Muziekpublique

Courses overview

Folk ball ensemble

Dries De Maeyer

MABO - Lycée Maria-Boodschap - Rue de la Braie 22, 1000 Bruxelles

the course

Welcome to the folk ball ensemble! Recorder player Dries De Maeyer takes over the ensemble from bagpipe player Marieke van Ransbeeck this year with great enthusiasm.

Dive into the rich world of European folk music and discover how melodies from all corners of the continent come together in a groovy, danceable whole. From Swedish polkas to Spanish sevillanas, from Irish jigs to Bulgarian kopanitsas – we draw inspiration from this diversity of traditions and bring that energy to life for both dancers and listeners.

In these lessons you will learn melodies commonly used for folk dances such as scottish, rondeau, mazurka, bourrée, waltz, polska and many others. We explore the specific grooves, dance steps, ornaments and accompaniments that make each region unique. The repertoire is taught by ear, with a focus on the joy of playing together, creating arrangements, daring to experiment, and improvisation.

Throughout the year, there will also be jams and small folk balls or concerts together with the dance students of Frisse Folk, giving you the chance to put what you’ve learned directly into practice.

for who?

All melodic and harmonic instruments. Several years of experience on your instrument is recommended. Basic chord knowledge is required for accompanying instruments. If you have any questions, please contact us at cursus@muziekpublique.be.

Dries De Maeyer

Dries De Maeyer, a classically trained recorder player, discovered his love of folk music amidst Irish jigs and reels. After studying at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, he spent a year in Sweden, where he participated in the Folk and World Music program in Malmö and immersed himself in Swedish traditions. During various travels and music internships abroad, he also encountered many other cultures. Today, he is active as a musician in theater and other social-educational projects. He performs with the bands Blue Very Blue and Float and is a regular performer at English contra dance balls, both at home and abroad.