New England Folk Dancing

[@blakemcnamara9105]

People seem to forget that country music had existed in New England as well as the Appalachian region.

[@trinaroyar6233]

David, I just saw this video and was amazed. That is the dance my parents organized in Richmond, NH at the Veterans Hall next to our house. My Mom is in it and I'm the little girl. Amazing for me to see -- Thank you.

[@brendandoyle815]

Wow! No wonder she looked familiar!

[@suziquzy]

We also just saw this video at a reunion of folks who live in Richmond. we're hoping to start up a dance some day. But for now we are planning an open mic on April 18th 2024 at the Veteran's hall.

[@thexalon]

The real kicker: there's a very good chance that same small New England town does the same thing you're seeing in this film 45 years later. In fact, I grew up in New Hampshire, and I think I can actually recognize a couple of people in that, who are still playing and dancing in this style today. And you got the sense of movement right.

[@alohawaidi]

This looks like Nelson NH. The caller is my father, Dudley Laufman. I can see Jerry Weene, fiddle, Nicholas S. Howe, fiddle, Sylvia Miscoe, accordion, I think that it may be Kay Gilbert on piano.

[@dp01772]

The caller is, of course, Dudley Laufman. Still calling after all these years.

[@nhcaller]

The caller is Dudley Laufman. The dance is in Richmond, NH. Musicians are Joe Ryan (1:37) and Nicholas S. Howe (1:46), fiddles; Sylvia Miskoe, accordion; Cynthia Laufman, Dudley's wife at that time, on piano. There were occasional dances in Richmond, and lots of contra and square dances in Fitzwilliam, NH, the next town to the east. The tune is Washington Quickstep (aka Steamboat Quickstep) though halfway through they are dancing Petronella, which would have its own tune.

[@machdieduerzo]

Thanks for the information. Great! Do you know what year this took place?

[@emilynelson5985]

@@machdieduerzo I might be able to ask him sometime, he's still around and making great music

[@davidmillstone5669]

@@machdieduerzo This was filmed in 1964.

[@machdieduerzo]

@@davidmillstone5669 thanks a lot! Best greetings.

[@machdieduerzo]

@@emilynelson5985 Sorry for answering as late. Thank you very much for the offer. Best Greets!

[@mtnhermit1]

What fun to see the range of dancing skills -- from those who are translating calls to their feet to those who just move naturally to the music. Mistakes, yes, but smiles all around. Then there is the whole line which decided to dance Petronella instead of what Dudley was calling. Great film of Americana.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

1965. A very early documentary. I was 21 years old. I was making a documentary, my first. I worked hard to get permission to go down to the mountains of North Carolina as I loved mountain music and heard it on Long Island as a boy. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@tubemagpie]

As a sometime caller and dancer of (mainly) English dances this is a joy to see. Mistakes and all. No recriminations when someone goes wrong. As it should be. Interesting to see some people trying to step the dance. Music truly drives along..great pulse. Thankyou for this!

[@soleil8786]

when my family and I co to contra dances, we dance in this hall. Dudley Laufman is almost always our caller

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

I am so happy for you. What a piece of classic history for you to have for your family. I have been around long enough to know how valuable this kind of history is for people. When I was young and made that movie, I really didn't realize what it would mean to people 50 years later! You can buy the DVD at the hotlink above. David Hoffman-filmmaker

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Aloyius: nothing has been added or changed since I made the film 50 years ago. I was 21 years old when I made this film. And editing was what it was and 16mm film was what it was. You are correct that the music changes but I feel that the feeling and mood of that time are wonderfully captured in the film I made on that single evening when I was there. David Hoffman-filmmaker

[@verdeterre6488]

I'm not seeing anyone mention that this is Dudley Laufman who still calls today for dances.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

@alohawaidi - Thank you for commenting. It is nice to make your acquaintance. I was a very young man when I filmed your father on that evening and I do love the movie I made. It is real, and simple, and has wonderful music, and is well edited considering I was just 23 years old when I did it and the camera weighed 49 pounds. David Hoffman -- filmmaker

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you so much for your compliment. Real-life and simple storytelling is my forte. David Hoffman -- filmmaker

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

@leopants And thank you for your comment. I made this movie when I was 22-year-old and a camera weighed 49 pounds and I managed to dance with it. I still love the film myself. And the dance caller became one of the greatest Contra dance callers in America. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@maxwellfan55]

Once again first class camera work capturing something essential, joyous and precious. David Hoffman you got it so right. New generations look on.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Beautifully put. New generations look on. Thank you. David Hoffman-filmmaker

[@BlockHeadofWichita]

We used to have Square dances every Saturday night at the Grange Hall in Clinton Corners New York. I was 12 years old so that was 50 years ago. I got my first kiss in the parking lot in the back seat of a 1956 Chevy by Jane Torinteno who actual lived on a street called Tobacco Road. They were the poorest people I have ever seen in my live. Even to this day. God knows, I'd love to kiss her again.

