Signatures 109 total
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101
Name: Pamela Bradford on Mar 24, 2010Comments: I have enjoyed the NFF the last 5 years, whilst I support many activities at the Festival, my passion is Dance. I would like to see the programme continue as before with as many opportunities as possibloe to participate in in the many and varied styles of Dance, especially Celtic.Flag
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102
Name: Bob Bolton on Mar 25, 2010Comments: The Coorong has always been a dramatic venue for the Colonial Ball at the NFF. The 'Colonial era' dancing that is commemorated and perpetuated by such events was the mainstay of the incredible survival of traditional ("Folk") customs, tunes, songs and traditions ... and its loss to the NFF will continue the decline into sloppy, commercial internationalism!Flag
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103
Name: Monica Hersburgh on Mar 25, 2010Comments:Flag
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104
Name: Arthur Kingsland on Mar 25, 2010Comments: While not personally concerned about the Colonial Ball, in principle this should be one of the most significant events at an Australian National Folk Festival - a celebration of Australian Dance in the folk tradition. Having made that point I would like to express my dismay that Anglo Celtic dance workshops are being side-lined. When you reflect on the origins of the non-indigenous population of Australia you would have to expect that at least half the program should be devoted to our own folk origins. I can understand the principle that those from other cultures who have chosen to make Australia their home should have representation at this festival, even to an extent far greater than their percentage in the population, this is not an excuse to ignore that extremely significant demand for dance opportunities for those who favour Anglo/Australian/Celtic genres. If there is a problem with not enough venues, then maybe this points out that there are not enough venues, and/or the duration of a "day" could be extended back to that of the blue-collar contributions and start the dance day at 8, or at least 9 am. Why do we have to wait until 10am? If the floor of the Coorong is a problem, then there are other venues that could have a non-permanent floor. To suggest that one small group funds facilities for their own events, one of the few types of attendees who actually PARTICIPATE in the folk process is ridiculous. The dancers have virtually no overseas guests to fund, unlike the bums on seats brigade, so maybe the money you save by not paying for airfares, accommodation, etc. for these guests could be put to something approaching a useful dance venue of the size provided by the Coorong. (?) I know, as a performer, that your staff are stretched extremely thinly, so much so that performers e-mail messages do not even get an acknowledgment that they have been received, let alone any useful response. The lack of communication is feulling the rumour that the National Folk Festival is trying to drive out the dancers. This was the agenda a few years ago, and some positive actions have been seen in the last 2-3 years. It look like this "dancers are too much trouble, and we don't make enough money out of them" attitude has come back. Please tell us all that this isn't true. Do you hope we'll all go away, take our musicians with us and start another festival. Look at the efforts of Dave Johnson and his Bundanoon Festival on the Queens Birthday weekend. It has now got live musicians for every workshop and evening dance, and has three parallel sessions over three days plus an extra night. It has a very wide-ranging collection of dance genres (albeit Anglo/Australian/Celtic/Scandanavian/German/Ballroom). It is now into its SECOND YEAR and will, in 2010, surpass the National Folk Festival (which is run over 4 days) in terms of the dance content. That is a real worry in term of billing the National Folk Festival as the best Festival in Australia.Flag
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105
Name: Mark Dabbs on Mar 26, 2010Comments: I find it amazing that a "Folk Festival" in Australia is trying to get rid of Australian dancing and pushing other types. We have been forced out of good dance venues, been pushed off site and given small, inappropriate sites for workshops. The program has little Colonial content and has been getting worse as the years progress. I can only conclude form this planning that the aim of NFF is to try and push this type of dancing, and associated community, "under the rug" and not include it in future NFFs. This is not good enought.Flag
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106
Name: Cris Terry on Mar 26, 2010Comments:Flag
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107
Name: Beverly Joy Buckland on Mar 26, 2010Comments: Dancing off-site is not a solution. We don't all have transport, especially if we have flown from interstate. And sometimes we wish to move between the dance and a concert and back to the dance. The ceiling of the Mallee is too low and the venue will become incredibly warm with a good crowd and some vigorous dancing. Move the concerts to the Mallee and bring back a rejuvenated Coorong.Flag
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108
Name: Anonymous on Mar 27, 2010Comments:Flag
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109
Name: Beate Loftus on Mar 27, 2010Comments: We are very disappointed with the 2010 dance programme. Shame on you, programme organisers!Flag