What did our founding fathers do for entertainment? What were the rules of social engagement for ladies and gentlemen? Find out more about George Washington’s “Rules of Civility,” Thomas Jefferson’s passion for music, ten ways to tie a cravat, and how make (and move in) panniers!
"Colonial Conviviality: Music for George Washington & His Revolutionary Friends"
What was musical entertainment like in George Washington’s day? Lively dance tunes, popular songs, meeting-house anthems, and harvest ballads and choruses meet together here in a program that combines musical heritage and history. Sondra and John Bromka’s authentic historical instrumentation is exciting and diverse, including harp, hurdy gurdy, hammer dulcimer, French & English bagpipes, recorders, Baroque oboe, African banjo, Spanish guitar, and wire-strung cittern.
"Colonial Dances for Children" Workshop
From minuets to reels, dance makes history come alive! The popular dances of our colonial period were a bright reflection of the colonists' diverse multicultural heritage, the lively legacy of the immigrants who came to build and work. From these beginnings, we can trace the first traditional steps and styles that came together to create a distinctively American dance heritage and flavor. All Bells & Motley dance workshops feature live music played on authentic period instruments.
"Colonial Costuming and Etiquette" Slide Forum and Hands-on Workshop
Colonial art images serve as primary source documents as students learn about what folks wore, how they moved, and how they interacted with each other at all levels of society. Then the artists demonstrate how to make great looking colonial costumes from materials readily found at home.
Playing Pennywhistles: Hands-on Instrument Workshop
The artists guide students in the playing of Early American tunes on the pennywhistle. Known in colonial times as a flageolet, this instrument is a cheerful friend you can carry anywhere - and one will provide much pleasure and a solid foundation for learning the rudiments of music.
Dance Culminating Events
Dance workshops may be aimed toward student presentations at daytime or evening culminating heritage faires, celebrations, or sharing sessions.
Extended Residencies
The artists are available to assist in the creation of a unique project-based learning experience that embraces a spectrum of arts projects & integrates core curriculum. Culminating events are a specialty. Grants available for consultancies, planning, and implementation.
Categories: Dance, Music, Historical Portrayals, Cultural Arts (American & Multicultural), Art History
Grades: grade 4 or higher
This program supports the following Arts Learning Standards:
#1 Creating, Performing, & Participating in the Arts
#2 Knowing & Using Arts Materials & Resources
#3 Responding to & Analyzing Works of Art
#4 Understanding the Cultural Dimensions & Contributions of the Arts
for more information:
Bells & Motley Olden Music, Dance, and Storytelling
Sondra Bromka, John Bromka
sbromka@earthlink.net 315-673-2995
Colonial Conviviality
The Presenters, Bells & Motley Olden Music, Dance, & Storytelling John Bromka and Sondra Bromka
Students are introduced to techniques for playing colonial music on tinwhistles
We practice each day, and get better and better!
We look at colonial artwork to discover...How did people use hand gestures as an essential part of communication and style...
...What were some of the different stylish ways a gentleman tied his jabot, or neck scarf?
....What is the proper bow for a gentleman, and for a lady?
....What was under a lady’s big skirt to make stand out so?
...What kinds of pigtail wigs were most fashionable for men?
...What was a woman's typical working dress?
...And so much more!
We made “panniers,” to wear under the girls’ skirts
Trying on and adjusting the panniers for a perfect balance.
The girls discover that panniers make a lady sit differently.
And we need to experiment to find out where exactly our arms are able to rest, now that we have such grand hips!
This can be tricky!
Assembling more panniers and skirts...teamwork is very helpful for this project, and makes it fun.
Tying on skirts over the panniers. Can you tell that these are lace curtains?
Colonial clothing really does make a lady stand differently, doesn’t it!
It changes the way I walk, too. It’s hard to walk smoothly enough to keep my hips perfectly level.
Meanwhile, the boys are partnering up to try out new ways of tying their jabots.
The boys loved their jabots, and would wear them all day.
A number of the boys truly loved the idea of wearing period attire, and went home and found things they could use in their closets.
Quintin found just the right blouse & jacket in his mother’s closet. Folding up the legs of his pants worked like a charm, especially with long socks.
The boys also enjoyed discovering the elegance of posing with your arms, your hands, etc. They said it made them feel like famous actors.
The way you stand suddenly becomes very important, once you have your jabot well tied, and your special leg bands on.
Next we all learn how to bow, which feels very natural in these clothes.
Bowing involves skirts and hands
Dress Rehearsal:
Dances begin and end with a bow
It’s time to find out what it’s like to dance in our colonial attire
Introducing the Minuet
Minuet workshop
Adjusting each others’ jabots for our final dance performance
The finale dance presentation begins with a formal bow
Up the hall two by two to begin the Grand March, traditionally the first dance of the Colonial Ball
Up the hall four by four continues the Grand March
Hands across to begin a Minuet
Minuet #1
Minuet #1 continues
Another type of Minuet
Another dance
Bottom couple dances up to the top of the set in the final dance, which by tradition is Sir Roger de Coverly
Encouraging the active couple as they continue to dance up to the top
Early American Cultural Arts Project-Based Residency
Historic Music – Dance - Social Arts
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