Further artist information will appear here soon.
Hilary Herbert
Hilary has been calling for many years and is well known as a caller/teacher of a wide range of new and old dances in the Playford, traditional English and American styles, including ones of her own composition. She particularly likes dances that make you think. Her patience and humour are well known throughout the country and she enjoys sharing her wealth of experience with others.
Ivan Aitken
Ivan is a dancer and caller from Reading in Berkshire, and has been dancing and calling for nearly 50 years. He is in demand as a caller for local clubs, workshops, festivals, club dances, weekend dances throughout the country and events abroad. Ivan is well Known for his wide and interesting Repertoire of dances including Contra’s, Squares, Playford, Scottish and Modern English Dances.
Lynne Render
Lynne has been dancing most of her life and calling for over 30 years.
She is based in Loughborough and is a regular caller at local clubs and calls for dances, ceilidhs and workshops at clubs and festivals throughout the country.
Lynne calls for dancers of all abilities and has worked with many well-known bands. She has called at Sidmouth, Chippenham, Eastbourne, May Heydays, Whitby, Lichfield and Bromyard festivals, at Casterton, Southam, (and now Grand Union), Halsway and other dance weekends and is a regular caller for The London Barndance Company at Cecil Sharp House and the Alcester contra series. She also used to call at the Peeping Tom ceilidhs.
She likes to call a mixture of American and English dances and is always on the lookout for interesting flowing dances to add to her repertoire. She firmly believes that a clear explanation will enable the less-experienced dancer to enjoy a good dance
During the Covid pandemic she began writing dances suitable for people dancing in their own homes as part of online (Zoom) events. Although this will never be a substitute for real dancing, the dances she wrote were well received and hopefully gave people enjoyment at the time!
Lynne enjoys a wide range of dancing herself through social dance and ceilidhs and still loves to watch Appalachian clogging although no longer joining in!
Nicola Scott
Nicola has been interested in Scottish Country Dancing since university and is now deeply involved in the folk dance scene.
Nicola has recently called at the Chippenham Folk festival and regularly calls at local folk dance clubs in Birmingham and the West Midlands where the dancers enjoy her unique mix of Scottish, English and contra dances.
Nicola teaches a weekly Scottish Country Dancing beginners class in Birmingham, and has also written a number of Scottish country dances.
Chris & Julie Dewhurst
Accordionists Chris and Julie have been delighting English and Scottish country dancers for many years, and we are pleased to have them joining us for the 1st Grand Union
Triple Trichotomy
Now lystne wel, goode folk, and I shal telle
Of thre companyouns who togyder felle
In fellowship of musick sweete and fyne.
They clepe hemself Triple Trichotomy.
First cometh Mollie, of Londoun towne,
Upon the vielle a player of renowne.
In manye an orchestre hath she plyed her arte,
And with the Fiddlechicks she won eche herte—
Those mery maydens sawing strynge and bowe
Whose tunes set every taverne al aglowe.
Next stondeth Alan, merye man and bolde,
Whose squeezebox tales are everywher ytolde.
With Contrasaurus, that bande of awe,
He piped for bestes of scale and clawe—
A monster ensemblé, straunge and bright,
That maketh lizard kynges daunce al nyght.
And last cometh Vic, of fyngeres light and free,
Who hammers forthe upon the keyed melodée.
In Bearded Dragons mighty he wonne his fame,
Where Folk and Techno burned in selfsame flame—
A fusión straunge as mead ymixt with ale,
That maketh every listner hoot and hale.
Now thise thre pilgrimes mette upon the weye
And founde that togyder they coude pleye
A musick nevere herd in Christentée.
So if ye seek a musickal odyssee,
Then hark unto the sounde of Triple Trichotomy!
