KENT—The CommUNITY group, a subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce, continues to provide the town with opportunities to come together, laugh and have fun, no matter of what political persuasion folks might be or where they might stand on local issues.
Last Saturday’s second annual Scottish Burns Supper at the Community House is an example of this initiative and was a merry whirl as dancers pirouetted round the floor to music provided by the Sean Heely Band and bagpiper Jesse Ofgang. Kent’s own Gary Kidd, originally from Scotland and co-owner of 45 on Main, called the dances. Whimsically, he offered to provide subtitles for those having trouble understanding his Scottish accent.
As always, it took a few moments for the packed line of revelers that formed a circle around the large dance floor to capture the flow of the ceilidh dances. There were some mashups when “back, one, two three” led some couples to bump into other couples still going “forward, one, two three.” Laughter and good spirits prevailed, however, and soon all dancers were moving smoothly in the same direction.
Kidd’s own parents, Sandra and Alan Kidd, who had flown in from Scotland just for the evening—and who handily won recognition as the visitors who had come farthest for the event—demonstrated the steps of the dances for newcomers. Some members of the band got to join in the dancing, an opportunity not usually enjoyed when performing.
The evening began with a haggis being ceremoniously piped into the hall by Ofgang. Dan Greenbaum carried the savory dish aloft before placing it reverently on a table at the head of the hall. Sean Heely gave an impassioned rendition of “Address to a Haggis” by Robert Burns, Scotland’s Poet Laureate, whose birthday was being celebrated.
‘Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face / Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race! / Aboon them a’ ye tak your place, / Painch, tripe, or thairm: / Weel are ye wordy of a grace / As lang ‘s my arm,” Heely intoned dramatically, brandishing a knife that he eventually plunged into the warm pudding.
The haggis (a savory pudding made from a boiled sheep’s stomach stuffed with the animal’s heart, lungs and liver minced with suet, oatmeal, and spices) was served up with accompanying “tatties” during a break in the dancing and samples of Scottish whiskies were passed around.
“It was a very cold January night, but once again it turned out fantastic,” Kidd said. “It was a fun celebratory evening for all ages, from people who are 21 to people in their 80s. There’s no other event you can go to with such a large age range. And we had a number of people from out of town, from New Jersey and New York, who came. It was nice to see both familiar and new faces and to see all the people laughing.”
While the Burns Supper was a resounding success, the CommUNITY group is not stopping there. Ellen Corsell, head of the committee, said the group continues to focus on bringing people out, away from their screens and devices, to enjoy human contact.
The group has moved away from the St. Patrick’s Day celebration it held last year and will focus instead on an evening of folk dancing planned for March 15.
“There is a thrill in just getting together and dancing,” Corsell said, adding that resident Paul Rajeckas is helping to coordinate the event. Rajeckas, a performer, educator and choreographer with more than 30-years experience in physical theater and storytelling, moved to Kent nearly four years ago and has held impromptu dances at his Maple Street home for the past two summers.
“We will be celebrating international folk dances,” said Corsell. “We don’t have things like that where you dance together in circles or lines. Here, everyone dances alone in their own space. There will be a caller and instruction—no experience is needed. It’s just about having fun.”
She said if there is enough enthusiasm for the event, dances may be planned every other month.
The CommUNITY group is also working toward a firemen’s muster during which area fire departments will be invited to pit their skills against their Kent counterparts.
“The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association has agreed to host it and High Watch is participating,” she said. “What we are hoping to do is to raise good sponsorship so they can compete for cash prizes.”
