Reading the nonsense on wikipedia about Mountain Dancing (and its variants) makes for disappointing reading. America is in such a rush to state that everything is a mixture of ten thousand cultures when this form of dancing is quite patently Irish in its entirety. Just listen to the music, the sets, the almost perfect reproduction of Irish Ceilidh movements. "Cherokee", "Dutch"...what nonsense; this is Irish folk dancing.
I love this film, but let's not get too misty. I'm 57 and remember how square dancing/clogging/ folk dancing were ridiculed even 50 years ago, in my country NC town. And our Town was slim from no AC, not from constant clogging!
Doe's any body know the dark haired young man's name?. He appears to be a lead dancer and caller . I really enjoy his style and wonder what he went on to do in life.My father was from Sanford NC and was a square dace caller as a young man.He will be 90 and has fond memories of that time. Thanks, Keith
Not an Ipod, or Wii, or Gameboy in sight. And look at the fun these people are obviously having ! Thanks for posting this David, From someone who has roots in this region of America, and will never forget it.
@CFMD28 My roots are many thousands of miles away from where this was recorded, across a huge ocean. And I'm sure I wasn't even born at that time. Yet I can't get enough of this moment captured on film. Every time watching it, my heart will jump a bit higher. Beware, one day it will land on one of you in America!
this is so interesting...its like finding an evolutionary 'missing link' in this case between irish and bluegras...hmm. great clip, want to see the rest
Yes--exactly what I was thinking.. For people looking at the history of it and Appalachian music and dance it explains alot of it. Its like the lucky charms guy--the leprechaun spinning in a jig with his hand on his head and his hat.--When the scottish irish migration happened--they went to the hills and carried with it their music and tough religion--
Apart from the dancing, which is great, there's two things I love about this clip:
1) How great it is to see people for whom it was still a big thing to be filmed. In particular, the young girl around 4.55. The look on her face is truly charming, a word not used much these days. How unlike the smart-alec kids forced on us these days by movies and TV.
2) How great it is to see young and old doing something together. When did the generations become separated from each other at work and play?
I think they are. I SO remember seeing this on PBS. I hope to get me a copy. You just don't see dancin like this much anymore, if at all. I hate to see this die. Be nice to see some younger generations keeping it alive.
@CadillacL You are right, and I hope I will have a chance to see this before it's gone. However, beautiful things never really die. There will always be moments and places for beautiful things to arise again, sometimes in very unexpected ways surrounded by confusiuon. No real dance step ever dies, no real musical note can decay! Documents like this help to keep the eyes open for beauty.
I notice some names of commentors here are the same as those for the dance posted under Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers. Some of these dancers are in the video called the Festival. But some are younger than those that went to New Port. Same team, different ages.
Danccing like this can't be beat. I'd love to been there in person (was born in 1971 though) This was PURE joy. I hope younger dncers today would keep this alive.
This footage is pure bliss. This family of flat-foot dancers are of genuine stage-performance quality. In this movie footage, if I'm not mistaken, the accompanying old-timey musicians are known as The Brushy Mountain Boys, when they performed under that name at Old-Time Fiddlers' Conventions during the early 1960s, around the same era when this film was made. This movie footage is worth its weight in gold, many times over !! Read that as PRICELESS !!
Thank you SOOOOOOOO much for puttin this on here..... it is great to see all of the Traditional Mountain Music here my grandmother said she remembers going over to Bascoms and wacthing and learning to play guitar.... it is a memory she says that wil stay with her till her death
That's my wife (with the long dark hair) starting at 2:20. As of this date, (2/20/12) , God has blessed us with being married 43 years!
tenrab48 1 week ago
bluegrass roots = ireland
silverscreenname 1 month ago
Reading the nonsense on wikipedia about Mountain Dancing (and its variants) makes for disappointing reading. America is in such a rush to state that everything is a mixture of ten thousand cultures when this form of dancing is quite patently Irish in its entirety. Just listen to the music, the sets, the almost perfect reproduction of Irish Ceilidh movements. "Cherokee", "Dutch"...what nonsense; this is Irish folk dancing.
TodayFreedom 2 months ago
this is when there were less fat and depressed kids.
petele345 8 months ago
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QUE ES UNA REUNION DEL KU KLUX KLAN?
albsof1777 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
QUE ES UNA REUNION DEL KU KUS KLAN?
albsof1777 9 months ago
This world is alive and kicking at White News Now dot com. See you there.
CharlesALindbergh 1 year ago
Oh man, seeing Bascom Lamar Lunsford in this video was such an unexpected treat. Amazing clip!
bonniejamie 1 year ago
I love this film, but let's not get too misty. I'm 57 and remember how square dancing/clogging/ folk dancing were ridiculed even 50 years ago, in my country NC town. And our Town was slim from no AC, not from constant clogging!
jb20110 1 year ago
Please notice there isn't a fat kid in the bunch.
earnestw 1 year ago 2
Notice there isn't an overweight kid in the whole bunch.
earnestw 1 year ago
Doe's any body know the dark haired young man's name?. He appears to be a lead dancer and caller . I really enjoy his style and wonder what he went on to do in life.My father was from Sanford NC and was a square dace caller as a young man.He will be 90 and has fond memories of that time. Thanks, Keith
duncan3417 1 year ago
certainly stems from traditional irish celtic dancing
mrmagicroundcircle 1 year ago
Not an Ipod, or Wii, or Gameboy in sight. And look at the fun these people are obviously having ! Thanks for posting this David, From someone who has roots in this region of America, and will never forget it.
