[Panards-dansants] Les Panards Dansants this Thursday

[graham knapp]

Hello again,

It's that time of the month again when I tell you what's going on in the 
world of French dance.  In this month's thrill packed installment:

-Les Panards Dansants dance session this Thursday
-The new music session venue is a great success - come along in December
-Learn about the recent history of French traditonal music
-New European music and dance session in Sheffield
-Vote for your favourite dance band
-UK-wide sessions / events

-Les Panards Dansants dance session this Thursday
Our regular music and dance session is coming up this week (18th Nov) from 
8-11pm in Headingley Parish Hall.  Still just £3/£2 for a great night out, 
including drinks.  Geoff will be along (and maybe Steve, if he's in the 
country) and I'm hoping to dust off a couple of Basque dances for the 
evening.  Let us know on the night or via email if there's a tune or dance 
you'd like to work on.

-The new music session
The first music session in the Chemic pub ran earlier this month and was a 
resonding success - There's a piano and a double bass in the venue and room 
to dance, and a warm friendly environment.  There's no charge and you can 
just come along for a drink and a listen if you'd like. The session is on 
the 1st Thursday of each month and the pub is on Johnston Street,
Woodhouse, Leeds LS6 2NG.

French Routes
FROOTS magazine have kindly allowed us to reprint an excellent article on 
the recent history of French traditonal music, from the first folk revival 
in the 60s to the best current festivals in France, it's well worth a read 
and you can find it on 
http://www.frenchdanceleeds.co.uk/dances/recent_history.html

EuroShef
A bunch of us are setting up a new European music and dance session in 
Sheffield, which is a bit of a hotbed of young folk talent at the moment.  
We're aiming for an informal pub session feel, with a bit of teaching and 
support for beginners. We're finalising venue and timing at the moment but 
please email me if you'd like to be put on the mailing list for it and if 
you'd be willing to help out organinsing/playing/teaching dances or if you'd 
like more info.

Vote for your favourite dance band
The BBC folk awards for next year will include a dance band category for the 
first time and you can vote for Steve Ellis and Geoff Beilby, Blowzabella, 
Jabadaw or whoever has got your toes tapping and legs moving in the last 
year.  Log onto 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/folkawards2004/vote.shtml and make 
your voice heard.

UK-wide sessions / events
As usual, all the UK French dance sessions and special events are listed on 
our website at http://www.frenchdanceleeds.co.uk/events/frenchdiaryuk.php 
(the page address has been updated so you may have to update your 
'favourites').  A top tip has to be the coming MADE weekend at Kinnersley 
Castle on the Welsh Borders.  It's on the weekend of the 26th of Nov but is 
getting pretty full so contact Pat on patlindop at hotmail.com or 0151 644 8560 
to confirm your place.

Thank you and good night!

-g

dancergraham at hotmail.com