So in 2013, events in the Memorial Hall will begin on
Friday Afternoon with a walk, dancing and a sit down celebratory meal in the Hall.
Fri Evening - Geoff Cubitt calls for the American Contra.
A 2013 draft programme will be available shortly, accessible from the new website page:
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Caravans, to obtain good location, are always advised to arrive to park early & conveniently before Friday Eve starts.
(You may return lower down; also at bottom of this page to the website we use today.)
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Hi - Come along. You're welcome. Browse our 2009 site. Here, most of the Old Homepage Archive.
Great. Alne Social Dancing is on 3 evenings: Fri, Sat & Sunday.
Visit when you choose. There's bonus late dances too. Hot drinks included in entertainment breaks.
CLICK on picture above: In a break. James Eisner informally accompanies a song.
Copyright; Tony Heaton 2004
In Music Workshops, instrumentalists play dance tunes of wide variety, lead by our skilled musicians.
For: The workshops at April'sGreat Alne Long-Weekend-
You may revisit the new website again soon, & see outlines for the 2012 programme. Or:
- You may cLICK here for the new site News page.. or:
For a general impression via what HAS taken place,
- View or download (pdf) to your own computer via CLICK PROGRAMME for 2009 - (On its own "old" webpage.) or
- CLICKto view aTypical earlier programme. Also for a detailed idea of what generally goes on.)
Come along then: be Welcomed. Browse our older site: Here, the Home page.
There's 5 "older pages", listed at the top about this inclusive Long Weekend - You may cLICK there for archive details. This happens over one April long-weekend, every year:
CLICK here on Last April's event... to see what took place in 2009.
In 2010, events in the Memorial Hall began on Saturday.
(For the 1st time in the 28yrs of the event. Explanation, & Friday evening's Contra details came/went on the new site.)
Your usual website address will always access the sites
So, for the current site, CLICK HERE - Or read on for now -
Visit the Hall anytime during Great AlneLong-Weekend.
Try many different kinds of dancing. Join-in to play music. Song, handbells: Many more activities. Welcome to this beautiful English Warwickshire village. Enjoy. We are ALL learning: Many here have experience in dance/music: With skills to share. Participate with us in the dancing, music & song.
This extended weekend explores varied traditional folk activities, & dances from around the world.
Workshops include varied types of dancing, music, song and handbells:
A Part-Song Group
are outside the Village Hall.
James Eisner pitches the starting notes on his guitar.
A workshop in the sunshine.
NB Much good hardstanding for caravans and motorhomes.
ENLARGE?CLICK- on the PICTURE
At popular times, parallel workshops (Song Group:Tunes on Handbells) take place whilst dancing goes on in the hall.
Many different kinds of workshop take place, right through each day, and with variety from year to year.
Copyright; Clare Hobro. 2005
The Alne Hills are nearby: Walking (despite interesting obstacles) is always popular.
A group set out to walk each day.
Additionally, on Sunday, there's a group cycling through the lanes. Destination Meg's.
(What for?? Click
"What else goes on in top titles")
Copyright; Tony Heaton 2004
Accommodation Options for April's Visit.
Bed & Breakfast. LINK TO Warwickshire Tourist Information, CLICK
or ring them on 01789 293 127.
Youth Hostel. The nearest is 9 miles away CLICK or 01789 297093
Caravan or mobile home. £2/person/night for all overnights at Gt Alne.
(under 16s free).
You hope to bring a Tent, First telephone asap please. 0121 777 3722.
Walking near Gt Alne Church.
Copyright; James Hobro. 2005.
You may contact 0121 777 3722 should you seek any further accommodation ideas.
Also ring this number to contact André & with general enquiries about the event (it has BT 1571).
You're most welcome singly, or if arriving with a partner.
There's chance to improve couple dancing techniques by frequent partner change.
Attend for any part, or
for all of the Long-Weekend.
There's no need to book-in.
