Canadian Dance
John BearThere is a rich tradition of Canadian folk dance, generally little known and little done south of the border. The dances range from rousing Newfoundland work dances (the dockworkers' "Donkey Riding") to plaintive Hudson Bay ballads ("Woodsmoke and Oranges") to lively French Canadian tunes ("Fadi Du Dai"), to dances from the First Nation people of the north ("Camel in Nunavut"). We dance holding hands in a circle, and each dance is taught before doing it, so no partners are needed and beginners are welcome. John Bear, co-founder of Bay Area Circle Dancers has been teaching and dancing for 25 years, and has put on workshops in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
