Abstract
ABSTRACT Each week in Australia, hundreds of people attend classes in international folk dancing (IFD), eagerly learning and practising dances from around the globe. The existence of FDA and the popularity of IFD must be accorded to André van de Plas from The Netherlands, who visited Australia every year for over three decades. This article examines the practice of IFD in Australia, analysing recreational dance as a leisure pursuit, tracing its historical narrative and describing the foundation of the transnational relationship between van de Plas and Australian IFD practitioners. It focuses on the unique pedagogical methodologies employed, including the intimate relationship between choreography and musical accompaniment as reinforced by van de Plas. Description of the Teacher Training Course and the concomitant effect on IFD and the peak body, Folk Dance Australia. Finally, IFD practitioners comment following the passing of van de Plas in 2019 and interpersonal connectivity and an inherited enthusiasm for learning and teaching dance are revealed. Overall, the persistent influence of van de Plas on FDA and all IFD aficionados in Australia is recognized and celebrated as a tribute to his life and work.
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