Two-step Tom
Tom was just three years old when his grandfather built him a small fiddle and showed him how to hold a bow. Before long, he was supplementing the family income by playing on the streets of Notting Hill. Years of playing for passersby taught him what people respond to in music. The sound of coins dropping into his hat was a powerful motivator.
Tom has played at dances and performances in theatres, taverns, and dance halls throughout England and Scotland. His favorite place to play, however, is at an outdoor country dance in a small village on a warm summer evening. Tom is delighted to be reunited in this production with his mate Brian, who he met many years ago when they roomed together one summer in a boarding house in East London.
Fiddlin' Fiona
Fiona was born into a musical family. Fiona's mother was a harper, and Fiona’s earliest memories include sitting by the fire and listening to her play. Fiona began harp lessons when she was five years old. But Fiona was always drawn to the sound of the fiddle, and she began taking fiddle lessons from her uncle when she was ten.
Fiona is known for her fast and intricate hornpipes--and a bowing arm that can play all night long. She attributes her arm strength to being the daughter of a blacksmith. Fiona lists the Gateshead fiddler, Jamie Hill, as an inspiration. Besides the fiddle and harp, she also plays the union pipes. Fiona would like to thank her parents for their unwavering support in her pursuit of a career in music.
Tappin' Tessa
Tessa has been dancing as long as she can remember. Her entire family was involved in country dancing and she learned to dance on the village green with her father as the caller. Tessa’s current favorite dances are the polonaise and the mazurka. Her influences include Edward Payne and G.M.S. Childers.
Tessa is in high demand for couples wanting to learn the quadrille. On Sunday afternoons when the weather is nice, Tessa enjoys cemetery picnics. She also likes to walk along the beach and look for interesting specimens for her seaweed scrapbook.
Bumpin' Brian
Brian has mastered many types of dance, but his passion is keeping up with new trends. He’s always interested in “the dances the kids are doing.” Brian has been captivated by the polka, the new dance sweeping the country. He recently returned from Paris, where he spent four weeks learning from several elite Parisian polka dance teachers. Some of his polka partners were members of the Paris Ballet.
Brian is available for group lessons and private instruction. When he’s not dancing, Brian can usually be found tending his flower garden or working on his collection of Caribbean shells. Brian would like to thank his Uncle Phil, a Convent Garden greengrocer and florist, for introducing him to the joy of dancing.
Leapin' Lawrence
Lawrence began dancing, as a young boy, on the street corners of Whitechapel. He was spotted by a local dance instructor, John Hargraves, who recognized his natural talent and recruited him as an assistant. Under Hargrave’s tutelage, Lawrence expanded both his repertoire and stage presence. His dancing is noteworthy for its strength, athleticism, and lyrical exuberance. Lawrence’s favorite dances are the shottische and galop.
After winter storms, Lawrence loves to walk the beach looking for fossils: ammonites, shark's teeth, and devil's toenails. He is honored to be part of the cast of "Away."