Dancing For Fun: Let traditional and folk dancing spark up your party.

Published in Home Style Magazine March 1998

Paul Rosenberg, a native of Albany, graduate of Suny Albany, and State employee, has devoted the last twelve years to learning the art of calling dances and sharing traditional music and dance with our community. Although he admits to being shy and hasn't ventured far from the Northeast, he has succeeded in bringing the world to the Capital Region through dance. His mission is to educate by showcasing regional musicians, dancers, and dance leaders, and by bringing people together of all ages and backgrounds for the pure enjoyment of dancing. He has founded a dance association, a successful dance festival, and a business revolving around traditional dance making him one of the area's most lauded experts in multi-cultural folk music and dance.

One of the interesting things about Paul is that although he loved classical music, he never actually studied music as a child. Then in college he chose to pursue a career in teaching French and German and coaching track and cross-country at the high school level. This idea was abandoned when he realized that he was a night person and could not function in the AM! Life is full of little discoveries. As destiny would have it, as an adult he became acquainted with the right circle of friends who introduced him to traditional contra dancing. He found his inspiration and the perfect combination of lifestyle, education, music, and culture. He decided to study music, traditional dance, and become a caller. Today he estimates that he calls approximately 125 dances a year.

In 1987, Paul founded and presided over the Hudson-Mohawk Country Dancers group (now called Hudson-Mohawk Traditional Dances, Inc), which he did for eleven years. It was around the same time (1986) that Old Songs, Inc. had held a one time, two-day, winter dance festival. Since there were no plans to continue the well- received festival, Paul spearheaded the planning of an annual winter dance festival called the Dance Flurry.

Dance Flurry was created to provide a social, educational event where quality, regional musicians and dancers could perform and share their talent and knowledge. The first Dance Flurry was held 11 years ago, on one wintry day in 1988. Thirty-eight musicians and dancer leaders performed and approximately 300 participants attended!

This last February, the Flurry celebrated its eleventh year over three days around Valentine's Day in Saratoga. 4oo performers, 14 venders, 3,200 participants, and 200 volunteers attended from all over the country. It has obviously been a great success!

This year's performances and workshops included Waltzes, Quebecois Quadrilles and Cotillions, Scottish Country Dance, Southern Squares, Ragtime Dances, Scandinavian Couples Dancing, Cajun Dance, Latin Salsa and Merenge, German, Balkan, and African dances, Blues, Storytelling as well as many other family activities. Some of the more unusual dances included: Zydeco which is a combination of Cajun and African with a rock and roll influence, Hambo, a popular Swedish couples dance, and Zwiefacher, a type of a German waltz that is led by a caller.

As a result of planning many Dance Flurry Festivals, Paul has become one of the leading resources for finding any kind of traditional or ethnic performers for any event. In response to this rapidly acquired wealth of information, Paul started a business called Homespun Occasions. He advertises, "wholesome and natural merrymaking for your feet, frolic, festivity and forum, entertainment that echoes other times and simple pleasures."

This is how I came to know Paul. Whenever, I am challenged to find "a Hungarian band that plays traditional folk and dance music but who can also play American rock..." I call Paul! He has also filled requests for a "female bagpiper on Mt. Desert Island in Maine" and found a French Acadian Band also to perform at a wedding. He can recommend players of hammered dulcimers, lutes, hurdy-gurdies, Gaelic harps, washboards, accordions and more!

Although Paul still works part-time for the State, he hopes to eventually work full-time on Homespun Occasions and the development of an educational program he began a few years ago. He offers Arts-in-Education Residencies to schools. He and a couple of musicians will spend a day to a week presenting workshops on traditional music, calling and dance. They teach the history of the instruments, dances and social activities that revolved around the festivities.

It is always refreshing to be at an event where people of all ages and backgrounds are on their feet, stepping high and having good old-fashioned, wholesome, non-alcoholic FUN! I encourage anyone planning an event to consider hiring live musicians and callers to entertain at any event even if they don't know, understand, or think they like traditional dancing. Whenever there is a caller teaching and leading the dances, people who don't normally dance get on their feet and move!

Paul adds that, "at a traditional community dance, people who gathered together to celebrate a wedding, family reunion, barn raising, etc. always danced together as a community to mark the occasion. This brings back the old ways of community cohesiveness, caring, camaraderie, and cooperation. After all, it is much more fun than dancing with just one person to steps most of us can't do and loud music played by a DJ. " With continued perseverance and a little luck maybe Paul will be able to revive the lost art of dance and song for the American people.

For more information call:

Rick Futyma, President of Hudson-Mohawk Rational Dances, Inc at 518/885-4430,

Homespun Occasions at 518/ 482-9255 or 800-908-home, or access the Dance Flurry Homepage at www.berkshire.net/~flurry.