Dance Display – Scunthorpe – 11th Nov 2012

The Plowright Theatre
Laneham Street
Scunthorpe

DN15 6JP

The Bootleggers

The Bootleggers were reformed by Julia Pollock to provide people in North Lincolnshire with the opportunity to learn the percussive steps used in American Folk Dance. They specialise in a lively form of Appalachian Dance, a totally infectious fusion of world folk dance. When the early settlers, (many from the Bootlegger’s home county of Lincolnshire), made the journey to the New World, they took the music & dance of their own culture with them. Step dances from the North, Morris dances from the South & Celtic Rhythms from Scotland & Ireland combined with Native American ritual dance to become what was known as “Clogging”. Accompanied by fiddle & banjo, these “hillbilly” dances mixed with the syncopated jazz beats introduced by African slaves to form a percussive performance style.

For several years, Bootleggers workshops were a popular feature at the three day Cleethorpes Festival. Living Tradition Magazine columnist Dai Woosnam wrote about their appearance in 2003: “…the highlight for me just had to be the Appalachian Workshop with Bootleggers, such sheer enthusiasm!”

The Bootleggers’ choreography has been influenced by everything from English Morris dance to Hollywood musicals. Many dances have been written for special occasions and incorporate themes from the tunes they are danced to. Occasionally ‘body percussion’ is used to emphasize a rhythm or a few words from a folk song thrown in to entertain the crowd!

The Bootleggers are accompanied by a live String Band called The Lootbeggers who are twice winners of the Brigg Fiddle festival busking competition.

The team believe in the power of dance to enhance mental and physical fitness and are determined to keep dancing as long as they can!

Tatterfoals

We are based in Scunthorpe and are a mixed team performing in the North- West style although recently have taken to writing our own dances. Music is provided by accordion and penny whistle. Performances are often at local events but we have been known to stray as far as Germany, Whitby and Cleethorpes. Last year we even ventured over the Humber Bridge to tour the Yorkshire Wolds. Always ready to welcome new dancers and musicians, we meet at St Hugh’s Church Hall on Thursdays from 7.30 – 9.00 p.m. Contact Pam Cook pamcook70@tiscali.co.uk