We make full use of the Village's
World War 1 Memorial Hall.
You may digress here: CLICK
to read an Early History
of Gt Alne, Warwickshire UK.
Copyright; James Hobro. 2005.
23rd to26th April 2010 will be the 27th annual Great Alne Long-Weekend.
The Village Hall. is "Pinned" opposite the Old Station House on map below. On + or - CLICK the MAP.
Note: YOU are responsible for your own safety when dancing, walking, cycling etc.
Parents are responsible for safe & sensible behaviour of their children at all times.
Personal items. (If these need to be left in the hall, then) either in view in front of the stage,
or at the very back of the stage. Please, NOT at hall sides where they may cause falls.
Sides of this hall are NOT a safe place for personal items, or to set-up chairs.
Please take back any stray chair as you leave it. Dancers FALL over obstacles!
Back in 2008, it was nice again to see Karin Bellaart from The Netherlands. A lively dance teacher, she showed 1 or 2 Dutch Dances, but mostly dances from other countries. Karin, as our first teacher of International Dance to be invited to Gt Alne. was appropriately, here for our 2008 Silver Celebration.
Are YOU on our email list? Be sure you're emailed-out a programme for April's event.
To receive information about this annual April event, CLICK and fill-in your name & email address.
(This click will take you to give your details near to the base of this page.)
CLICK for 2009 Prices page. Also CLICK to see all accommodation choices: below.
There is no need to book for Great Alne Long weekend.
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The Next year's Gt. Alne Long Weekend will be 23rd to 26th April 2010.
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Camper vans or caravans may park hardstanding, nearby the Hall.
However, since we are not advertising camping facilities directly, please -
Should you wish to bring any mode of camping; caravan, motorhome or canal boat, it would be helpful were you to get in touch by sending an email -
CLICK below this picture, or preferably ring on 0121 777 3722. We can offer helpful advice.
Unfortunately, it's no longer practicable to provide a site with
facilities for tents or trailer tents near the hall. Should you intend to bring a tent though, ring us well beforehand. Local sites, & other alternatives are available.
Song Group Copyright; Clare Hobro. 2005.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE, to see it enlarged.
TheWhite & raftered Memorial Hall,Gt. Alne Village.
In lovely English Warwickshire countryside.
Its excellent floor allows comfortable dancing in these most pleasant surroundings.
Nel, in the centre; was 2009's
International visiting Dance teacher
from the Netherlands. Thank you Nel once more, for lovely dances.
PICTURE. Nel's 2004 visit with daughter Witzke.
In April 2009, Nel's elder daughter Hanke flew over too.
Hanke also taught a few interesting dances, and showed us the woman's style in Polish dance, which she demonstrated during Maciek's teaching session.
CLICK- ON PICTURES,to ENLARGE.
Copyright; Tony Heaton 2004.
Previously, one of several regularly visiting Dance teachers trained in the Netherlands brought across "new" dances to Great Alne -
Dances or tunes not presently danced or played here in the UK.
Should you have any pics (or video) of the April 2009 event, please email as an attachment.
We wish to include more pictures of this and of previous years; with some video on the website.
Why Great Alne Long-Weekend happens:
1) To foster International contacts. And in general, to promote friendship and understanding.
2) To give opportunities, especially for dancers and musicians to try-out skills. Especially it's for you to try skills with which you may not yet be familiar.
So when you attend a particular dance or workshop, come earlier, to sample something new.
Perhaps instead, stay longer, or bring an instrument to try a few tunes in a music workshop.
Don't be discouraged by abilities of others. Great Alne is an opportunity for discovery & exchange.
3) Great Alne Long Weekend hopes to foster young participants' fulfillment through folk activities.
And hopes to encourage all to come in the tolerent spirit of others sampling something different.
Price structure tries to reflect these principles. CLICK to go over to the PRICES WEBPAGE.
Leaders are not paid. Many regular contributors find fulfillment participating in the workshops of others.
