of a century.” Dudley was named a National Heritage Fellow in 2009, and received the NH Council of the Arts Folk Heritage award in 2001.

Dudley and Jacqueline Laufman, usually joined by several of their musician friends, are a tradition at the August Nelson dance.

Dedicated dancers should note that this dance is being held on the first Saturday of the month, instead of its regular second Saturday date. Note also that there will not be a first Saturday dance at the Peterborough Town Hall in August, thus, dancers should plan to go to Nelson instead.

Dancing begins at 8:00 PM. Beginners and singles are welcome and all dances are taught throughout the evening.

Admission is only $2, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous benefactor.
The dance takes place in the historic Town Hall in Nelson, NH and is sponsored by the Monadnock Folklore Society. For more information call 603.762.0235 or visit www.monadnockfolk.org.

The Monadnock Folklore Society presents the Nelson Second Saturday Contra Dance,  featuring Lisa Sieverts calling with Amy Cann on fiddle and Carol Compton on piano.

Fiddler Amy Cann teaches at Vermont’s Putney School, and is a member of Apple Crisp, Calliope, Interstate Quartet, Jack’s Maggot, Next Generation Orchestra and the Emulsifiers. She is known for fiddling that is both danceable and inventive, breathing new life into old tunes and writing new melodies that sound traditional.

New Hampshire native Carol Compton (piano, recorder, accordion) has been involved in music and folk dance since childhood. Her classical piano training gave way to dance music in the 1980′s, when she began playing for English Country Dance and contra dancing in the Philadelphia area. She has played at festivals and dances throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Carol can be heard on the 2000 Smithsonian Folkways Recording “Choose Your Partner,” playing with the contra dance band Northern Spy and appears in the contra dance video “What’s Not to Like?”. She has also performed Early American music at the Smithsonian, Winterthur and other historic sites.

Caller Lisa Sieverts appears regularly at the Nelson Monday contra dances and serves on the board of the Monadnock Folklore Society.

Dancing begins at 8:00 PM, with a short workshop beforehand. Beginners and singles are welcome and all dances are taught throughout the evening. Admission is $8 or $6 for students and seniors. The dance takes place in the historic Town Hall in Nelson, NH. For more information call 603.762.0235 or visit www.monadnockfolk.org. The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

The Monadnock Folklore Society presents the Nelson Second Saturday Contra Dance on June 11th, featuring Jeff Petrovitch calling with Brendan Carey-Block on fiddle and Julie Vallimont on piano.

Dancing begins at 8:00 PM, with a short workshop beforehand. Beginners and singles are welcome and all dances are taught throughout the evening. Admission is $8 or $6 for students and seniors. The dance takes place in the historic Town Hall in Nelson, NH. For more information call 603.762.0235

Greet May Day morning with Harrisville Morris Women and Jack in the Green as we dance the sun up over the hills.

On the Common.

The Monadnock Folklore Society presents the Nelson Second Saturday Contra Dance on April 9th, featuring Dave Eisenstadter calling with Bo Bradham on fiddle and Gordon Peery on piano.

Fiddler Bo Bradham was one of the founding members of David Kaynor’s Greenfield Dance Band. A disciple of Texas Swing legend, Johnny Gimble, Bo has won state Fiddle Contests in Virginia. He has studied with Mark O’Connor, Natalie MacMaster, and Martin Hayes. With his roots in New England and his love of southern music, Bo succeeds at crossing of boundaries between different genres of music. Gordon Peery, of Nelson, NH, plays piano with gusto, appearing with bands such as Celticladda and Airdance. He has played for dances all over America as well as the Shetland Isles and England. He is also known for his jazz trio work, most recently appearing with Swing Set. When he’s not calling contra dances, Dave Eisenstadter is a reporter for the Keene Sentinel.

Dancing begins at 8:00 PM, with a short workshop beforehand. Beginners and singles are welcome and all dances are taught throughout the evening. Admission is $8 or $6 for students and seniors. The dance takes place in the historic Town Hall in Nelson, NH. For more information call 603.762.0235.

Admission: $8/$6 students and seniors

There is a workshop for newcomers or those who want a refresher, at 7:30.

May Day in Nelson

No one knows the true origin of the celebration of May Day. Some say it is as old as time itself. What we in Nelson and Munsonville know is that May Day is a day of casting off the cares of winter, and to enjoy the beautiful New England spring.

We come together on the Town Common, some to dance and others to visit with those we may have not seen since the first snowflake fell. The children are delighted with the bright colors of the May Pole ribbons, waiting their turn to help weave the ribbons when it’s time for the May Pole Dance. But first, we are treated to the trumpet sounding of Jack In the Green as he heralds the arrival of another beautiful Spring in Nelson.

The Jack In the Green Morris Men and the Harrisville Morris Women will be dancing. This old tradition from the British Isles has in recent decades been comfortably adapted on this side of the pond. In fact, last summer Jack in the Green went to England for several days to “show them” how Morris dancing is done now.

As for the May Pole with its tip top decorated with beautiful forsythia from local residents and bestrewn with colorful ribbons, this too, has regained favor in more recent memory.

The Nelson May Pole is set up in the middle of the Nelson Town Common. After the Morris dancing, the children gather to pick up the ribbons and wind their way around the pole, creating a rainbow of fascinating twists.

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Twist and turn and under and over.

Weave your ribbon as you weave your wishes and dreams.

Perhaps, when the music stops, you will find a number under your feet.

If your number matches the one called, you win one of the many delicious cakes that have been prepared for the annual Cake Walk.

What a treat to take home and devour!