Seattle, WA. Seattle Folklore Society is connecting people globally through its virtual Seattle Song Circle, a free program in which participants gather through Zoom to sing songs with others. SFS President John Ullman shares that it’s “exciting to see what’s happened” with Seattle Song Circle’s online transition. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seattle Song Circle consisted of a dozen people who would meet every Sunday in someone’s living room to sing songs. One person would begin singing, and others would join in. However, since Seattle Song Circle’s online transition, attendance at these singing sessions has nearly tripled. The song circle’s co-host Bruce Baker describes one of the sessions as “amazing,” and reports participants coming from Australia, England, and Vancouver B.C., as well as eight states across the U.S.
A photo of a recent Seattle Song Circle session through Zoom.
Founded in 1966, Seattle Folklore Society is a nonprofit folk organization known for producing folk music concerts, dances, song circles, camps, and a newsletter called the SFS Flyer. Due to COVID-19, SFS had to cancel and postpone many of its offerings, including concerts that were planned earlier this year. However, the Seattle Folklore Society Concert Committee is planning to livestream a fall concert series for the public. These concerts will either have paid tickets or donation-based viewings. To hear more updates about upcoming SFS concerts, people may sign up for the concert announcement mailing list or become a member and hear news via the SFS Flyer.
Ullman shares that after the pandemic passes SFS hopes to still broadcast concerts online, even if they happen in person. While webcasts won’t replace in-person concerts, Ullman recognizes the many benefits to livestreamed performances, including people getting to “see artists they like more often, taking the pain out of being on the road for musicians, and helping musicians’ incomes.”
The Todalo Shakers, pictured here, were set to perform through Seattle Folklore Society on March 28. Due to COVID-19, the concert was canceled.
Another popular event that was canceled was the weekly SFS sponsored Emerald City Contra Dance. Contra dance is a style of folk dance comprised of long lines of couples dancing together. The mixed origins of contra dance trace back to various English, Scottish, and French styles from the 17th century. Ullman shares that many people who enjoyed these dances are administering their own virtual dances independently through Zoom. He says that while these virtual dances “won’t replace dancing with other humans” they are managing to “keep the community together.”
People can check out the dance page on SFS’s website to see updates and news on future dances once COVID-19 passes. A video of a pre-pandemic Emerald City Contra Dance at the Phinney Neighborhood Community Center is featured below and includes the musical group Great Bear Trio.
An Emerald City Contra Dance prior to COVID-19.
Ullman praises people who are “persevering and being imaginative” throughout the pandemic, especially regarding how arts organizations are shifting programming. Ullman points out that the technology needed to broadcast events, like concerts, has been available for about 20 years, but “nobody did it because there was an energy barrier” that the virus has forced people to get over. Ullman shares that a “silver lining” of overcoming this energy barrier will be “making the arts scene more accessible.”
Children dancing at a pre-pandemic SFS dance event.
From Seattle Folklore Society:
Seattle Folklore Society is always accepting new members. Members receive discounts at events and the SFS flyer, which lists dozens of upcoming local concerts and dances. SFS membership costs $20 a year, $25 for a household, and $15 for students and seniors. More information on the benefits of becoming a member is available here.
The purpose of the Seattle Folklore Society is to preserve and foster awareness and appreciation of folk and traditional arts in the Seattle area. Our non-profit folk organization, founded in 1966, has one of the largest and most stable memberships in the country. We produce folk music concerts, dances, song circles, camps, and a newsletter, the SFS Flyer. Many of our members are active concertgoers, dancers and players of the acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, ukulele, and other folk instruments. The SFS is a member of Folk Alliance.
