Hi - you're Welcome.  Stay to browse our website.     Here's the Home page.
And there's 5 other pages about the Long Weekend - list above right - on which you may wish to cLICK for more details.
All this happens over a long April weekend, every year:
View "PROGRAMME Apr. 2009" for what happened this year.

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.

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 this year's
International visiting Dance teacher
from the Netherlands. Thank you Nel once more, for lovely dances.

PICTURE. Nel's 2004 visit with daughter Witzke.

This 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, when she demonstrated during Maciek's teaching session.

CLICK- ON PICTURES,to ENLARGE.
Copyright; Tony Heaton  2004.

Each year, one of several regularly visiting Dance teachers trained in the Netherlands bring across some "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.

In April 2009, we enjoyed -
Israeli Dances with Adrian Pointon.
Adrian - who deserves to be better known outside Northwest England and the Midlands -
Is the teacher of Israeli dance par excellence.
Enjoy Adrian's brill workshops and also his excellent music when Cindy leads her CIRCLE DANCES.
Great. Alne Social Dancing is on 3 evenings. Fri./Sat./Sun.
Visit when you choose. There's 3 bonus late dances too. Hot drinks included in entertainment breaks.


On Friday Evening with Barbara Kinsman & Bill, we had many traditional English Playford-Style Dances, but also International Dances, and Late Nite Extra with Cajun Dance.

At Rhodri Davies workshops, we extemporised & tested American Contra Dance techniques -
That's at 6.30pm on Saturday & Sunday Evenings with Contra Dancing from 8pm.
Contradance has LOTS of changeabout of partners!

Saturday Evening started with a Belly Dance workshop; lots of contradance -
Highlights from the daytime workshops - and finishes with Late-Nite-Extra Circle Dance.

Sunday Evening started with Adrian's Hot-hot Israeli, and after contra -
There's French Couple Dancing with Pete Grassby.


In Music Workshops, instrumentalists play dance tunes of wide variety, lead by our skilled musicians.

Workshops are throughout the day - Sat Sun and Mon. NB. this is the w/e BEFORE the bank hol.

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.
Copyright; Clare Hobro. 2005

ENLARGE?CLICK-PICTURE

At popular times, parallel workshops (eg the Song Group and 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.
For the workshops at next Great Alne Long-Weekend-
You may revisit this site in about a week, & download the entire detailed programme. Or: 
- CLICK over to read the NEWS page. or
- View or download (pdf) to your own computer via CLICK PROGRAMME - (Detailed & on its own webpage.) or
- CLICKto view aTypical earlier programme. Also in some detail.)

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.

Click on News about April's Event above to see who's contributing, and new things for this year.
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.)

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.

CLICK for 2009 Prices page.      Also CLICK to see  all accommodation choices: below.
There is no need to book for Great Alne Long weekend.

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.

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 in 2010.  On the programme in green, is shown the type of food available at each mealtime. The Our Superb Caterers page is accessed at the top.

A variety of food will thus be provided at the hatch during most of 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.

Waitress Service in the Memorial Hall: - only for Monday's Lunch.

Not showing here the splendid hot lunch, since André enjoyed his prior to taking this 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? WHAT?

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.

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

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.

                     CLICK on picture above. James Eisner accompanies a song.
                                                                       Copyright; Tony Heaton 2004

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.

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).
If you wish to bring a Tent,    First telephone please.  01789 488 568.


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).

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!

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The Next year's Gt. Alne Long Weekend will be 23rd to 26th April 2010.

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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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To get email details of Gt. Alne Long Weekend.

CLICK  to go back near the top here on the Home Page.           website last updated 19.1.09

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It's so Hard being Green, in every respect.
Should you find these page's green format hard to read;
Please try increasing your screen brightness.
Press  Fn key at the same time as the Right [ >] of the 4 direction keys.

Note: whoops - that's  NOT the key above the comma !
Somewhat more legible now? Pretty!  Praps NOT ! 

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.

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