weekend IN Old Sweetsburg
OCTOBER 3, 4 and 5, 2008
ENGLISH
COUNTRY DANCE
Dancing is a social activity that has always been a part of English life. In the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the English bourgeoisie’s week was usually given over to activities such as business and trade, with not much time for leisure. At the weekend, however, they fled the city for the comfort of their country homes. There, they devoted themselves to recreation and cultivating their social life. They invited relatives, friends and neighbours to partake in the merriment. Come the evening, everyone danced at the ball, which is why the dances they did were known as country dancing.
Country dancing is therefore a particular kind of social dance that was practised in England, mostly by the upper classes of the time. It is done in contra dance formation, that is, a line of gentlemen face a line of ladies; each couple goes through a number of figures and movements in relation to the other couples. The dances are easy and social, and therefore conducive to friendly conversation among participants. It’s the kind of dancing described in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811, Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813 and many others. You may have seen some of Jane Austen’s works put to screen in recent years.
A WEEKEND OF DANCING
The purpose of the weekend is for everyone to share the dance experience, more particularly, English country dancing. Participants will embark on a journey to the past through music and dance, in an atmosphere of pleasure and simplicity.
Sweetsburg, an old quarter of the town of Cowansville, is well known for its beauty. All the weekend activities will be held at Sweetsburg Manor, a Victorian home built in 1868.
PROGRAM
Friday, October 3: English Country Dance workshop: 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 4: English Country Dance workshop: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 4: Ball: 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 5, 11:00 a.m.: social activity
MUSIC
The Waickman , from Ray Brook, New York, will provide the music for the whole weekend.
DANCE MASTER AND DANCE MISTRESS
Arduina Alonzo and Michel Landry will be the dance mistress and master. They will lead the workshops on Friday night and Saturday afternoon in French and English. At the ball, Michel Landry will be the dance master. All the dances on the program will be explained and then danced.
For the ball, period attire is encouraged but not required.
ACCOMMODATIONS
To inquire about availability, rates and reservations in the area, please contact the following directly:
B&Bs in Cowansville
Le Clos Dauphinais, 300, Mooney St., Cowansville, Quebec, J2K 1E1, Phone: (450) 263-3633
Domaine sur la Colline, 1221 Principale St., Cowansville, Quebec, J2K 1K7, Phone: (450) 266-1910 or 1-888-222-1692
Le Passe-Partout, 167, Pierre-Laporte St., Cowansville, Quebec, J2K 2G3, Phone: (450) 260-1678
La Maison Greenwood, 71, Ayers St., Cowansville, Quebec, Phone: (450) 263-8355 or 1-866-309-9626
Masypa, 500, Lebeau, Cowansville,
Quebec,
Phone: (450) 263-6403 or
1-888-244-6403
B&Bs in the area
Hotel in Cowansville
Hotel Days Inn, 111, Place Jean Jacques Bertrand, Cowansville, QC, J2K 3R5, Phone: 450-263-7331 or 1-877-263-7331
IT’S A DATE!
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FOR A WEEKEND OF DANCE |
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| Last name: | First name: | |
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COST
Please
make your cheque payable to Michel St-Pierre. We recommend you register
early.
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TO SEND YOUR REGISTRATION FORM:
HOW TO GET THERE
FROM MONTREAL: From the Champlain Bridge, take highway 10 East . Take exit 74 (towards Cowansville), you will come to route 241 South (Pierre Laporte boul.). Go south for 15 km. At the junction of Principale Street, in Cowansville, turn right and continue for 0.4 km, to Manoir Sweetsburg.
FROM SHERBROOKE: Take highway 10 West. Take exit 74 (towards Cowansville), you will come to route 241 South. Go south for 15 km. At the junction of Principale Street, in Cowansville, turn right and continue for 0.4 km, to Manoir Sweetsburg.
FROM UNITED STATES: Take highway 89 North. Once you cross the border take route 202 North, passing through Bedford, Stanbridge East, Dunham and continuing on to Cowansville. Turn right on Principale Street and continue for 2.6 km to Manoir Sweetsburg.
View of the
PICTURES OF THE 2005 BALL, FROM PLAYFORD TO ROODMAN, IN MONTREAL
PICTURES OF THE 2006 BALL, FROM PLAYFORD TO ROODMAN, IN MONTREAL
PICTURES OF THE 2007 BALL, FROM PLAYFORD TO ROODMAN, IN MONTREAL
PICTURES OF THE 2008 BALL, FROM PLAYFORD TO ROODMAN, IN MONTREAL (soon)
PICTURES OF WEEKEND IN OLD SWEETSBURG, 2006
PICTURES OF WEEKEND IN OLD SWEETSBURG, 2007 (soon)