[@graveyardelf6765]

Thank you so much for those recollections, who ever you are. They gave me chills.

[@aloysiusyanas]

And this kind of joy and excitement happens many times a week Massachusetts New Hampshire

[@allegriajoy]

I love contra dancing! There's quite an active group in our part of Tennessee. I had never heard of it where I grew up in South Carolina, but I think my Scottish-Irish roots pulled me toward it when I moved here. These are great videos, thank you so much for posting.

[@auldmansbaccie4647]

Priceless. Absolutely amazing footage.

[@cybercita]

I've been contra dancing since 1985 and I love it more with each passing year. Thank you for this beautiful little film! I heard Dudley calling at a dance festival a few years ago. Didn't know who he was when I walked into his session, but quickly realized he was a national treasure.

[@JeffM---]

I am fascinated by this communal dance and the obvious joy the participants feel.

[@philliplohnes3675]

It's all over the country. You can find it with trycontra.com just put in your zip and out pops the nearest dances. I have danced all over and find it to be a similar welcoming and joyous community.

[@alohawaidi]

Hi David, Great job on the filming! I just got an email from my father after I sent this link to him. Turns out, the piano player is my mom, Cyndi Dunbr-Randall. Also Doug Cox is on fiddle, not Jerry Weene. It was great to see this, thanks so much!

[@stepno]

Dudley was one of the first callers I danced to at the Chelsea House folklore Center in Brattleboro, VT, around 1977. Great time capsule, as always, David!

[@paxomnibus8575]

I like the music of this contra style dancing. I have viewed a few contra dancing videos on youtube, and their music is a sort of medieval, colonial style of folk music. I prefer this music, and bluegrass music, better than the country western style of square dance music, just a preference, no one form of music better than the other. If you are going to dance, it helps that you enjoy the music being played. If you don't care for the music, you won't enjoy the dancing.

[@jodyfoxblum]

Enjoyed this thoroughly! Just danced this very dance last week!

[@dp01772]

Dudley Laufman, still calling today.

[@OHexpat12]

We did one of these in Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Newton, MA around 1986. Precious. Learned I love to dance!

[@barbararenna609]

Dudley Laufman may look a lot different in 2024, but he sure still sounds the same - I recognized his voice right away!

[@utahcontra]

Thank you for sharing this video. It is a part of contra dance history. Contra dancing has been going on for a long time and is still going strong. There is know a Contra Dance in every state. This is one of my favorite movies now. Thanks again for filming this contra dance over 50 years ago.

[@jyuskin]

So much fun! Again, thanks for posting Mr. Hoffman.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

I was 23 years old when I made this film Jo-Anne. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@jyuskin]

I so like the innocence of that particular era.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Jo-Anne Yuskin It was the middle of the 60s. I was in New Hampshire filming a group of 60s artists who had moved "back to the land." Sweet and innocent in a way -- but very much the sixties which you can't see in my film. The dancing was rural New England and I loved that. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@nilradem]

Jo-Anne Yuskin Innocence of the era? You can find people doing exactly the same thing today throughout New England and much of the rest of the US any week of the month, and the "scene" is really little different. Google "contra dance" and your area. I bet you will find one.

[@nilradem]

Jo-Anne Yuskin One change, though, is that people care a lot less about the gender roles.

[@goldenlunafish]

beautiful! i love the action of the camera moving through the dance floor!

[@angher2010]

quite good to know the culture at that time~love from China

[@TheGabriel12341]

I'm uruguayan and My father was a southerner.... But from my grandfather side, My heritage is from massachussetts the Cook family.... I know many of My family members played fiddle and songs at wedding and parties!

[@MrMar21457]

so this is how the yankees square dance, great video enjoyed it very much and thanks for poasting.

[@hawkwind23]

In England many years ago at primary and junior school we used to do what was called country dancing once a week, in addition to that we also sang old folk songs. As far as I know neither are being taught in our schools now ......I stand corrected if they are. Once again thank you for sharing

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

And thank you for sharing. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@timlarge7420]

I remember doing that too, You to dance with Girls!! Ugh. . .I was too young to be in to girls

[@Krispiefry]

Thank you for this fantastic film.

[@fiddlingglassblower]

This was great to watch. The tune, Steamboat Quickstep went off the rails at 2:55. At 5:54, on the 2nd time thru the B part, they switch to the B part of Hundred Pipers, playing the B part twice thru, then go to the A part of Hundred Pipers. I wonder if that was planned, or just happened, but I'm guessing the latter. The two tunes are in the same key, and the B part of Hundred Pipers is fairly similar to the B part of Steamboat. Dancers seem to take it all in stride though.

