46.3 F
Clarksville
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeEventsHarvest Dance to be held at Customs House Museum

Harvest Dance to be held at Customs House Museum

The Customs House Museum and Cultural CEnterThe Customs House Museum and Cultural Center is hosting a Contra dance in the galleries on November 20th. Acclaimed musicians The Cantrells will provide the music and Susan Kevra will be the caller of the event. The evening will begin at 7 pm with a half hour of instruction. Dancing will go until 9 pm.

Al and Emily Cantrell
Al and Emily Cantrell

Contra dance refers to several partnered folk dance styles, in which couples dance in two facing lines. A caller guides new and experienced dancers through a variety of dances. A dancer and his or her partner dance a series of figures, or moves, with each other and with another couple for a short period of time. They then repeat the same figures with the next couple. In the late 17th century, English country dances were introduced to French court dancing. The merging of the two styles resulted in contra dance. Eventually, it was westernized in the United States, giving way to the popular square dance.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1_wr9BCjOA[/youtube]

The Cantrells in the Robert Redford film "A River Runs Through It"
The Cantrells in the Robert Redford film "A River Runs Through It"

The Cantrells have been touring their original folk and bluegrass music in concerts and festivals since 1985. They have recorded CD’s with Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and Mark Schatz of Nickel Creek. Emily and Al were hand-picked by Robert Redford for his film A River Runs Through It. Previously, the Cantrells instructed a workshop at the Customs House on the history of Tennessee music.

Susan Kevra began calling and teaching traditional dances in 1991. She has worked throughout America and across the Atlantic. She is a member of the English Country Dance Band and author of “Trip to Phan Reel” and “The Country of Marriage.” Susan resides in Nashville, where she teaches at Vanderbilt University.

The Tennessee Arts CommissionThe Customs House Museum’s Harvest dance is funded in part from a Tennessee Arts Commission grant. Ticket prices are $25 for couples and $15 for individuals. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the door on the night of the dance. The Customs House Museum is located at 200 South Second Street in historic downtown Clarksville. Museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays. Admissions for entry are $5 adults, $4 Senior citizens, $2 college students, $1 ages 6 – 18, and free under age 6.

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles