Flatfooting From the Ground Up
- Bluegrass
- Celtic
- Contemporary
- In-Person Classes
- Instrumental
**THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS**
Flatfooting is a solo percussive dance tradition from southern Appalachia. It’s influenced by a variety of dance styles including tap, Irish stepdancing, and African stepping to name a few. In this 6 week course, we’ll cover a variety of dance steps and how to use them. Starting with basic rudiments (3-5 simple dance steps) and using a musical approach, we’ll learn how to interact with a jam session tastefully and comfortably. This class is perfect for folks who are new to percussive dance, who want to deepen their sense of rhythm, and who like to have fun! Please bring a pair of hard soled shoes such as: dress shoes, clogs (think dansko), or anything with a hard sole. We’ll have dance boards in the classroom.
This class runs from 8:00-9:15pm and will be held on Wednesdays, Jan 14, 21, 28, Feb 11, 18
Please note:The class will be held at The Passim School of Music which is located at 26 Church St. Cambridge, MA. Classrooms are located on the second floor and, unfortunately, we do not have an elevator.
Limited to students 18 yrs of age or older; Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sale ends 2 housr before the class begins. Before the class begins. 3 students are required for this class to meet. If a class is cancelled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.
Sophie Wellington
- Fiddle
- Old Time
- Trad
Sophie Wellington is a fiddler, flatpick guitarist, jazz vocalist, and percussive dancer. Sophie was raised in Staunton VA by dance caller and old time musician Bill Wellington and classical pianist Lynne Mackey. Sophie’s music education began at an early age with choirs, saxophone in school bands, square/contra dancing, Irish step dance, and old time fiddle. She studied at Berklee College of Music and graduated in 2021 with a degree in vocal jazz performance, while also studying with Bruce Molsky.
Since graduating, Sophie has kept busy with recording projects, touring, and teaching. She released her debut solo album Roving Jewel in 2022. This captures an eclectic moment in her sound and features various musical genres, environments, and adaptations. She also plays in the Boston based country band The Talking Hearts and progressive old time supergroup Dumpster Debbie. Sophie has toured nationally and internationally in solo performance, duet projects, and most recently as fiddle player and percussive dancer for Willi Carlisle.
In recent years, Sophie has taught flatfooting, fiddle, and guitar on staff at Augusta Heritage Center’s Old Time Week, Blue Ridge Old Time Music Week, Acadia Festival of Traditional Music and Dance, CDSS’s Harmony Week at Pinewoods, and Earful of Fiddle. Her teaching approach draws connections between melody, harmony, and rhythm from her unique perspective as a multi-instrumentalist and percussive dancer.
