Jan's Van

12 Apr 2011

New for 2011

When Jan is getting her van ready, there's always a lot to do. Decorating it with designs that say something about her next destination is part of that, and here is her van being made ready for Crediton.

Remember vivacious Kishti last year? Here is a photograph to remind you; hopefully she will be helping again this year. This year Jan will be assisted from time to time by Louella, Sam, Seb and Nathan. Such support by creative people who are alert and can sense what needs doing is hugely encouraging, a real joy and a valuable learning experience.

This year Jan has the idea that she would like to get kids dancing. Well she has always done that, but now she has turned her attention to Maypole Dancing. This has the advantage that participants are more or less attached to the maypole for the duration of the dance making them easy for Jan and the children's parents to maintain good supervision. Of course the pole has to be rugged, securely planted and portable. Anyway Jan is working on the idea.

Another activity on Jan's mind is Morris Dancing. It, too, requires participants to submit to the discipline of the dance, hopefully more joyously than to comply with any parental exhortation like "Eat your greens!".

For more information just Google for 'Maypole Dancing' or 'Morris Dancing'. (For your convenience I have pre-inserted 'maypole dancing' as the reset default in the input box below, but you can overwrite that with 'morris dancing', or anything else. Doug, webmaster.)

28 Oct 2010

Jan's Van spotted at Penzance

Many thanks to Jean Hands for sending in these great photographs that she took when she spotted Jan's parked van on Penzance promenade. She said in her covering email: "I've just checked out her website and really like what she does!".

Jul 9-10-11

Jan's Van at Ely Folk Festival (2)

Many thanks to Cheryl Cork for sending in some lovely photographs, one of which is shown here, with more on our 2010 Album pages.

Jul 9-10-11

Jan's Van at Ely Folk Festival (1)

Many thanks to Clare Calder for sending in this delightful photograph and many more which are now to be found at our 2010 Album pages.

3rd July 2010

Jan & Van at Wallingford Rugfest

Many thanks to Tom Mooring for sending in these two photographs of (1) Jan with her van and (2) her chalk basket.

11th June 2010

Playing Diabalo (Chinese yoyo) at Southwell Folk Festival

With parental approval this girl was keen to pose for a photograph and Robert Hayes was at hand with his camera to take it. Many thanks to her, to her mother and to Robert for thoughtfully sending in a copy of the photograph to go on Jan's website.

4 June 2010

Summer Events in Full Swing

Jan's events for 2010 are now in full swing. For example she is now (4 June 2010) at Garway, in Herefordshire a mile from the Welsh border, where a new tradition is being established - the Garway Folk Weekend. What's happening? Great guests, lots and lots going on, plus, for the children, Jan Edgecombe's famous decorated Van and activities!

11 December 2009

Seven French Hens CanCan

A Jan's Van Rainbow Event by Seven French Hens was trialed at a private ceilidh hosted by Cliff at St Blazey on 11th December 2009. It showed much promise and may be offered more widely if the dancers find that they are able commit the necessary rehearsal time.