BRUMMIE CONTRAS
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    • Barry Selwood
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                                                                                                    Thanks
   Considerable thanks are due t
o each of many helpful contributors to 30 annual Great Alne Long Weekends.
 Individual generosity has allowed "open exchange" of music, dance & other activities to develop, & to continue.

 Thus varied giving of time, skills, energy & travel, has allowed all to share in the joys of previous long weekends.
We thank Erik who brought her to us, and especially thank Karin Bellaart from The Netherlands - 
Our main International Dance teacher in 2013, and on several earlier occasions.
KARIN's REPERTOIRE (from which her dances were selected) you may still view here.
In 2013, Wendy & Betty most kindly offered to prepare & cook the lovely meal enjoyed on our 30th Anniversary.
This was their special - and VERY much appreciated - "one off" contribution -
(Their lovely cooking helped to inaugurate a walk; International Dancing & an early start before their Friday meal -
All of which we hope to continue.)
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During each daytime in 2011, Anne Leach contributed superb & varied International Workshops.

A lively choice of material, and Anne was such a brilliant MC, on both of our 
evenings. Thank you Anne.
We were again grateful to Anne for lovely daytime workshops, and as our Sat Evening MC in 2012.
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We were delighted in 2012 to have enjoyed a brilliant choice of Balkan Dances from Brian Dowsett.
This was the 1st visit of Brian to Gt Alne.
Perhaps we may look forward to sharing his excellent teaching and delightfully gentle manner of delivery again.
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Appreciation needs though, to be expressed more often, and to many individuals !
André has been organising this event now for 32 years.
It has allowed renewal of friendships with a lovely group of people. (Opportunities to be learning website skills too.)

Paul has organised the musicians; made and brought the Maypole & introduced his lovely restored handbells.
 
Without Paul and Nicola having fully shared all of the work -
2010's very worthwhile "Great Alne" event would have been unable to take place at all.
Both stepped in to the rescue when we later found suddenly with Amanda being unwell -
that we had a catering crisis.  
It's also Paul who has structured our committee.

2012 and future years open-up with 2 more of us enabling the event to go on!
Karen facilitated "early bird" and superbly manages all of the bookings.
Karen's efficiency has transformed the effectiveness of this website -
she has also offered much sound advice, and written HTML for the "Prices" table.
Jonathan has also made many helpful contributions.


John Pitcock keeps the Long Weekend advertised elsewhere on "the net".
 
The thanks of all who've participated over very many years have been, and still are due -
to a relatively smaller number of most dedicated contributors.

Freely, such contributors have given their time and their skills to allow everyone at
Great Alne Long weekend to have enjoyment - on this, and on many previous occasions.
Their generosity has allowed the event to be an occasion where many can come to participate -
and to sample a variety of types of, and approaches to dance, song, music, and other folk activities !

There are several individual appreciations which will be added here, as time permits.

Particular thanks though, are owed to Linda and David in Great Alne.

In 1983 Linda first suggested that André organise a weekend -
(Do they each maybe recollect a small caravan on Anglesey? Perhaps with some appreciative and contented amusement.)
Linda and David B. kindly hosted visiting dance teachers from The Netherlands.
Charlotte kindly made her home available for dance teachers in 2012.
In previous years, Margaret and Jo have also done so.
Julian Stanley has also been much appreciated for his excellent teaching of lovely Fixed-pattern French Set Bourées.
We may again appreciate Julian's workshops this April.
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In 2011 & 2012 we thank Denis for stepping-in to lead Sat singalongs with his newly prepared folk song sheets.
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David B's superb musicianship remained one of the best things about the Great Alne Long Weekend since its very earliest days. He has also taken an important role in many aspects of its success.
We enjoyed David's superb musicianship during 2012's Sunday evening Scottish Social.

Carolyn's considerable number of years of loyal assistance with the event have been brilliantly helpful too.
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There are very many others who have freely played their important role -
each in different aspects of the success of the long weekend over its many years.
The webwriter wishes to include more, & apologises to those who've thus far not been individually included here.
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- Thanks for the 2010 event go to -

Janet Woolbar for selecting a variety of lovely dances and for coming, despite great personal difficulties, to show these so well.
To Dalila Heath for bringing her sunny personality, and more lovely dances, but from Israel and from her Armenian roots.

Especially though, those giving much, but receiving little reward by other participation.

Most particularly thus thanking -
James Eisner who shared with us again, his wonderful skills in leading part song.

Staying locally at his own expense, he also brought his wife Louise and little Benjamin.

Sue Rosen for her brilliant calling for the Sunday evening Contra and to Bruce, Meg and all who played in the band.
Then to Pete Grassby for his wonderful music and ace couple dances for Sunday's Late Nite Extra.


Also to Jo & Guy for having so kindly made their home available for two of our teachers to stay.
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                                                                        To visit our Memorium Page - Remembering those we have Lost

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To return to the top of the Home page -  CLICK here
Return to  TOP OF THE HOME  Page

CONTACT US page

​I / we wish to be AT THE NEXT DANCE
Page with details to get £1.50 each off door price next time.
Also deadlines (to check before you email).
For a group, download a form to complete & email.


Go to Great Alne Long Weekend website -
24th -27th April in 2020 for its DETAILS.

Event doubly extends the last w/e of April in 2020 
Quality workshops for ALL ages / abilities.
Enjoy a contra here on the Friday eve.
Karin Bellaart from the NETHERLANDS will also bring all kinds of lovely INTERNATIONAL DANCES as Nel did in 2017 & 2018.

EXCELLENT PART-SONG & A WIDE RANGE of OTHER DANCING.

Bring (grand)children. Share Maypole/Morris dances & ring handbell tunes from before noon on Sat & Sun.
NEW IN 2018 - EXTRA Sat/Sun PRICE DROPPED for ADULT DANCERS and THEIR ACCOMPANIED u18's

( The Great Alne Long Weekend is a "sister" website to this one) -
 click-on to go to one of these pages - 

ELMDON HEATH CC/RAIL/BUS  - Page especially to help with Rail Station connections, and Sunday bus services to Elmdon Heath Community Centre Hall.


See ROUTEMAPS:DOWNLOAD&PRINT -
 - Page has maps for car, bus stops, bike path & walking routes -
- to the   -  Elmdon Heath Community Centre venue. Download this to a smartphone to carry to walk from bus etc,
(or print on paper) to carry: even in the car. Ideal for initial visits. 




 CONTRA - What's that !   -  Information Page,


 But I've never really done this stuff before !  - Information Page.
DANCE DATES page
​  
FLIERS for NEXT BRUMMIE CONTRA pages. These may Pop-up : often below Dance DATES.
They are in pdf. You may view or DOWNLOAD.
If you would like to share out the fun of the "Brummie Contra" dances - then (regularly please) download, print - and distribute a few of these fliers in your area & dance club.
For some Contras to come, a flier page pop-up may show below other main pages or elsewhere !