Dance and Music - Paul Boizot

I HAVE RELOCATED TO YORK; new contact details are below. Post and phone messages are no longer being forwarded from my former Sheffield address. I will continue to be available to teach in Sheffield and Chesterfield at certain times.

VENUE WANTED for residential Circle Dance events, particularly interested in New Year booking. Ideally Midlands/North, must have uncarpeted room which can take 20 (preferably more) in a circle for dancing and be reasonably priced. Self-catering preferred.

OTHER DANCE AND MUSIC PAGES on this website
EVENTS page for details of local dance groups, dance days, residentials, etc., including a CIRCLE DANCE HOLIDAY AT PILION CENTRE, GREECE, SEPTEMBER 2009. May run again in 2011.
MP3 SOUND FILES of Cosmo Kolo and of myself, Helen O and Bob Minney.
LYRICS to some Circle and International Folk dances.
IRREGULAR RHYTHMS from Eastern Europe, Armenia, Turkey - an adaptation of my drumming or instumentalists' workshop handout, with beat count and names of some dances for a variety of rhythms from 5/16 to 22/8.
A collection of Circle Dance ARTICLES. Some may be humourous.
LINKS to many Circle and International Folk Dance and related sites, and music sites with lyrics or sound files or general background.
CDs & TAPES some new, some secondhand, various genres, plus some available through Amazon.co.uk, for whom I am an affiliate.
VIDEOS of me demonstrating a few of my choreographies, to which there are also dance notes.

Circle Dance mixes traditional folk dances, mainly from European or Near-Eastern sources, with recently choreographed ones to a variety of music ancient and modern, including Celtic, South American, and Classical. Some dances are slow and meditative, some lively and energetic. Most are done in a circle or in lines with hands joined, so a partner isn't needed. Some have a symbolism or spiritual content derived from various traditions, some are just good fun to dance!

It came out of the Findhorn community in Scotland following visits there from 1976 onwards by Bernhard Wosien, a German dancer. Known first as Sacred Dance, it has changed over time as enthusiasts do it in their own way, and may now be called Circle Dance, Sacred Dance, or Sacred Circle Dance (SCD). You can find more background info and different perspectives on Circle Dance at some of the sites on my LINKS page.

SCD shares roots with International Folk Dance (IFD); the common element is traditional dances mainly from the Balkans (Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and ex-Yugoslavia, Albania), Greece, Russia, Israel, Armenia, Turkey, Brittany, France, Hungary.

Many "folk" dances will have been learned from IFD teachers and imported into the SCD network - not always accurately, the changes sometimes being intentional and sometimes not. This has provoked hostility towards Circle Dance from some IFD enthusiasts in the past. However, some SCD teachers are scrupulous about passing steps on as taught, and anyway the aims of SCD are different. For my part, I suspect I would never have gone to IFD events without doing SCD first, as the SCD aims and general subculture are much more attractive to me - so SCD can act as a bridge to IFD for some.

SCD differs (at least in the UK) in placing more emphasis on participation and fun, community, and dancing with intent and meaning, or spirituality in the widest sense. IFD is stronger on knowledge of background to traditional dances, e.g. costume and folk customs, and on getting the steps right. It's OK in Circle Dancing to choreograph your own dances to any music you like, but not, supposedly, in IFD. However, some supposedly folk dances have in fact been choreographed by Balkan or other teachers based on traditional steps, or by performing groups, and most Israeli (as distinct from Jewish) folk dance has been choreographed by individuals since 1948. The whole concept of "folk" and its underlying assumptions is an interesting topic for questioning....

SCD and IFD also have a different subculture in various other ways, partly related to the spiritual side of SCD, partly related perhaps to the different decades in which they started up in the UK - the SIFD dates back to post-WW2, I think, and SCD to mid-1970's. Circle Dancers usually place something to dance around in the centre of the circle - very often a candle, and perhaps some greenery or other reminder of the seasons or the natural world; folk dancers do not. SCD day events usually ask you to bring food, preferably vegetarian, for a shared lunch; IFDers bring their own separate food. Both SCD and IFD need more younger people to get involved if they are to continue.

I have taught Circle Dance since 1992, and have run a weekly group in Chesterfield since 2000. From 1993-2006 I ran day events in Sheffield every couple of months, for dancers with some experience. Since June 2007 I have been living in York. See EVENTS for current details.

