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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