In 1981 Nicolas started The Assembly in Glasgow, and followed it with a sister group in Edinburgh, at both of which he teaches (as well as playing accordion much of the time). He has organized and choreographed a number of demonstrations since then, most notably one in front of the RSCDS.
In 1991 he went on a teaching and playing tour of the USA with his son, Aidan (fiddle), and Jacqueline Schwab (piano). In 1994 he took his band, The Assembly Players, (Nicolas, Aidan, and pianist Brian Prentice) on another US tour, promoting their recent recording of A Walsh Ball, a program of country dances published by Walsh in the 18th century and researched by Nicolas, the first of eight recordings issued by the Band to date. In 1995 he was on staff at Pinewoods Dance Camp during English/American and English weeks, followed by a weekend's teaching in Germany.
Published writings to date comprise the introduction to the Nonsuch Historical Dance series, Book V, a collection of his own dances and tunes, The Assembly Dances(1994), and Purcell's Dancing Master, a complete collection of dances to tunes by Henry Purcell.
In 1996, Nicolas also did a week's teaching at Broadstairs Folk Week; made a return visit to Germany; shared the MC'ing at the annual Pat Shaw Ball at Cecil Sharp House; ran a John Playford Ball in Norwich; and attended the Christmas Course in Holland as teacher and leader of his Band, The Assembly Players.
1996 also saw the Assembly Players making history with the publication by the English Folk Dance and Song Society of their recording of 21 of Pat Shaw's New Wine in Old Bottles on both cassette and CD, the Society's first ever CD.
Activities in 1997 included a workshop and dance as part of the Manchester Folk Club's Diamond Jubilee series; acting as musician for a weekend course in Lancashire; running a dance (with his Band) at Cecil Sharp House; a ball in the Pump Room, Royal Leamington Spa; a further visit to Germany; the annual Pat Shaw Ball; and Purcell, Encore! in Edinburgh and Gloucester.
Highlights of 1998 and 1999 included The Cheltenham Ball (in the Pump Room); Eastbourne Folk Festival 1998 (teaching and leading the Band); the Assembly and Pat Shaw balls; and further visits to Holland and Germany.
2000 will be a busy year, with Balls in Cheltenham, Norwich, Cecil Sharp House, and at the Cheshire, Broadstairs and Whitby Folk Festivals; adjudicating at a competitive festival; visits to the USA and Germany - and the annual Assembly and Pat Shaw Balls!
Nicolas is happy to take day or weekend courses, which give him the opportunity to do some work on style and basic technique, always with strong emphasis on enjoyment and natural movement, but adhering as closely as possible to the original published versions when doing C17th - C19th dances. He is also more than willing to plan and run Country Dance Balls, often with a thematic program, if asked.
Nicolas Broadbridge
Linnmill, Kirkfieldbank, Lanark, Scotland. ML11 9UP
Tel: 01555 - 662212
sallennic@linnmill1.freeserve.co.uk
Recordings