CFMD28 1 year ago 6
@CFMD28 My roots are many thousands of miles away from where this was recorded, across a huge ocean. And I'm sure I wasn't even born at that time. Yet I can't get enough of this moment captured on film. Every time watching it, my heart will jump a bit higher. Beware, one day it will land on one of you in America!
funkoforte 1 year ago
@funkoforte I grew up on this music. Proud of it too.
CFMD28 1 year ago
I have some videos you might enjoy that I made of my great grandfather (Charlie Bowman's) music
cabinbowman 2 years ago
If I ever get back to researching my geneology, I hope to find I'm related to mountain folk.
kittyat6 2 years ago
this is so interesting...its like finding an evolutionary 'missing link' in this case between irish and bluegras...hmm. great clip, want to see the rest
teaandcakeordeath 2 years ago
@teaandcakeordeath
Yes--exactly what I was thinking.. For people looking at the history of it and Appalachian music and dance it explains alot of it. Its like the lucky charms guy--the leprechaun spinning in a jig with his hand on his head and his hat.--When the scottish irish migration happened--they went to the hills and carried with it their music and tough religion--
MiamiReviews 1 year ago
sounds so irish i have to say
conororegan99 2 years ago
Apart from the dancing, which is great, there's two things I love about this clip:
1) How great it is to see people for whom it was still a big thing to be filmed. In particular, the young girl around 4.55. The look on her face is truly charming, a word not used much these days. How unlike the smart-alec kids forced on us these days by movies and TV.
2) How great it is to see young and old doing something together. When did the generations become separated from each other at work and play?
jude13 2 years ago 13
I'm with you. To see the young & old coming together sharing their love of
dancing. You see a sense of peace on
the kids' faces. Oh to been able to live
during that time.
CadillacL 2 years ago
Great bit of film & love the way the camera man (or woman) moves around with the dancers making one feel part of the action.
hedleyclive 2 years ago
Peckerwood heaven.
momohund 2 years ago
The most rockin thing.
PaulJD2006 2 years ago
Is the caller in this video the same as in the Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers video? He looks and sounds the same. Are there other dancers in both?
lindygee 2 years ago
I think they are. I SO remember seeing this on PBS. I hope to get me a copy. You just don't see dancin like this much anymore, if at all. I hate to see this die. Be nice to see some younger generations keeping it alive.
CadillacL 2 years ago
@CadillacL You are right, and I hope I will have a chance to see this before it's gone. However, beautiful things never really die. There will always be moments and places for beautiful things to arise again, sometimes in very unexpected ways surrounded by confusiuon. No real dance step ever dies, no real musical note can decay! Documents like this help to keep the eyes open for beauty.
funkoforte 1 year ago
@funkoforte This is true too. There are younge folks keeping it alive but, most don't know or see it usually.
CadillacL 1 year ago
I never get tired of watching this. THe dancing look so;;;;shrugs;;; free:)
CadillacL 3 years ago
The way in which the feet just seem to hover gives an eerie presence to this clip. Amazing footage!
LhodaKblerz 3 years ago
I'm writing from scotland and this dancing has been happening here for hundreds of years
frogking37 3 years ago
Indeed. "Mountain" or "Oldtime Country" music was developed from Celtic folk music. The region had lots of Scottish settlers.
BroncoBB 3 years ago 2
Does anyone know who the folks are and where they may be now? I just love this vid. I'm blown away by the young people who do such a great job.
mikeflstci 3 years ago
I notice some names of commentors here are the same as those for the dance posted under Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers. Some of these dancers are in the video called the Festival. But some are younger than those that went to New Port. Same team, different ages.
CharlieHardin
CharlieHardin 3 years ago
Danccing like this can't be beat. I'd love to been there in person (was born in 1971 though) This was PURE joy. I hope younger dncers today would keep this alive.
CadillacL 3 years ago
This footage is pure bliss. This family of flat-foot dancers are of genuine stage-performance quality. In this movie footage, if I'm not mistaken, the accompanying old-timey musicians are known as The Brushy Mountain Boys, when they performed under that name at Old-Time Fiddlers' Conventions during the early 1960s, around the same era when this film was made. This movie footage is worth its weight in gold, many times over !! Read that as PRICELESS !!
colindominy 3 years ago
Wish there was more of just this part :)
CadillacL 3 years ago
I loved watching the dancing and footwork! Wonderful!!
AnnAlto 3 years ago
I love it too! I never get tired of watching it. Can u do them?
CadillacL 3 years ago
Thank you for posting this....looks to be early 60's by their dress. What a GREAT look back!
ritajosue 3 years ago
Notice that there are no overweight people on this video. I wonder why? I'll give you one guess. Great video!
fitman10 3 years ago
Thank you SOOOOOOOO much for puttin this on here..... it is great to see all of the Traditional Mountain Music here my grandmother said she remembers going over to Bascoms and wacthing and learning to play guitar.... it is a memory she says that wil stay with her till her death
fiddlingirl4ever 3 years ago