Each year, travel is subsidised for a teacher well trained in International Dance, usually from the Netherlands, to bring material "new" to the dancers and musicians. That normally means dances of recent choreography with their local traditional styles & music, collected from a range of countries.
(André finds much joy in partaking. Having organised 25, he may manage a few more yet. Thanks are due to many helpers who've given time to share the organizing, running responsibilities & workshops.
A Bulgarian Orphanage
Draglishte orphanage is near Rila in the Macedonian Region.
Accommodates children mainly left by their families because they showed early learning limitations.
(Most would have been placed there after initially being abandoned at an early mother and baby clinic.)
The horrendous Eastern European State Orphanages are gradually closing, or receiving a few very basic improvements.
Considerable transformation of Draglishte is due mainly to voluntary help from just 2 couples in the UK.
£157 was raised at 2008 Gt Alne Long Weekend from the sale of Pam's tasty home-made marmalades and chutneys.
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Waitress Service in the Memorial Hall: - only for Monday's Lunch.
Not showing here the splendid hot lunch. This was much enjoyed before taking the photo.
Try to allow your visit to enjoy the gentler pace on Monday.
Delicious catering.
This alone is worth sampling at Great Alne Long Weekend in the Village Memorial Hall!
Eat before you set out?
Bring sarnies? WHATEVER FOR ?
More space during Monday allows better individual attention from the dance tutors; a sit-down meal; and we conclude walking in Oversley wood amongst the bluebells.
Copyright; André 2007. Also:
Photo titled at the top of page. Stitchwort & bluebells flower beside the path in Oversley Wood. On Monday's walk.
You may also perhaps have a specific question, or kindly just wish to -
Inform us preferably: should you intend to bring a motorhome or caravan.
Weekend, & long weekend visitors - please ring, or email, if needing further accommodation advice.
OUR EXCELLENT CATERERS - from the traditional Tudor Rose Tea Rooms in Alcester -
have there a lovely bakery section with temptingly delicious cakes on display.
They'll again be catering for us.
On the programme in green, is shown the type of food available at each mealtime.
The Caterers page is accessed at the top.
A variety of food will thus be provided at (now due to "improvements" the kitchen door).
Also at the new hall hatch when it doesn't disturb what goes on in the Hall during the long weekend:-
On SAT. LUNCHTIME & SUN. EVE, filled hot jacket potatoes were available; also baguettes or rolls.
HOT MEALS FOR FRI EVE, SAT EVE & SUN LUNCH. Home cooked, with VEGETARIAN or MEAT CHOICES.
Enjoy Amanda's homemade soup with a crusty roll. Salads available: especially for warm, sunny days.
On MONDAY, a first class and quieter day, we order a WAITRESS SERVED HOT LUNCH in the hall.
If ever your food need/preference might be missing, explain to Amanda at the hatch for the next day.
Particular thanks in 2008 were to Linda & David for their lovely decoration
of the Memorial Hall - put up especially for 2008's Silver Celebratory Year.
If I may get some PICS. (from YOU?) (PLEASE send André pics, if you have any!) -
Then it should be possible for everyone to view the 2008 decorated hall soon, here on this website.
To get email details of Gt. Alne Long Weekend.
to return to the TOP of the NEW LAYOUT Home page for 2012.
Or You CLICK here, to return to the TOP of this archived 2009 Home page.
Visit CLICK Warwickshire Tourist Information's web page.
CLICK to see aTypical earlier programme for the long weekend. (Karin Bellaart's visit in 2005).
.
It's so Hard being Green, in every respect.
The writer discovers; green pages are better NOT read in sunshine.
Nor, unfortunately, are they as environmentally friendly as their colour might mislead one to hope -
You may generally need to view with a higher screen brightness.
to return to the TOP of the NEW LAYOUT Home page for 2013.
Or You CLICK here, to return to the TOP of this archived 2009 Home page.