The annual New Home Ball is held in Orange MA in November, a Saturday in mid-November, and organized by Brad Foster.
New Home Ball 2024
Saturday, November 23
Schedule: Practice session 2:00pm to 4:30pm, evening ball 7:00pm to 10:30pm
Dance leaders: Joanna Reiner Wilkinson & Brad Foster
Evening music: Karen Axelrod (piano), Eric Martin (violin/viola), Naomi Morse (violin)
Afternoon music: Pat MacPherson (piano), Micah Walter (violin)
Sound: Dereck Kalish
Location: Town Hall, 6 Prospect St, Orange MA
Admission: $40 for Ball includes afternoon practice session; pre-registration is required.
Sunday, November 24 — post-Ball workshop
Schedule: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Staff: Teaching by Joanna & Brad; music by Karen & Eric; sound by Dereck
Location: Town Hall, 6 Prospect St, Orange MA
Admission: $15–25, payable either in advance or at the door; no registration needed.
Registration
The Ball requires advance registration; each individual must register separately. $40 for Ball includes afternoon practice session.
No pre-registration required for the Sunday workshop.
[Further details below]
Ball format
We hold an afternoon practice session, take a break for dinner on your own, and return for an evening dance with festive attire encouraged. In the afternoon all dances are taught; in the evening most dances have a walk-through, and around half will also be prompted. There will be a few “For Those Who Know” with no talk-through, walk-through, or prompting. A list of all dances, their format for the evening, dance notes, and links to online videos will be sent to all registrants.
Admission & payment
The Ball requires advance registration; each individual must register separately. No pre-registration required for the Sunday workshop.
Saturday Ball: $40 includes both the Ball and the afternoon practice, or any part thereof.
Saturday practice only: $20 for only the afternoon practice (spaces are limited).
Sunday post-Ball workshop: $15–$25, in advance or at the door.
Additional donations are greatly appreciated.
Covid protocol
Please stay home if you feel ill or if you or a member of your household has either had significant exposure to Covid or tested positive. Masking is optional.
Questions?
Contact Brad Foster at amherstenglish@gmail.com or (413) 335-3489 (leave voicemail).
2024 program
Dance notes will be sent to all registrants.
| The Ashford Anniversary | <video> | [Charles Bolton, More of the Same; Dances for Vol. 4] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| * | Cupid’s Garden | <video> | [Marjorie Heffer & W.S. Porter, Maggot Pie; Dances for Vol. 7] |
| De’il Take the Warr | <video> | [rec. Andrew Shaw, unpublished] | |
| Echoes | <video> | [Jenna Simpson, Revelations] | |
| Emperor of the Moon | <video> | [rec. Andrew Shaw, Emperor of the Moon; The Playford Assembly] | |
| Freeford Gardens | <video> | [Katheryn & David Wright, Not Quite Playford; Dances for Vol. 3] | |
| * | The Friendly Brooke | <video> | [Chris Sackett, Impropriety I] |
| Gentleman’s Delight | <video> | [Philippe Callens, Belgian Boutades] | |
| Hambletons Round O | <video> | [rec. Bernard Bentley, The Fallibroome Collection 1; The Playford Ball] | |
| Heartwood | <video> | [Michael Wood, CDSS News Winter 2023] | |
| The Homecoming | <video> | [Gary Roodman, Multiple Calculated Figures; Dances for Vol. 4] | |
| Irish Lamentation | <video> | [rec. Tom Cook, Again Let’s Be Merry; The Playford Assembly] | |
| King of Poland | <video> | [rec. Cecil Sharp, Country Dance Book IV; The Playford Assembly; Dances for Vol. 6] | |
| Lilli Burlero | <video> | [rec. Cecil Sharp, Country Dance Book IV; The Playford Ball; Dances for Vol. 2] | |
| Mrs. Hill’s Dance | <video> | [rec. Andrew Shaw, unpublished] | |
| The Punch Bowl | <video> | [rec. Pat Shaw, Another Look at Playford; The Playford Assembly; Dances for Vol. 2] | |
| Ransom Note | <video> | [Susan Kevra, unpublihsed] | |
| The Waters of Holland | <video> | [Pat Shaw, New Wine in Old Bottles, 2nd version] |