Dancer Comments from Fool's Fest 2004
We appreciate Andrew Synder for typing the scribbled notes during his residency at Split Tree in July 2004.
Sid Hetzler
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Quick Comments from Split Tree Fool’s Fest 2004 – Sunday, April 4, 2004
(edited for any personal or identifiable remarks - not edited for grammar or punctuation)
(1) heavenly
delightful
danced to spectacular music
with talented dances
Fun classes
Excellent callers
a wonderful dance community
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(2) awesome "Floorplay" & "4-play" & ___play
beautiful dawn of dancing
w/ smiling eyes of friendship
dancing to the music of my dreams - the steps as always brought me joy!
thank you Sid for sharing your marvelous home w/ me - w/ all of us -
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(3) Loved everything!
Seth’s a great fool,
As we all know,
Sid’s a great host,
He puts on quite a show.
The play’s the timing
Opera by the folks
And the Fooz Balls
Really Rock
That’s not a hoax.
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(4) Next time:
More contra dancing & less other stuff!
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(5) I love the dancing
of that I’m quite certain.
But I wish the window’d had a curtain
For my fair white buttocks did fairly shine
In the moonlight beneath the pine.
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(6) This weekend - as do many of the weekends at Splittree - gives me a sense of
regeneration and connection with myself and my friends. It is so much fun
learning new dances in a comfortable and supportive environment, as well as relaxing
with one’s friends and meeting others in a beautiful setting.
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(7) "Stop goofing with the sound system already."
As usual, a great photo op. So much color and beauty here.
Yay, Polly & Sid & Dan & wonderful chef’s/other staff.
Yay Band! Yay Seth/Vicki/George/others.
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(8) Weather
Whether cold or warm
in someone’s arms
moving
to music
flowing like the breeze
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(9) I really enjoyed the whole weekend.
The "Fooz Balls" were terrific - a good
band makes a huge difference. Excellent
food as usual, kudos to the entire
kitchen crew. I’ll be back next year!
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(10) The free spirit of all the people here brings
such light to even the darkest people.
The friendly family-like feeling that
this farm house holds will cheer up anyone
that cross through its doorways.
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(11) Split Tree is like heaven on earth! It has
blue sky, green fields, a great dance floor, and a
hot tub with a view!
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(12) Very Happy
Suggestion - Sunday recap of Saturday workshop
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(13) Flowing
Exuberant
Joyful
Fun
Moments of Discovery
Appreciation of each individual
Respect for nurturing this safe,
Beautiful Environment.
If this dance floor could talk
with a glorious celebration we
could hear.
Thank you Sid for your vision.
It’s an honor to have the
Split Tree experience!
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(14) Dance - Love - People
Flow - Warmth - Moist
Touch - Give - Get - Send
Receive - Rough - Soft - Loud -
Quiet. Quiet Movement
& warm bodies & generous smiles.
Where is ?
Oh yes - that
moment of letting go before taken
in again & again. Yes - Yes.
May the circle be unbroken
and that it is forever &
forever. Amend.
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(15) To Dance, to dance
It’s God’s prance
We came to Sid’s
and across the floor we slid
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(16) the sun & the ocean
the eyes of the beloved - many eyes, many
beloveds, fear melting into open appreciation,
companionship, community, allowing myself to be seen &
known, speaking my own truth, claiming it as my own,
letting the judgment be seen, felt, dropped.
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(17) sound of wind
blowing through trees
grasses
valley
tent rattling
sun shining
adventure
exploration
risking the pain & ecstasy
of an open heart.
opening to possibility
having fun!
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(18) exhilarating
enlivening
rejuvenating
discovery
happiness
fun
breath
connected
flow
(19) It’s so wonderful,
So overwhelming
to be around so many people
Who all love to dance.
I love these people so much.
What can I do for an encore?
Jennifer & Steve really know how to work together.
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(20) *new friends
- could use a little meat
*great music
*great dance classes
*great/awesome callers
*Sid’s awesome
-could use some more chairs in the dance studio just a few
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(21) Mind expanding, new friends, great people,
so many possibilities for the future - new
community. I look forward to many
more weekends like this. I hope
your dream of a community here
happens - I’d like to be a part of it.
