BRANDYWINE  APPALACHIAN DANCE & BLUEGRASS MUSIC

 

The Group Our group was formed in 1991. Now well established it comprises a dozen or so dancers and four musicians. 

The dance originated in the Appalachian Mountains of the USA through many different influences. Those with workday boots danced in them whilst poorer performers danced in bare feet. 

Today the dance is more stylised and "cloggers" wear leather shoes tapped with steel at heel and toe. Definitely not clogs! We synchronise percussive stepping with the music.  

Dances are exuberant high energy performances leaving us, and any audience, elated and calling for more.

 Normally its the gals dance and the guys play and we like to have fun.

 

Dancing at Tredegar House international festival of music and dance The music for Appalachian Clogging was originally old time fiddle tunes but Brandywine use fast foot-tapping Bluegrass. We include contemporary music in the repertoire to offer a broader range to our audiences.

Click to play "Fire on the Mountain"  

The performance can not be described in words. Check the video elsewhere on our web site. Fee-based or fund-raising, no booking is too small or large. We are proud to say we are invited back by many organizations year after year. We perform as the full dance group, or on a smaller scale with a few dancers, a solo dancer, or even just the band.

  

The Venues 

We dance-out at a broad spectrum of events, celebrations, carnivals, festivals.

Recent performances include

  • The Gower Bluegrass Festival
  • Tredegar House Folk Festival, Newport
  • Ty Hafan children's hospice, Sully
  • Tintern Old Station fun day
  • Celtic Spirit Music Festival, Abergavenny
  • Unicorn Inn, Pontypool
 At Ponthir School

 

We dont always wear uniform for practice

Practice Night 

We practice nearly every Wednesday evening at Llantarnam, near Newport & Cwmbran.

The band practices in the back room or plays for the dancers. Bluegrass Music is noted for sharp instrumentals and powerful singing.

 

 Mandolin, banjo, bass and guitar make the Bluegrass sound.

 

Brandywine at the Omagh American festival

Social occasions 

On the left we are at Omah, in Northern Ireland. On the right at the Usk British Legion.

 

 A solo clogger always gets the band its best applause. We sing too.

 

  • To perform we need
  • Mains power
  • Flat surface 6m x 6m OR a suitable wooden floor 
  • We have
  • A portable dance floor
  • PA system
  • Public liability insurance
Where we are in South East Wales

 

Where we are in this wide world....

 

 

Brandywine, Appalachian Dance & Bluegrass Music

Telephone in UK 01873 840106

Email.. 

Click to go to home page