Phil Jamison - interviews
Phil Jamison 1:
Southern Appalachian Dance
Dance caller, musician, and historian Phil Jamison discusses the distinguishing characteristics of southern Appalachian square dance forms.Phil Jamison discusses his research into the origins of American square dance in the south, and describes the key role that African-American musicians played . There are the well-known musical elements—the role of the banjo, for example—and Phil also points out that the first callers were African-American. Even some distinctive square dance features such as Birdie in the Cage may have African roots.
Phil Jamison 2:
African influences, and African-American callers
Phil Jamison discusses his research into the origins of American square dance in the south, and describes the key role that African-American musicians played . There are the well-known musical elements—the role of the banjo, for example—and Phil arguesout that the first callers were African-American. Even some distinctive square dance features such as Birdie in the Cage may have African roots.
Phil Jamison 3
The caller's role in Southern squares
The square dance caller in Southern dance traditions plays a somewhat different role than his Northern counterpart. Phil looks at the way a Southern caller improvises and uses basic figures in different ways.
Phil Jamison 4
Cecil Sharp and the "running set"
Phil discusses the origins of the term "running set," going back to when the English folklorist and collector Cecil Sharp first encountered southern Appalachian dancing.
