NEW YORK—There is so much more to Staten Island than a pleasant ferry ride. There is considerable local history and the Historic Richmond Town. Along with a museum and educational programs, the town is home to a stalwart and friendly group of English country dancers.
Before Do-Si-Do
English Country Dance, or ECD, is believed to have origins as far back as the late 1400s; however, the first large scale publishing of dances was John Playford’s “Dancing Master” in 1651. The earliest dances appear to have been in large circles, and suitable for dancing outdoors. Dances were performed in circles for three couples or four couples, the latter a precursor for today’s square dance, as well as “petit-squares” for two couples.
There are basic positions and movements that must be learned that are then incorporated into various dances with different degrees of difficulty. Dancer’s learn Corners, First Man and First Lady positions; and movements including Poussettes, Two Hand Turns, Casting, and a bit of pushing and pulling. Dancers spin through formations like Mr. Beveridge’s Maggot, Comical Fellow, Northdown Waltz, and Sunlight Through Draperies.
Usually the dances are “called” by a dance caller who tells the participants the movements to be executed. In some dance circles the calls are made until everyone has learned the dance.
ECD remained a social activity from the late 1600s to the early 1800s when it began to lose popularity due to rising interest in current traditional ballroom dances, like the waltz.
Historical Backdrop
The backdrop for the English Country Dance Staten Island group is Historic Richmond Town. Like many towns during the colonial era, Richmond went through the throes of multiple ownership and post-colonial change.
First habited by the Algonquin of the Lenape clan, the area was later settled by the Dutch in the 1600s. The British took control in 1646 and called the area the County of Richmond as a colony of New York. In the 1700s the town began to develop as a center of government. In the early 1800s, as Manhattan became more crowded, people saw Staten Island as a retreat. Wealthy residents built estates and resorts, and more towns were established around new industries as the area grew. Other communities were centered on maritime trades.
In 1837, as business thrived and the small town expanded, a courthouse was built and a small residential development emerged. However, by the end of the 1800s Richmond’s growth had slowed and little happened beyond the court sessions. Even 100 years ago, Richmond became known as an old-fashioned place, reputedly not keeping pace with the rest of Staten Island and greater New York.
Staten Island became a borough of New York City in 1898; some of the county functions were moved, and a new government center was built at St. George, closer on the island to Manhattan.
Not to be left behind, Richmond became the center of a local preservation movement. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, local residents, along with the Staten Island Historical Society (SIHS), which had been founded in 1856, formulated a plan for what Richmond Town should become.
Their work to preserve the entire village was considered an unprecedented volunteer effort. According to the SIHS website, these early preservationists, led by William T. Davis and Loring McMillen, believed that “saving evidence of the past could connect all of us to the real people who lived before us.”
According to the SIHS, in the 1950s the historical society signed a contract with the city of New York, promising to maintain and develop Historic Richmond Town as a museum village.
Read More...Dance Through Local History
First habited by the Algonquin of the Lenape clan, the area was later settled by the Dutch in the 1600s. The British took control in 1646 and called the area the County of Richmond as a colony of New York. In the 1700s the town began to develop as a center of government. In the early 1800s, as Manhattan became more crowded, people saw Staten Island as a retreat. Wealthy residents built estates and resorts, and more towns were established around new industries as the area grew. Other communities were centered on maritime trades.
In 1837, as business thrived and the small town expanded, a courthouse was built and a small residential development emerged. However, by the end of the 1800s Richmond’s growth had slowed and little happened beyond the court sessions. Even 100 years ago, Richmond became known as an old-fashioned place, reputedly not keeping pace with the rest of Staten Island and greater New York.
Staten Island became a borough of New York City in 1898; some of the county functions were moved, and a new government center was built at St. George, closer on the island to Manhattan.
Not to be left behind, Richmond became the center of a local preservation movement. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, local residents, along with the Staten Island Historical Society (SIHS), which had been founded in 1856, formulated a plan for what Richmond Town should become.
Their work to preserve the entire village was considered an unprecedented volunteer effort. According to the SIHS website, these early preservationists, led by William T. Davis and Loring McMillen, believed that “saving evidence of the past could connect all of us to the real people who lived before us.”
According to the SIHS, in the 1950s the historical society signed a contract with the city of New York, promising to maintain and develop Historic Richmond Town as a museum village.
Read More...Dance Through Local History
Dance Through Local History
Longtime Staten Island resident Felicity Beil comes from a family of museumgoers and has lived in the Richmond area most of her life. Although she lost touch with her roots as she pursued higher education, in 1985 she returned to Historic Richmond Town to become a museum teacher.
She eventually led the children’s programs and took over the summer apprentice program for teens. In 2004 she became the director of Education and Programs of the Staten Island Historical Society.