I am available to teach sessions of any type locally, and day workshops or residentials out of area. These could be of general Circle or International Folk Dance, or have a more specific focus, e.g. traditional dances, general Balkan, Macedonia/Bulgaria, Romanian, Greek, Balkan Rom/Gypsy, irregular rhythms, meditational dances, my own or other modern choreographies, longer dances, or themed days of other sorts - see PAST EVENTS for other ideas. I also offer a day workshop on "Dancing With The Whole Body" which looks at dance and posture. Recorded music is used for all events unless otherwise specified.

I have a wide repertoire, and am noted for clear teaching. I like to present some background information about dances that I teach, and to teach with humour. I am interested in how the whole body is used in dance - using dance to improve posture, and vice-versa. I do teach something of the symbolism of the dances, but generally not at length, preferring to let dancers find some of their own meaning within the movements and music. I do not lead dance rituals, but I do use dance to mark the seasons.

I have taught in sessions as diverse as short beginners' sessions at Anston Folk Festival, Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival 1993 and 2003, Dinnington Ladies' Group, a Balkan session for Newcastle Emlyn group, jointly taught days with Jane Wise in Lincoln and Cindy Kelly at Rixton, and workshops at Dance Camp Wales (1993-2000) and Dance Camp North (1996-99) and the Easter Teachers and Musicians Gathering.

In 2003 I completed and passed the Society for International Folk Dancing (SIFD) teacher training course, making me eligible for inclusion in the Society's list of recognised teachers, and I now offer dance teaching under an International Folk Dance "label" as well. This is still mainly of circle and line dances (as opposed to couples and set dances), but is restricted to traditional dances, or related folk dances from within traditional cultures, and may be taught with a different group dynamic and atmosphere. See above for some of the other differences between "Folk" and "Circle" dancing. I am also very interested in teaching traditional dances in a format and style which uses some elements of both.

From 2002 to 2007 I ran a weekly term-time Circle Dance and Music course for a group in Sheffield with learning difficulties. This was run through the WEA (Workers Educational Association) and included simple singing, some percussion, and very simplified Circle Dance.

Some of my choreographies are listed below. I have had a burst of choreographing and tidying up old projects since Midwinter 2008-09, and still have some more dances waiting to be tried in a group; in the pipeline are Ya Salio De la Mar La Galana to music by Savina Yannatou, Mi Atyank Atya Isten by Anonymous 4, Ragizi Apopse by Children Of The Revolution (also danceable to a version by the composer, Nikos Papazoglou, titled Kaneis Edo den Tragouda) Axeitame Na Polainina by Milladoiro, Calman The Wolf by Savourna Stevenson, Ne Tha Po by Melina Aslanidou, and maybe more. You can see VIDEOS of me demonstrating a few dances, to which there are also dance notes on this website.

You can buy some of the original source CDs from this website, using the links to Amazon.co.uk on the left of this page (I am a member of their affiliate programme, so if you buy anything via the links on my website, including mp3s, I get a commission). See the CDs & TAPES page for other new and secondhand CDs - some sold directly by me, some from Amazon - including World Music, Folk, "New Age", Relaxation. I also started a small wider list of CIRCLE DANCE SOURCE CDs for individual dances - mainly modern dances by other choreographers so far - though this project is on ice for now. Again, you can buy all listed CDs from Amazon.co.uk via this website.

PLEASE NOTE Tracks marked * can not be played direct from the CD originals for dance as they run directly into other tracks - you need to take a copy and edit e.g. fade-in/out or cut. The original of Butterfly Jig (slow) is also rather short.

