Houston Area Traditional Dance Society Newsletter August 2002
Contents
Member Profile: Pianist Marilyn Cooper
Bayou Bedlam 2003 Make 'Em Go Wooo!
Dance Manager Team Grows
Joan Joins Newsletter Team
Board Meeting
HATDS Contra Dances
Other Local Dances
Organization and Newsletter Information
Member Profile: Pianist Marilyn Cooper
- - By Dorcas Hand
You all see Marilyn playing piano for our dances. She played with Frogs in the Skillet for many years, and continues to play with several other music groups. M&M pairs her piano with Mimi Rogers' fiddle, as we all enjoyed at the July 13th dance. She is a "cousin" in the Young Family String Band and their offshoot, No Foolin'. Marilyn also plays for Scottish country dances with Blue Plaid Special. She helped to form a new group, Mockingbird, which will debut at the September 28 dance.
Marilyn has danced morris, contra, and English country for many years. She is a past member of Ring `o Bells, the first women's morris team in the United States. Marilyn started dancing in Houston in the mid-80's. When she isn't part of the band, you may have seen her dancing contras or waltzing with her husband, Glenn Hebert, in his wheelchair. Glenn has been another important contributor to the HATDS community.
Marilyn has been a member of HATDS for many years, has served on the HATDS Board, and continues to offer the group excellent suggestions as well as her music and dance experience. Marilyn has been active for 10 years at Bethany Christian Church and provides HATDS the contact for access to their hall for Bayou Bedlam. She is the Grants Administrator for Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. She and Glenn love to travel and to camp in beautiful places.
Bayou Bedlam 2003 Make 'Em Go Wooo!
- - By Julia Land
Hotpoint is a band with a mission. Their mission: Make 'Em Go Wooo! This means they want to give contra dancers a peak dancing experience, reaching us with "a wall of rhythm."
On January 17, Hotpoint will bring their mission to Houston as they play for Bayou Bedlam 2003. We will have three days to go Wooo before they have to return to Ohio.
Lisa Greenleaf, who will call at BB03, once described them by saying, "This band is the farthest thing from Coldspot that you can get!"
Here's a quote from Hotpoint's web page at www.hotpointstringband.com.
"The core of the 5-piece band is the fiddle and clawhammer banjo partnership of Mark and Hilarie Burhans, who have been playing music together for almost thirty years. Mark's fiddle may swing, growl, or lilt, but it always returns home to Hilarie's driving, excruciatingly rhythmic banjo work. Add to this the incomparable percussion (doumbek, djembe, kanjira, bones, snare, shakers — you name it!) of Mark Hellenberg and the solid New England dance piano of Marlene Shostak and firmly grounded by ... Nick Weiland on upright bass, and you have a band whose legendary energy has caused a sensation at contra dance weekends across the country."
This dance is going to be wonderful!
Hilarie Burhans, Mark Burhans, Nick Weiland, Marlene Shostak, and Mark Hellenberg will play for us at BB03.
Dance Manager Team Grows
- - By Dorcas Hand
After Terri Chadwick started the trend, Lida Keene, Steve Roberts, and Cheryl Cleary have also volunteered to manage upcoming dances. But HATDS would really appreciate more volunteers for this job to ease everyone's load. And it really is fun to be there a little longer chatting as the work gets done. Not to mention that you get in free for that dance! So please sign up at the next dance, or email bookingagent@hatds.org And thanks to those already on the DMT.
Joan Joins Newsletter Team
- - By Julia Land
Joan Robins has volunteered to fold, stamp, and mail the HATDS newsletter. Thank you, Joan, for joining the newsletter team. Other members are Julia Land, editor; Lauren Singer, graphics; Eleanor Gutterman and Lida Keene, proofreaders, and Alice Bohlae, reproduction. Dorcas Hand is a regular contributor to the newsletter, writing the Board notes and other articles. We can always use more contributions. If you have an idea for an article, please write to hatdsnews@jltwriter.com.
Board Meeting
- - By Dorcas Hand
The Board met on July 17. The Treasurer reported a bank balance of $4958.59 as of June 30. This is a comfortable balance to fund ongoing efforts to find a new hall and publicity to increase the attendance at dances. We also discussed the website and how to keep making progress toward efficient management of its various functions.
Board Thank Yous
Willie Simmons: HATDS owes Willie HUGE thanks for setting up our new website and applying his vast knowledge to continue to improve our web presence.
Glenn Hebert: Glenn is long overdue for recognition by the group for his ongoing efforts over the last many years to maintain our member database and manage registration for Bayou Bedlam. Glenn has spent countless hours laboring in behalf of the HATDS group.
We recognized Willie's and Glenn's contributions with small gifts.
HATDS Contra Dances
Date: August 10
Caller: Elmo Eldridge
Band: The Young Family Strings and No Foolin'
Date: August 27
Caller: Linda Mrosko
Band: The Beat Brothers (aka Barry Cooper and Doug Stickle)
Date: September 14
Caller: Barb Smith
Band: The Young Family Strings
Date: September 28
Caller: Keith Holmes
Band: Mockingbird
Where to Go and When
Dances are held at the Grace United Methodist Church at the corner of 13th Street and Heights Boulevard. Dances are from 8 to 11 p.m. Please come early to help set the hall up or stay late to help clean up. Food for the break is provided by generous dancers who bring goodies with them.
The cost is $5 members, $6 non-members, $4 students over 16 with ID, $4 non-members 12-16, $3 student members, and free for under 12. First time dancers receive a coupon for a free second visit.
Other Local Dances
Houston International Folk Dancers
Mondays, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. (Beginners)
Fridays, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.
www.folkdancers.org
Royal Scottish Dance Society
Tuesdays, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
www.houstonrscds.org
Scottish Country Dancing and More
Wednesdays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
www.home.att.net/~diannashipman
Contra Dancing in Texas web page
http://blake.prohosting.com/austinbd/contra/tx
Houston Area Traditional Dance Society
http://www.hatds.org
PO Box 701235
Houston, TX 77270
Board Members board@hatds.org
Bill Budell (713) 270-8670
Dorcas Hand
Roy Simmons (713) 921-7387
Lauren Singer
George Eggleston (713) 988-9698
Webmaster webmaster@hatds.org
Willie Simmons
Newsletter hatdsnews@jltwriter.com
Editor: Julia Land
Graphics: Lauren Singer
Proofreaders: Eleanor Gutterman and Lida Keene
Reproduction: Alice Bohlae
Distribution: Joan Robins