TAUNY - News

TAUNY, Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, invites the community to a talk and presentation by Phil Jamison titled, "Hoedowns, Reels and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance" on Thursday, June 22nd from 6:00-7:30pm at The TAUNY Center. This special presentation, which will include a demonstration of Appalachian flatfoot dancing, will explore the roots of these Southern dances and challenge some of the common misconceptions and myths that have long been associated with these Appalachian traditions. Afterwards, guests are invited to head over to The Buccaneer Lounge (downstairs at the Cascade Inn) for live music with the Northern Southern Old-time Society, with Phil Jamison as a special guest.

The music and dance traditions of Appalachia are often portrayed as survivals of an ancient Anglo-Celtic heritage that was brought to the region by the early pioneers. Since the time of the earliest settlers, however, the southern backcountry has been home to a diverse population, and the region, though relatively isolated, has always maintained contact with the outside world through trade, travel, and immigration. The traditional square dances and step dances of Appalachia reflect this history as well as the cultural and ethnic diversity of the region. Rather than being pure survivals of an ancient Anglo-Celtic heritage, locked away in isolation, these American folk traditions are a blend of the European, African, and Native American dance traditions, and they also show the influence of popular nineteenth-century social dances.

Phil Jamison is nationally known as a dance caller, old-time musician, and flatfoot dancer. A native of New York State and a lifelong seasonal resident of Cranberry Lake, his involvement in traditional music and dance date back to the 1970s, when he was living in the North Country, performing music, and calling square dances with the St. Regis String Band. Over the last thirty years, Jamison has done extensive research in the area of Appalachian dance, and his recently-published book "Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance" (University of Illinois Press, 2015) tells the story behind the square dances, step dances, reels, and other forms of dance practiced in southern Appalachia.

The TAUNY Center is located at 53 Main Street, Downtown Canton, NY. TAUNY, Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people understand and appreciate the folk traditions and local culture of everyday life—present and past—in the North Country. To do so, TAUNY seeks to research and preserve a record of diverse groups, customs and traditions; to recognize and empower traditional arts and artists; to identify and promote regional identity; and to provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn about folklore and culture. More information is available at tauny.org.

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Phil Jamison will discuss the research from his book "Hoedowns, Reels and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance” on June 22nd at The TAUNY Center.

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