The 29th Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion, 1990-09-05, Page 14PAGE A-14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1990.
Fiddlers, dancers everywhere during weekend
Stepdancers of all ages take part in the
stepdancing competition Sunday after
noon at the arena stage.
Since the first Thresher Reunion was
held 28 years ago, it has been getting
bigger every year, especially the entertain
ment part of it and since the mushrooming
began Gladys Van Egmond has been in
charge. “People come here for fun, that’s
why it’s growing titoe way it is,” she said.
The fun begins on Thursday night when
for the second year musicians can attend
the Fiddle Workshop in the arena auditor
ium. Doug McNaughton from Stratford
shares his knowledge on how to set up a
fiddle, how to prepare contest material,
tuning techniques and basic preparation.
This is followed by a one hour jam session.
Last year, about 15 fiddlers were present, a
good number, Mrs. Van Egmond felt for
the first year. “You don’t start something
like t^s and get a big crowd,” she said. “It
has to be built up.”
For musicians who do not want to attend
the workshop, there will be a jam session at'
that time in the shed.
Friday afternoon is a special day for
seniors and handicapped people. Admit-,
tance is only one dollar and as everything is
set up, but the crowd is small, it is easy for
them to get around and have a look at
things. There will be a variety show held
featuring entertainment by the Huron
Strings, who have been a part of the
Reunion for many years, and the Take a
Look Step Dancers, comprised of Jason
Dalton of Londesboro; Lindsay Anderson of
Blyth and Marcy McCall of Walton.
The Fiddler’s Jamboree begins at 7:30
that evening. Last year’s event boasted 50
participants who entertained a capacity
crowd.
On Saturday afternoon, the No-Note Jug
Band from Goderich will ride on a wagon
behind an antique tractor during the
parade then will appear on the van stage to
provide entertainment. The fiddler’s con
test begins at 2 p.m. and is judged by Doug
McNaughton and Gerald Bailey of Sarnia.
The step-dance competition will be held on
Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. and it is judged
by Carol Ann McQuaid, of Seaforth and
Gladys Hopper of Londdn.
Finding judges to adjudicate the contests
is one of Ms. Van Egmond’s most difficult
tasks. Fiddlers are judged for tone, timing,
tempo, style and technique and step
dancers are judged for the quantity of steps
and accuracy, the quality of steps, timing
and personality. “It is really important to
have someone professionally qualified.
They have to have experience in judging.”
Mrs. Van Egmond says she also likes the
judges to add remarks to the score sheets,
to help the competitors improve. “A little
criticism is a good thing, if done right,”
she adds. There is one new judge each year
and they are changed on a rotating basis i
every two years so people do not have to
come up against the same judge too
frequently.
Another part o£ Sunday’s competition
will be a clog dancing demonstration by the
Carry-on Cloggers, mothers of the step
dancing girls, Mrs. Van Egmond says.
Host fiddlers and pianists for the
step-dancing contest are J. J. Weiler of
Ariss, Ian Hamilton of London and Jessica <
Weiler of Ariss.
During the afternoon on Saturday the
Heritage Fiddlers, who will also play at the
evening dance will be entertaining, while
on Sunday, the Dusters, an old-time group
led by Marg Harkness of Ripley, will
appear on the van stage. Guest musicians
are also welcome to play, according to Mrs.
Van Egmond.
A church service will be held at 10:30 on
Sunday morning. Special music will be
provided by guest soloist Jan Puchlak of
Lexington, Michigan.
For people who like music and entertain
ment there is no end to the variety offered
at the Thresher Reunion and the growth
potential is still there. “We have to just go
year by year,” said Mrs. Van Egmond,
“and see what ideas work out.”
For many people the fiddling and
stepdancing competitions are the high
light of the Thresher Reunion.
to the
Threshers on
their 29th
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