by Robin Hayden, CDSS Director of Development, Friday, August 10, 2012
(see Rima’s blog about Thursday’s trip)
Stephanie Smith, CDSS member and archivist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Our day began with a metro ride into DC with our hostess, Stephanie Smith, an archivist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Stephanie gave us a tour of the Center for Folklife offices, including a peek into the archives themselves!
In the midst of a very busy day at the Center, Curators James Deutch and Sojin Kim generously met with Rima, Stephanie, and me to brainstorm possibilities for collaborations between CDSS and the Center at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2015, CDSS’s centennial year.
We were also privileged to view the latest cut of the eagerly-anticipated English country dance documentary—a wonderful collaboration between Stephanie, NYU historian Danny Walkowitz, and award-winning videographer Charlie Weber of the Center for Folklife.
Later, we met up for dinner with longtime CDSS friend Charlie Pilzer, on the patio of the Irish Inn at Glen Echo Park. We had a lively conversation in which Charlie shared his thoughts about celebrating the Centennial in DC and across the continent. As always, his infectious enthusiasm and seemingly boundless well of ideas invigorated and inspired us!
We proceeded in high spirits to the Friday night contra dance in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, arriving in time to see the end of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington’s excellent 45-minute beginner lesson.
Basic skills class with Greg Frock
In the center of the photo you can see FSGW leader Greg Frock taking great care to ensure that some 50 newer dancers have the basic skills and social expectations to be successful and well integrated as the hall—one of the largest you’ll ever see!—soon fills up with 200-300 regular contra dancers.
It also happened to be Open Band night, with than 40 musicians from the greater DC area playing on stage, for a wonderful evening of contras and squares led by caller Dave Colestock of Harrisburg, PA. A full day indeed!
Robin, Rima & I did have a nice supper together. Not nearly enough time ’cause we went to the Friday Night Dance. I played in the Fabulous Glen Echo Open Band, Rima & Robin danced.
One correction: The Friday night dances in the historic Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park are brought to you by the Friday Night Dancers, Inc (a nonprofit, community-based organization) in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, the National Park Service, and Montgomery County, MD. Friday Night Dancers are a CDSS affiliate. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington runs the Sunday Night Dance, also at Glen Echo Park.
Charlie
Charlie, thanks for the correction! And, wonderful to have danced at Glen Echo Park!
Be well,
Rima:)
No mention of the FSGW Wednesday Night English Country Dance at the Glen Echo Town Hall, at which I had the pleasure of dancing with both Robin and Rima.
Richard, looks like you missed the previous post in which Rima gave a glowing account of our visit to the Wednesday dance: http://blog.cdss.org/2012/08/rima-at-camp-part-7-adult-family-week-at-timber-ridge/ It was such a treat to meet you all and dance with you there! — Robin
Hi Richard:
I blogged about our going to the Glen Echo English Country Dance on my blog about our Thursday adventures here: http://blog.cdss.org/2012/08/dancing-and-meeting-in-washington-dc/ — We could never forget how much fun it was with Bruce calling and dancing with new friends!
Be well,
Rima
Richard, looks like you missed Rima’s earlier post that included her account of our wonderful visit to the Wednesday dance! http://blog.cdss.org/2012/08/dancing-and-meeting-in-washington-dc/ It was delightful to meet and dance with you all there! — Robin