Lorraine Sutton first got involved with country dancing through its community-building aspect, and it’s that side of it that she most treasures today.
“When you’re doing these dances, you’re touching other people, you’re smiling with them, you’re trusting them – how can you not connect with people when you’re dancing with them?” said Sutton, who will host a good old-fashioned Country Dance at the Avening Hall on Saturday, April 14, starting at 8 pm.
While she remembers seeing a square dance performed when she was a child and being enthralled by the flow of people, the patterns and the music, Sutton didn’t become seriously involved with the tradition until she was in university. There, she took advantage of a leadership development program sponsored by the Manitoba government that sent her to the International Folk Dance camp in Gimli, Manitoba. There she learned and taught all kinds of folk dances, from Romanian to Israeli, from Turkish to Quebecois.
In 1983, after moving to Toronto, she helped revive the Toronto Country Dance, and with that organization she got seriously into calling dances.
“I try to be really clear in my instruction, and I wear a wireless microphone so I can wander among the dancers,” she said. Sutton is now in demand as a caller at folk festivals, weddings, contra dances and community dances.
She’s been to Avening before on several occasions, and those who’ve attended can attest to what a fun, family evening Saturday night will be.
“If you’re nine years old and up, you can dance all night,” said Sutton. “As for the younger kids, I usually do a couple of dances for them at the beginning and then encourage their parents to tuck them in to sleep under the benches.”
Music for the evening will be provided by Murphy’s Law, since as far as Sutton is concerned, a Country Dance should always be accompanied by a live band.
“It’s like my father used to say,” she said. “Apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze. The same goes for dancing without real people playing the jigs.”
The evening will be a fundraiser for the Avening Community Hall. Tickets are $15 per person and $40 per family. Lunch will be served and there will be a cash bar. For more information, call 705-466-3024.