[@bonnie1097]

That figure is still being done at The West Virginia State Folk Festival every year in June. As well as other square dances in my state. I've never seen anyone here swing like that. I like this way too. Sadly, I've never seen an accordion played there. Maybe that will change some day. I love accordions!

[@jackieshmueli1850]

Thank you David, all seem to be enjoying themselves just so good . Greetings from Israel !

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

@dbadagna - It was 1964. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@jamesturner1678]

This is awesome footage. Everyone is having a ball and getting along.

[@THEGGITtheELDER]

WOW! nostalgia by the bucket load, what a pity things have to change and we all get old. Good clean fun and no need to go to the gym! I guess some of the dancers will still be around, some look like we did in the 60s, great days.

[@elenavanbc]

what a great, joyful thing to watch and llisten. I'd die of a heart attack if I attempted to do something like that lol

[@leopants]

Thanks Mr. Hoffman - this is truly amazing to see. Leo Francis Melbourne, Australia

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Utahcontra: Thank you for your comment. David Hoffman-filmmaker

[@h54h52]

Looks like they had great fun!

[@elenavanbc]

this is real fun, thanks for posting

[@TheAnn2shoes]

We have these dances in England where they are called Barn Dances. In Scotland they would be called a 'ceilidh' (pronounced Kaley).

[@gilly8532]

Wow That was really good to see,

[@Gimmer3]

They used to have dances like this near me at the old grange hall all the way up to the 80s.

[@gilly8532]

Brilliant.

[@0000Fred0000]

In the early 70s they used to teach this dancing in public schools.

[@trinaroyar6233]

David, I notice when I went to the hotlink and the promo for the DVD it states that this was filmed in Northern Vermont. The scene you have here is actual southwestern New Hampshire. Trina

[@edgardosoto4193]

At the beginning it sound like been in Puerto Rico becuse of the singing coqui

[@uptonsavoie]

Ayuh, this is the real deal (why does the title call it "Vermont" dancing if it was shot in NH?). Folks of all ages and in all manner of dress, everyone (except, apparently, the fiddler) having a wonderful time. I love watching dancers and would rather play for a dance than get on the floor. Long live the contra!

[@windstorm1000]

looks like great fun--do people folk dance anymore? good exercise for sure.

[@FiddlerBoy83]

+windstorm1000 do a youtube search for "contra dance." You'll be pleasantly surprised! I just came off calling at a 12-hour event attended by a good 300 people; there are festivals, weekend and weeklong camps in addition to hundreds of regular local dances around the country. That's just the contra scene, not counting squares and "barn dances."

[@BillVol]

If you ever wanted to know the difference between South and north in the US, watch this video.

[@aloysiusyanas]

It looks like the soundtrack has not been edited and the video clips perhaps have been the music in the beginning people are dancing to the music in the middle of the film appears that the dancers are doing different dance at perhaps as a clip from a different time was inserted

[@SuperBenjamin50]

I'm not sure where this is, but it's not Nelson. Good to see Dudley looking so young and chipper.

[@vaaldemarhoff]

I love that music, what is the name of the caller? Waldemar Hoff Poland

[@dbadagna]

Thanks, was it in Vermont or New Hampshire and do you remember the name of the town?

[@kowens1956]

Hilarious.

[@slimphotog]

@rocketplumber the kids today have much more body contact when they dance and no one says anything :)

[@dbadagna]

This film does not seem to be listed in the master list of films on your website--you should add it.

[@astronut66]

why does this video have adverts on it? Surely this is a private video.

[@Nancy-tb1um]

Anyone know the names of the musicians?

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

The caller is Dudley Laufman. The dance is in Richmond, NH. Musicians are Joe Ryan (1:37) and Nicholas S. Howe (1:46), fiddles; Sylvia Miskoe, accordion; Cynthia Laufman, Dudley's wife at that time, on piano. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@Nancy-tb1um]

@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Thank you. I was delighted to see Dudley at the West End Theater last year. I used to travel to Contoocook, I believe it was, during my college years to Contra Dance. Such fun! I moved away for many years now living in Portsmouth. I'm itching to get back into it! Soon... Love the video! Thanks for the smile and the memories.

[@niffleheim1998]

WHEN was this?

[@dankappus7004]

What's the dance?

[@dankappus7004]

@@stevendashley6209 no, I meant this dance and this tune. For example "simplicity swing," "lady of the lake," etc...

[@6thfifer]

This isnt nelson. Im not sure where it is but its not nelson. Looks like a good dance though.

[@keithpalmer8804]

yankee dancin - pitiful - look up "best bluegrass cligging video ever" if you want to see real dancin