Gosport & Fareham Interfolk
General International Folk Dancing
An Associated group of the Society for International Folk Dancing (SIFD).
Time : 10:00 - 11:00am Mondays (term time - phone for dates)
Place : St. Francis Church Hall, Clayhall Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hants
Contact: Tessa & David
The Gosport & Fareham Interfolk club provides an
invigorating start to the week with an hour of dancing on Monday morning. It is a happy and sociable group who enjoy a wide
variety of dances with moderate energy levels. We are always learning a new dance or revising an old one so beginners are
always welcome. The group practise a mixture of international folk dances from sets to lines and circles (and canoes!).
Everyone in the group is challenged to 'adopt' a dance from the current repertoire, to learn it thoroughly,
study the steps, listen to the music and hopefully feel able to teach/lead it if necessary. Traditional dances are passed on
as seen, felt and perceived by a younger generation; there is no need for years of arduous physical and/or technical training to
lead a folk dance.
We usually have a Christmas Party, and try out candle dances from around the world, but we are not
geared up for displays. Although, back in July 2007 four fearless, fun-loving members of the group entered a local talent show
and danced Le petit Montferrine a quatre and Vira das Cavacas.
Repertoire
Over the years quite a number of folk dances have been done but they are not all current at any one time.
The following list is of those folk dances you are likely to encounter at the moment if you visit our club.
Dances which are done in sets include:
Meillionon (Wales), De Vleegard (Holland), De Kolom (Belgium), Trommevals (Denmark), Le petit Montferrine a quatre (Switzerland),
Holborn March (England), Childgrove (England), Jamaica (England), Fyrmanna Schottishe (Sweden)
Couple Dances which are done in a circle include:
Oiga ja Vasemba (Estonia), La Storta da Cruce (Switzerland), Notchka (Russia), Arrosciado (Italy), Erva Cidera (Portugal)
Dances which are done in lines and circles include:
Kakpri Balkje (Russia), Hora Hassidit (Israel), Halai (Greece)
Aptaliko (Greece), Sepastia Bar (Armenia), Ambee Dageets (Armenia),Yerek Vodk (Armenia), Kumanovka (Macedonia), TaiTai (Greece),
Hora lui Dobrika (Romania) Valle Dardhare (Albania)
Dances which should be done in a canoe include:
Lago Sopu Sopu (Molluca)
How To Get There
St. Francis Church Hall, Gosport
By Bus from the Gosport Ferry catch the number 30 which stops outside the hall. David and Tessa Bloodworth, and Janet Douglas Maggie Head The Gosport and Fareham International Dance group was founded by Maggie Head over thirty years ago as two keep-fit classes.
She originally trained as a Keep Fit instructor, discovered International Folk dance and realised that there was a good link between
the two. She increasingly used international folk dances as part of her classes until eventually the dancing took over! Maggie is
a recognised SIFD teacher and an extremely good advertisement for the health-giving properties of dance. Although she has retired
(at over 80) she still has an interest in the group she brought into existence.
By road from the centre of Gosport follow the signs to the Haslar Hospital, crossing the bridge to
pass the hospital and at the t-junction, turn right into Clayhall Road.
Gosport & Fareham Interfolk People
Tessa combines the duties of Treasurer and Secretary
delegating the position of Chairman to David. They are proficient dancers who organise the group and carry out all the tasks
needed to ensure its smooth running. Janet is the current teacher having taken over after Maggie's retirement.
The History of the Club
Gosport & Fareham Interfolk - international folk dancing in Hampshire
Copyright © John Douglas
