Bernard´s Summer School 2011

05. 11. 2010 | 292 reads

Although it is still quite some time until the next Summer School, we are not being idle. We are contemplating the programme composition – dancing, music, singing and language, as well as its structure. We are wondering whether two- or three-hour blocks are the ideal form. We are considering the teachers and of course also the Final Evening programme. That is also connected to the question where should the Final Evening take place. Many participants recall the Ponec Theatre and thus we are also considering this option. 


 

   
Final evening (8th Summer School)

We are determined to keep a broad offer of step-dancing classes, although the restrictive measures applicable to the competing dancers prevent them from participating. We will certainly give sean nós dancing its space and we are ready to increase the number of teachers according to interest. We will happily maintain Irish set dancing, which we still see as the future activity of the current step dancers. We would also like to expand the dance section by either ceilí dancing lessons where less known and used ceilí dances would be taught, or we might include a two-hand dance seminar.
The musical instruments will certainly remain, from the well-proven ones (whistles, guitar, bodhrán), we will try to bring the violin "back into play", we will also try to offer banjo, bagpipes, box, and newly also bouzouki and harp. Here, however, we need to enforce stricter rules for the inclusion of the instrument in the curriculum and will ask the applicants interested in the lessons not only for an expression of interest through an application but also for a deposit payment before the first deadline.
We will again offer sean nós singing and would not mind against a further extension to Irish lilting. And then there’ll be the Irish language of course. We are just wondering whether not to bring even a native speaker to join Radvan (moreover, the one teaching sean nós singing will certainly be one).
We have sketched out the contours of the final evening and now it will depend on whether the other party be persuaded to visit Prague and whether we will have enough money.
We do not want to change the economy of the School as yet, thus it can be expected that the enrolment fees will be approximately equal to those of this year.
When preparing the programme, we will try to take into account the comments of BSS 2010 participants, although those that would give significant impetus to change or improve, were not really numerous.
Anyway, save your pennies, plan your time and proclaim everywhere that
Bernards Summer School 2011 will be held from 13 to 19 August 2011 in Prague.

In conclusion I would like to point out to our readers that there are still some Summer School DVDs from 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 available. You can order them by e-mail or through our e-shop.

V.B.