DANCE NAME	MUSIC SOURCE (track-album-artist)	SOURCE CD AVAILABLE TO BUY ON THIS SITE
Across The Seas (Llonxana) VIDEO	Llonxana, Llan De Cubel IV, Llan De Cubel.
Antice	Antice, East Wind, Andy Irvine & Davy Spillane. Original recording has an extra bar part way through.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Breton Carol (What Noise On Earth?)	Breton Carol, The Bells Of Dublin (also on Celtic Wedding), The Chieftains. New Winter 2008-09.
Butterfly Jig	Butterfly Jig*, Wind Shadows Vol. 2, Kim Robertson (slower, harp).
Butterfly Jig	The Butterfly, The Bothy Band, The Bothy Band (fast).	Buy using link in left-hand column
Dark Night, Green Grass	Dark Night, Green Grass, Music From Latvia (compilation - originally from The Most Beautiful Songs), Ainars Mielavs.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Dreamer's Song	Per Ser Cantada En La Meva Nit, Bella Terra, Arianna Savall. On some mp3 websites the track is mistitled "Per A Ser Cantada En La Meva Nit".
Ebb And Flow VIDEO	ToTelos Mas Des, Mirame, Eleftheria Arvanitaki.
Ever-Flowing Spring	The Willow Runnel*, A Richer Dust, Blowzabella.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Fairfax's March	Sir Thomas Fairfax's March, From Plot To Playford, Fairfax. Choreographed with simple steps for a group with learning difficulties. Can be done to any tune with right feel, tempo and music sequence; in 4/4 time, A 4 bars, B 4 bars, repeat B.
Falling Leaves	Mountain March, Herald Of Spring, Diana Stork.
Foggy Dew	Foggy Dew, Wind Shadows Vol. 2, Kim Robertson. Re-choreographed 2009.
Gabriel Fram Evene King	Gabriel Fram Evene King, Gabriel's Greeting, Sinfonye & Stevie Wishart.
Gaudete	Gaudete, live recording but not sure from which album!, Steeleye Span. Studio recording on "Below The Salt" starts very quietly and is awkward to start the dance to.
Hoireann O	Hoireann O, Sòlas, Talitha MacKenzie. Original recording has an extra half-bar part way through.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Klezmer Waltz	Halleluya Betzil'tzelei Shama, Israel - choreographed for live music. Looking for good slow recording. Several others have choreographed to this.
La Rotta	La Rotta, Rope Tricks, Celtic Nots. Had to edit the recording to make it danceable - still looking for other suitable recordings.
Lemmennosto	Lemmennosto, Seleniko, Värttinä.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Moonstruck VIDEO	The Lament, Mirabilis, Mediaeval Babes.
Ocean Turn Again VIDEO	Bring Life Anew Part 2, Sensitive Chaos, Bob Minney
Pasodobles De Zamora	Pasodobles De Zamora, Lubican, La Musgaña.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Rí Na Cruinne	Rí Na Cruinne, Anam, Clannad.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Seelinnikoi	Seelinnikoi, Seleniko, Värttinä.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Syrtos Kali Chronia	Kali Chronia, Aksak, Noels Des Balkans/Christmas In The Balkans
The Ride	The Duellists, The Duellists, The Duellists (!) (Nigel Eaton, Cliff Stapleton, Cliff Walshaw, Ian Luff). Rosey Fagg's dance "Smudger" also uses this music.	Buy using link in left-hand column
The Serpent & The Dove	As Wise As A Serpent, Sleepwalking, Gerry Rafferty.	Sometimes available used at Amazon
Truvisqueira	Truvisqueira, Lubican, La Musgaña.	Buy using link in left-hand column
Tomorrow Never Knows VIDEO	Tomorrow Never Knows, Face Value, Phil Collins. Steps also fit the version from 801 Live if you don't mind dancing through the long instrumental at the start.
Turning Point	No One's Slave, The Mamas' Warning, World Without Walls. There are other recordings of this song, I have not checked to see if the dance fits any of them.
Twilight	Rikud Hashabbat, Danze d’Israele, Kol Aviv. Another, shorter version is Rikud Shel Shabat, on Midor Ledor by Shalom. A longer version is Twilight, on Circle Dance Tunes by Bob Minney. Faster versions of this tune are used for the dance Dror Ykra (also spelt Dror Ykrach).	Buy Circle Dance Tunes by Bob Minney from this website.
Una Matica De Ruda (A Sprig Of Rue)	Una Matica De Ruda, Musica Medieval (CD2), various artists (Spanish compilation, artists not credited). Other sources for this song have different spelling - "Matiza", "Matika". LYRICS.
Veriditas	Veriditas, Sensitive Chaos, Bob Minney
Walking In The Light	Cantiga De Santa Maria No. 100*, Tempus Est Locundum, Misericordia. Originally choreographed with simple steps for a group with learning difficulties, but suitable for other groups too.
Wise Maid	Wise Maid*, Bagpipes On The Beach, Kangaroo Moon.	Recording no longer available.
Woyaya	Woyaya, choral recording, artist unknown. Not sure if the steps would also fit the Olympia's Daughters recording from Deep Touch CD, as I have only heard a short sample of this and cannot find a way to buy an mp3 of the track online.
Yanke Le	Yanke Le, The Pirin Mountains Folksongs, Lyuben Boshkov.

* these tracks can not be played direct from the originals for dance as they run directly into other tracks - you need to copy and edit e.g. fade-in/out or cut. Butterfly Jig (harp) is also better if lengthened.

