Festival-goers dance to ragtime rhythms

By Evelyn Gander
Staff Writer

``Kentucky Rosebud'' brought toe-tapping, hand-clapping, turn-of-the-century rhythms to the lobby of the Norton Center at Centre College Saturday afternoon. Written by Arthur Lang, the 1915 music was part of the ``Ragtime dance instruction'' event of The Great American Brass Band Festival.

Describing ragtime - the music of 1896 to 1917 America - as itself ``ragged'' with a ``lightness'' and ``rhythmic flavor,'' Frank Cipolla said dancing naturally results from hearing ragtime.

``It lends itself to that kind of thing.''

Professor of Music Emeritus at State University of New York at Buffalo, Cipolla had led a day-long ``Conference on American Band History: The Ragtime Era'' Friday at the Norton Center.

As Saturday's dance demonstration and instruction got under way, he said ragtime reflected its time in America - with Theodore Roosevelt as president in that era's ``freedom of American spirit.

``And ragtime just fits right into that.''

Music for the 2 p.m. event was provided by pianist Dick Zimmerman and violinist David Reffkin, both of California, and drummer Dennis Brown of Massachusetts.

After dance instructors Renee Camus of Baltimore and Edward Stanford of Washington, D.C. explained a few steps, more than 15 couples of all ages learned the basics of ``ragtime'' dance.

``Just to be able to participate rather than sit and watch,'' was what Kim Doherty of Lexington especially liked.

And her mother, Bettie Surface of Columbus, Ohio enjoyed learning the steps with both her daughter and grandchildren, Doherty's son, Collin, 8 and daughter, Erin, 11.

``I like meeting lots of people,'' Erin said at the program's conclusion, as festival-goers around her started to fold lawn chairs and go back outside.

Not from the North but the far South had come two other visitors to The Great American Brass Band Festival's ragtime dance instruction. Doris and Fred Belyea arrived here Friday from Orlando, Florida. Except for an overnight stay on their way elsewhere, the couple had never been to Kentucky.

They both were enjoying their stay. Asked if they were going to leave today, Doris Belyea thought for a moment and then shook her head with a smile.

``We might find something else to do,'' she said.

The couple said this year was their first - but not their last - Great American Brass Band Festival.

Doris Belyea smiled and said, ``We'll be back.''

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