Ashkenaz bi-monthly Pan-Celtic Ceilidh dance continues! Ceilidh means gathering in Celtic and the tradition always includes music and dance. Ashkenaz's inclusive Ceilidh combine easy dances everyone can do in many styles including Irish Ceili, Contra, Scottish Ceilidh, English County Dance & couple dances such as waltz. Every dance is taught before it's danced and people are encouraged to dance all roles with everyone on the floor.
*Brooke Friendly, of Ashland OR, is an internationally renowned dance teacher and choreographer of English, Scottish, and contra dance (https://brookefriendlydance.com). She's known for her concise, joyful, inclusive calling and ability to foster a community on the dance floor. After her California tour, she'll be headlining at the Australian National Folk Festival in Canberra, along with Shira and Jim from The Whoots.
*Alan Kline, a Bay Area phenom, is an energetic and clear caller of English and Irish dance, and a driving force behind some of the more popular local dance scenes.
Music will be by The Whoots Ceili Band, who play driving, raucous versions of English dances and contras, and can effortlessly branch into Scottish or Irish tunes. Shira Kammen, Jim Oakden and Charlie Hancock play nationally as a trio for English Dance and contras on many instruments, and the addition of Mark Unger and Deirdre McCarthy on bass and percussion launch the band into a new dimension.