She remembered changes in the town, as the old Staten Island courthouse became the community center, and the former county clerk’s and surrogate’s office became the Richmond Town Museum. Six years ago Tom Amessé, a New York dance caller, heard about the center and believed it would be perfect for dancing.
Beil was there when the English Country Dance class was first introduced by Amessé, attended the first class, and has participated ever since. She said that the dance fit right into the Historical Society’s mission to preserve and present as many features of 16th to 18th century American historical culture as possible.
Ms. Beil remembers how dance, particularly the evolved square dance, had become quite unpopular as a gym class requirement, even if appropriate. ECD can actually be quite aerobic with constant movement of the limbs and the whole body, but it can be fun as well. The music tempo ranges from slow and grand to fast and lively. It isn’t hard to break a sweat after a few rounds.
When Amessé had to cut back on his dance-teaching schedule, a student, Jeff Cavorley, volunteered to pick up a few classes. Cavorley has been leading the dance classes off and on for three years and fulltime for the last eight months. He considers the dance graceful and the music relaxing to listen to. He relayed how the basic movements of the dance may be simple; however, dances can be designed to be quite complex lending to more variety.
“Some are very slow,” he said, “while at other times you find yourself almost running.”
Cavorley said that ECD was designed to be social; that you can chat when everyone else is busy dancing and eventually end up, through the interwoven movements, interacting with everyone in the group. In its present form, it’s also great for history buffs or anyone interested in dance; and in the Staten Island group there’s always a partner.
There are at least 16 period dance balls in the surrounding area, including Schenectady, Binghamton, and White Plains, N.Y., and Trenton, N.J. However, Cavorley’s favorite is the Philadelphia Ball. He remembers in his first days of dance being challenged by his teachers to go. Only later did they tell him there were no calls, and as many as 20 different dances.
The Philly ball starts around 2 p.m. with a practice dance from 2:30–5:30; a formal session is followed by a formal dinner buffet. There is 15 minutes for each dance, a sherry hour, then more dancing, sometimes until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. These period balls are not for the faint of heart!
Country Dance Staten Island also performs in period costume at local events. They hold their annual Country Dance Assembly, a tradition established in 2005, early in the year. The next performance is scheduled during the annual New York City Candlelight Tour in December. Until then, every Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., everyone is welcome to the Historic Richmond Town Community Center for a few hours of historic fun and community camaraderie.
For more information Visit www.historicrichmondtown.org.
She eventually led the children’s programs and took over the summer apprentice program for teens. In 2004 she became the director of Education and Programs of the Staten Island Historical Society.
She remembered changes in the town, as the old Staten Island courthouse became the community center, and the former county clerk’s and surrogate’s office became the Richmond Town Museum. Six years ago Tom Amessé, a New York dance caller, heard about the center and believed it would be perfect for dancing.
Beil was there when the English Country Dance class was first introduced by Amessé, attended the first class, and has participated ever since. She said that the dance fit right into the Historical Society’s mission to preserve and present as many features of 16th to 18th century American historical culture as possible.
Ms. Beil remembers how dance, particularly the evolved square dance, had become quite unpopular as a gym class requirement, even if appropriate. ECD can actually be quite aerobic with constant movement of the limbs and the whole body, but it can be fun as well. The music tempo ranges from slow and grand to fast and lively. It isn’t hard to break a sweat after a few rounds.
When Amessé had to cut back on his dance-teaching schedule, a student, Jeff Cavorley, volunteered to pick up a few classes. Cavorley has been leading the dance classes off and on for three years and fulltime for the last eight months. He considers the dance graceful and the music relaxing to listen to. He relayed how the basic movements of the dance may be simple; however, dances can be designed to be quite complex lending to more variety.
“Some are very slow,” he said, “while at other times you find yourself almost running.”
Cavorley said that ECD was designed to be social; that you can chat when everyone else is busy dancing and eventually end up, through the interwoven movements, interacting with everyone in the group. In its present form, it’s also great for history buffs or anyone interested in dance; and in the Staten Island group there’s always a partner.
There are at least 16 period dance balls in the surrounding area, including Schenectady, Binghamton, and White Plains, N.Y., and Trenton, N.J. However, Cavorley’s favorite is the Philadelphia Ball. He remembers in his first days of dance being challenged by his teachers to go. Only later did they tell him there were no calls, and as many as 20 different dances.
The Philly ball starts around 2 p.m. with a practice dance from 2:30–5:30; a formal session is followed by a formal dinner buffet. There is 15 minutes for each dance, a sherry hour, then more dancing, sometimes until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. These period balls are not for the faint of heart!
Country Dance Staten Island also performs in period costume at local events. They hold their annual Country Dance Assembly, a tradition established in 2005, early in the year. The next performance is scheduled during the annual New York City Candlelight Tour in December. Until then, every Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., everyone is welcome to the Historic Richmond Town Community Center for a few hours of historic fun and community camaraderie.
For more information Visit www.historicrichmondtown.org.
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