I have a wide repertoire of Circle Dance and International Folk Dance music, including Macedonian, Bulgarian, Israeli, Greek. I play bouzouki (flat-backed - rhythm and melody), darabuka (hand-drum, aka dumbek), and sing. I have also played electric bass, and began as a musician on electric guitar. I am familiar with Eastern European irregular rhythms (7/8, 9/8, 11/8, etc.), and particularly like improvising. You can download my bouzouki repertoire list (in .rtf format for OpenOffice.org, MS Word, etc.).

I have done some Arabic drumming for Egyptian dance/belly dancing, and would like to do more. I have been a member of Drum Arabia, based around Chesterfield. They played for dancers from Dance Arabia, and performed at the 2005 and 2006 Big Green Gathering in Somerset. See also the Arabian Experience - a collective of experienced and insured teachers and performers in the Midlands area.

I played over a period of years with Helen Oak (vocals, drum, recorder), who sadly died in April 2010. The band Cosmo Kolo comprised us and Paul Gee (accordion, trombone, clarinet, whistles, recorder, guitar, vocals), with various guests - often John Hofton (flute, recorder) or Adrian Dobson (accordion, hurdy-gurdy, guitar). We played in many scratch bands at Dance Camps, and have also played for Catherine Corcoran in Skelmersdale and Sophia Hatch in Leeds, as well as in our own events at Rixton and Sheffield. You can hear some mp3 sound files of Cosmo Kolo.

I have played with many other musicians at events such as Dance Camp Wales (1995-2000), Dance Camp North (1996-1999), Easter Teachers & Musicians Gatherings (UK) (1995-2001), and am happy to be asked to put together a band with other musicians for residentials or day events out-of-area. You can hear some Mp3 sound files of myself, Helen Oak and Bob Minney playing at a weekend Circle Dance residential in Alnmouth. You can also buy studio-recorded CDs (and hear some mp3 samples) by Bob Minney, and Helen O (benefit CD for Windows For Peace UK, available only from them).

I was also a member (and founder) of Meridian in Sheffield from 1996 to 2004.

* 10-week drumming course, open to beginners, starts in York, September 28, 2010*

I offer music workshops related to Circle Dance and E. European and other folk music, including beginners' darabuka (East European/Arabic handdrum, otherwise spelt darbuka, tarbuka, darbukka; aka dumbek, doumbek), drumming or playing irregular rhythms, one-off or weekly scratch band sessions, and introduction to E. European folk music. I co-organised music and dancing at Dance Camp North (1996-1999), co-ordinated the live music at the Easter Teachers' and Musicians' Gathering (2000 and 2003), and facilitated the scratch band at Laurieston Hall's Song & Dance week (2001-2).

I also offer workshops on improvising music - particularly useful for those who play a bit (or a lot) already, but can only play from scores or by memorising a piece. The aim is to learn to improvise music which most people would find pleasant-sounding - not avant-garde or "free jazz" - and to help give confidence, for example to play in open music sessions.

I already teach Adult Education classes in aromatherapy, holistic health, and Circle Dance, and would like to bring my music experience into this area too.

OTHER DANCE AND MUSIC PAGES on this website;
DANCE & MUSIC main page - details of my dance teaching and music playing, what is Circle Dance, list of my dance choreographies and music sources, etc..
EVENTS page for details of local dance groups, dance days, residentials, etc., including a CIRCLE DANCE HOLIDAY AT PILION CENTRE, GREECE, SEPTEMBER 2009. May run again in 2011.
MP3 SOUND FILES of Cosmo Kolo and of myself, Helen O and Bob Minney.
LYRICS to some Circle and International Folk dances.
IRREGULAR RHYTHMS from Eastern Europe, Armenia, Turkey - an adaptation of my drumming or instumentalists' workshop handout, with beat count and names of some dances for a variety of rhythms for 5/16 to 22/8.
A collection of Circle Dance ARTICLES. Some may be humourous.
LINKS to many Circle and International Folk Dance and related sites, and music sites with lyrics or sound files or general background.
CDs & TAPES some new, some secondhand, various genres, plus some available through Amazon.co.uk, for whom I am an affiliate.
VIDEOS of me demonstrating a few of my choreographies, to which there are also dance notes.

All content on this site COPYRIGHT Paul Boizot 2002-2010 unless otherwise stated, either on the visible webpage or in HTML.

I HAVE RELOCATED TO YORK. Post and phone messages are no longer being forwarded from my former Sheffield address. I will continue to be available to teach in Sheffield and Chesterfield at certain times.