Program

Join Becky Tracy and Rachel Bell (known together as the band Eloise & Co.) for "bal folk"-- a dance party consisting of mainly French dances along with other European influences. These two seasoned teachers and nationally-known musicians have been hosting monthly bal folk events near Brattleboro, VT, and it is their passion to share this joyous dance style with as many people as possible. They take turns teaching the dances, one getting folks going on the steps while the other plays the tune, and once things are rolling, they play the tune together, so the dancers get to experience the real excitement of dancing to a powerhouse band sound! This tradition includes a huge variety of dances, from meditative to raucous, and the tunes are equally diverse. Some dances are in long lines, circles, or spirals, while others are couple dances. There's an emphasis on developing a friendly and welcoming vibe where anyone can ask anyone else to dance, so there's no need to show up with a partner. It's easy to see why bal folk is wildly popular in Europe and why it's spreading rapidly throghout the U.S. Simply put, it's a blast! The dancing is fun, the music is cool, and it is a perfect way to bring a community together. 

Here are some examples of what it looks and sounds like:

https://youtu.be/Y8OUy5JM6Jw?si=CCQaLX8J9utEnVth

https://youtu.be/ZVajnWWA6jQ?si=9HBI1tVAKuY6DsP3

Here's what Becky and Rachel's own home dance community loves about bal folk:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19WnHpgC2MqPaNP6oN7-SXpyq_LgzQt9nO1lG5-q2hXA/edit?usp=sharing