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Inspirational Women

The Researchers Who Worked with Cecil Sharp

a presentation by Alex Cumming

May 23 • online • 7:00pm

It’s been too long since we have enjoyed the company of Alex Cumming on a cozy Thursday SOFA evening, so it is with great delight that I remind you about his presentation this week! Tomorrow night (Thursday), Alex will dive into the stories of a few of the women who researched with and inspired Cecil Sharp. Much has been written about Mr. Sharp, but this presentation will focus on the researchers who worked side-by-side with him: Maud Karpeles, Mary Neal, and Olive Dame Campbell (to name but three of the Inspirational Women). 

Lest you fear this could be a dry reciting of dates and facts, let me disavow you of that notion right now! Alex is a consummate storyteller, and is at his best when talking about subjects and people who fascinate him greatly, such as these women and the work they did in an era when that “simply wasn’t done”. Not only that, but Alex, never far from his trusty accordion, will regale us with songs from that era as well!

The cherry on top of the talk-and-music parfait is that 100% of all donations made to FAC for this SOFA presentation will go to Revels North, an arts organization based in the New Hampshire/Vermont Upper Valley region where Alex is the Artistic Director. Alex himself is leading off the fundraising by donating his presentation fee to the cause, and FAC is proud to support both Alex and Revels North in these uncertain economic times for nonprofit organizations.

— Marcie

Dancing on the Greenway

2024 Schedule

Beginning on Tuesday, July 9th at 7:00pm, the tradition of dancing in the heart of Boston will return to Dewey Square Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway! This 8-week FREE dance series, running through July and August, will feature a variety of participatory folk dance genres including New England Contra, Bal Folk, Cajun & Zydeco, Scottish & English Ceilidhs, and International dances from the Balkans and beyond. View the schedule with the full line-up of dance leaders and musicians HERE! 

This is a beloved part of many people’s summers, bringing together folks of all ages, cultures, dance traditions, and experience levels. We’ll kick off the series on July 9th with an English Ceilidh, with teaching and music by Alex Cumming & Friends. We hope to see you there!

--Anna Alter

Connect With FAC

Keep in Touch

We at the Folk Arts Center are always pleased to hear from our community. We all appreciate feedback on our efforts, but we realize the confusing part - just who does what? To make it easier for you to navigate this labyrinthine army of paid staff and volunteers, we’ve created a new “Connect with FAC” page on the FAC website.

On this new page you will find links to biographies of the office staff and members of the Board of Directors, plus email addresses to reach the office, the shop, and the Board. In addition, you will see all the ways FAC is expanding our audience and community through various social media outlets, our newsletter, and our listserv, along with descriptions of how to subscribe to any or all of them. This page is a great resource, and we hope you will avail yourself of it and keep in touch!

Please feel free to connect with us, whether you have a new opportunity for FAC or just a simple word of appreciation -- we would love to hear from you.

If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.

Quite recently I was mowing the lawn and complaining

To no one in particular, as I held forth in maintaining

That the weather was too cold, it being late-ish May,

When on earth were we getting a warm weather day?

The gods in charge of the Atmospheric Biz

Responded as if I’d issued a pop quiz.

As quick as a wink they cranked up the heat,

Today our tongues loll, our faces red as a beet.

Who would have guessed I had sway over the weather

I’m sorry I threw us into the inferno together.

But worry not, because this was only a tease -

Next week back to temperate, down at least 15 degrees!

Special Events

Saturday, June 29:  Documentary: "My Borrowed Heritage" and Dance Party (Belmont, MA and online) with Efie Derksen, Hans Derksen, and the Flying Squirrel Orchestra

Dance & Music Series

Thursday May 23: Inspirational Women: The Researchers Who Worked with Cecil Sharp with Alex Cumming (online)

Thursday, May 30: The 1914 Lowell Tango Trial with Ruth Evans (online)

Sunday, June 2: Mostly Waltz with Becky Tracy & Keith Murphy (Concord, MA)

Camps and Tours

June 20 to 27: Pinewoods International Sessions (Plymouth, MA)

August 30 to September 3: Labor Day Weekend at Pinewoods (Plymouth, MA)

October 17 to 31: Autumn in Bulgaria Cultural Tour with Iliana Bozhanova and Todor Yankov

This week's contributors:

Anna Alter: FAC Program Manager

Nick Bishop: Tech troubleshooter, Updates proofreader

Lynne Janbergs: GASP Committee member, Updates proofreader

Jim Madigan: GASP Committee member, Updates proofreader

Marcie Van Cleave: FAC Executive Director

The Folk Arts Center of New England is a nonprofit organization promoting participation in the traditional dance and music of many cultures. FAC sponsors community dances, annual camps, workshops, and other programs in the greater Boston area, elsewhere in New England, and online.