VT
Robin is a pianist, accordionist, dance caller and teacher, with a dual interest in both Cultural Heritage and Expressive Arts. A New England native, her anscestors include some of the the earliest settlers of the Mirimachi region of New Brunswick, Canada. French, Scottish, Irish and Brittish all came together there along the banks of the Mighty River Miramichi, and their descendants migrated south to New England. It is from this cultural heritage that Robin draws her inspiration for Traditional Music and Dance.
Along with traditional reels and jigs, Robin's repetoire includes music from Brittany and Central France and it's associated dances. Other dance styles she has taught include Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, Cajun and Zydeco, Waltz and Tango. Robin has played with several bands, and collaborates extensively with a diverse network of musicians, dancers, dance organizers, arts organizations and non-profits to produce multi-faceted events and special occasions. Robin also works part-time with the elderly as an Activities Assistant, and has a part-time Healing Arts practice for clients seeking energy healing, wellness coaching, and group classes in creative expression including dance and movement.
Trained classically on piano, she has been singing all her life. After moving to Vermont in 1994, she founded Happy Hearts Camp, a children's summer program located at her farm in Tunbridge, VT. Leading children and staff in singing of songs, it was not long before a community formed around the local tradition of contradancing. In 1999, the VT Folklife Center awarded her a year-long apprenticeship award to study with master fiddler Harold Luce in nearby Chelsea, VT. She also began learning to play backup piano, which eventually lead to playing the accordion in bands, dancing weekly at local dance halls, and attending festivals and camps where traditional music was being passed on. She has studied privately with accordionist/pianist Jeremiah McLane for almost 20 year, and was the booking agent/producer for the 9-year long Strafford UU Concert Series from 2003-2012. She holds a BS degree in Health Education from UVM, and has pursued in-depth writing and group faciitation training in Transformational Language Arts from Goddard College and the School for Integrative Archetypal Dreamwork.
In both performance and leadership, her intention is always to create meaningful and memorable experiences where participants strengthen their connections to one-another and generate a collective feeling of confidence, well-being and acceptance. Robin's philosophy is grounded in a deep belief in the power of language, music and the arts to transform the overwhelming challenges that people of all ages are faced with in daily life, and to foster a sense of wonder, humor and freedom through engagement with Participatory Arts, indoors as well as out.
Robin has a natural enthusiasm, and brings empathy, sensitivity and joy to her creative work. She is passionate about personal, community and world healing and integrates the wisdom fostered in her earlier career in the Alternative Health field to the creative and empowering activities of music-making and social dancing. She believes fully that as a living artform, traditional music and dance is relevant and essential for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Institution/Business Type:
Artist / Creative (Individual)
Legal Status:
Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship
Year Founded:
1994
Institution/Business Type:
Artist / Creative (Individual)
Legal Status:
Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship
Year Founded:
1994
Primary Discipline:
Music - TraditionalAdditional Disciplines:
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Depending on the venue, programming, instruction and audience participation can be adapted to accommodate people with disabilities.
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Fee range:
$50 - $2,500Teaching Settings:
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Fee range:
$50 - $2,500