Loved the classes in so many kinds of
dance! Great music, terrific dancing,
a memorable weekend!
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(22) spinning, twirling, captivating spaces
held atop, amidst the beauty of
the mountain scenery creating
small paradises within an endless
paradise. Hearts are joined by moments
spent, laughter shared, experiences compared,
but always, always love flowing, ever
abounding in swirling momentum
within, around, the dance, the dance,
of you & me, the dance of life
even parting we carry the seeds of
joy & the memories of friends &
smiles and it goes on & on forever.
And ever...
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(23) girl with a pretty smile
Marsha Brady
Polly gone
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(24) Close embrace weekend
sate dizzy flight
happy joyful
in-love under-cooked garbanzos
feet forever
well-cared for touch foolish
challenged save Why do birds sing so
peaceful grounded gay, and lovers
endorphins elated wait the break of
respected allergic day. Why do they fall in
cool in-tune love?
sunny out of sync
in sync
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(25) This weekend was
awesome. I have
no complaints. I love
the mixed-up dances,
not just contra. Especially
like encouraging the
close embrace components.
The contract improv
was excellent - both parts.
But especially the 2nd one.
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(26) Freedom of expression
Through dance, through music
Acceptance of personalities
All different, but sharing a common joy in life
Beauty of place
Lighting, view, spectacular sunshine
Working together
What can be accomplished in a minimal amount of time
with fund and ease when different folks work
together toward a common goal
Laughter
Filled all spaces, smiles, relief from stress-filled everyday lives
Glorious music
Talents, gifts, sharing
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(27) the view
the view
the view
the music
joy
peace
pleasure
wind
syncopation
singing
circle of dance shoes
rhythm
back rubs
knowledge of new steps
creating new choreography
dips
slips
food
talks
walks
the view
the view
the view
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(28) the brotherhood of man communing as
the swallows of Capistrano on the migration of
life.
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(29) Good people
Good food
Great dance floor
Beautiful weather
Full moon
Great band
Music
Lots of neat classes
Great instructors
Awesome facilities
View
Looking forward to many more
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(30) invigorating
open
friendly
so much close embrace forces a beginner’s mind set, even if one
doesn’t come easily.
the wind danced with us
instant community
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(31) playful, gentle, energetic, meaningful time
in the woods
restful but exhausting
all I want to do is dance and mingle -
& could skip folk operas and that stuff -
but as long as most enjoy it, I have no
complaint
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(32) exhilaration
connection
movement
bliss
floating
contentment
laughter
transition
possibility
colorful
playful
prayer in motion
sleepless
centered
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(33) Beautiful
Challenging
Liberating
Tested & expanded by boundaries with dance
Lovely setting
Great dancing
I’ve learned more about dance & movement in
this weekend than I’ve learned in years.
Thank you!
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(34) Fun
Fellowship
Free time
Friendship
Meeting people
Reunions
Compassion
Making due
Putting up
Helping out
Learning
Teaching
Experiencing
Freedom
Music/Musicians
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(35) Great music, food, site, dances
& of course Sid, great mighty Sid!!!
Great time thank you so much for
Inviting me to be here.
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(36) My first Fool’s Fest weekend was exciting, entertaining,
informative and memorable. I enjoyed meeting
wonderful, kind people and expanding my knowledge
of dance. Thanks Sid for opening your home
to all and coordinating a tremendous time.
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(37) Relaxed environment
great health food - i.e., wonderful cooks
eclectic energetic band of musicians -
talented, fun, creative (costumes, chats) were fund
for callers
challenging dances esp. gender switching
time to participate/time to do nothing
be at peace and joy by yourself
or with others
there was no smoking allowed -
and that’s wonderful!
Cheers to Sid and staff!
Creative skit
Need more hot water for showers
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(38) This Fest really opened new ways for me. With
Contact Improv & Yoga - 2 experiences new to me.
Deepening old friendships & building new one’s
The most valued result
These connections don’t seem to happen
the same way at home.
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(39) Learning about myself and
others
Sharing my energy with others
in dance
*respecting others
*forgiving myself
*connecting with nature
*leaning to listen to more than
words - in other behaviors
*letting myself go through phases
emotions - some inner conflicts
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