Public Events & Fundraisers

“Thank you so much for your valuable contribution to the evening at the African American Cultural Center. Yours was the perfect, authentic band for the splendid setting in the Touhey Barn. Most importantly, you brought people together (who would not know each other perhaps) and we all had a great time.”

Caroline Mason
African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, Albany, NY

“Thank you for an amazing evening. There was hardly room for everyone on the dance floor which reflected how wonderful you and your band are! People have been complimenting you all day.”

Michelle Sammon, Director, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, NY

“We heard many compliments and expressions of joy. I really enjoyed seeing the intergenerational aspect of it all. You have such a wonderful way of interacting with people and making it all seem so easy and soooo much fun! Keep doing what you do with the children in the schools. It’s terribly important.”

Helen Brownell, Easton Library Concert & Dance, Burton Hall, Easton, NY

“So many of my friends have said, ‘Best retirement party I’ve every been to!’ I just wanted to thank you for making the party a success! When the musicians first started playing, my family thought it was recorded Irish music and when they realized it was your group, they were impressed. You made it memorable!!”

Ann H., Retirement Party, Saratoga Springs, NY

“Many people told us that this was the best wedding they’d ever been to! The dancing was fabulous…I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day! Thank you for all your hard work!”

Joanna and Michael W., Wedding, Bascom Lodge, Mt. Greylock, Adams, MA

Weddings & Parties

“The spiral dance was a great way to start, as it got so many people involved. To see everyone following the music onto the lawn and partnering up in amazing ways (such as our 18-year-old niece dancing with our friend who is confined to a wheelchair) was really magical. You have a real talent for working with inexperienced people of all ages and convincing them that they can try something new and have fun.”

Holly H. and Rich V.
Wedding, Altamont Manor, Altamont, NY

“Just wanted to let you know how much fun we had when you came to the Cabin Fever Party last weekend. We were a small crowd, but very enthusiastic and appreciative. Word of mouth will help get more of us out of our cabins and onto the dance floor next year!”

Jill M., Cabin Fever Party, Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady, Schenectady, NY

“[We] just wanted to thank you for making our wedding more than spectacular. Everyone loved the band and the dancing. Thanks to you, the night was truly magical.”

Kurt and Laurie, Wedding, Blooming Hill Organic Farm, Blooming Grove, NY

“Thank you so much for coming to our home to play fine music for Bill’s birthday party…We had a wonderful time once people started dancing, but then it went too quickly!”

Janice and Bill B., Birthday Party, Mariaville, NY

Schools

“Homespun taught us dances that have been a part of our American culture for generations. Students learned a little about what life was like in the pre-electronic days when our ancestors entertained themselves and others by singing, making and playing instruments and gathering together to dance with their community.”

Kate Kloss, Principal,
Elsmere Elementary School, Delmar, NY

“I would enthusiastically recommend them to every school in the country.”

Peter Mravlja, Physical Education teacher, Southgate Elementary School, Colonie, NY

“As a twenty-year teacher in elementary music, I have observed or worked with more than sixty musicians, dance groups, and performing ensembles. Homespun is among the very best. Students were not memorizing dance steps. They were listening to the music and responding to the melodies, the beat, and the form of the pieces.”

Karen MacLeod, Music Teacher, Vassar Road Elementary School, Poughkeepsie, NY

“Watching families dance and have fun together, the same way they did many years ago, is both heartwarming and reassuring. As principal, I’m grateful my students get to experience the Homespun Family Dance.”

Peter J. Brabant, Principal, Altamont, NY Elementary School

“For many of our families it was their first experience with a community dance. You taught us all a new way to be together as a community.”

Michele Decker, Music Teacher, Burton Street Elementary School, Cazenovia, NY

“The students were impressed by the group’s ability to make something from the past become so vibrant and alive. I even heard one group of students say ‘We should get them to play at our prom.’”

Pat Sacca, French teacher, Columbia High School, East Greenbush, NY

“I just wanted to thank you for all your great work you did with our students this summer. The event was a gigantic success and it turned out so much better than anyone could have hoped for. What a great sight to watch our 40 pre-freshman students whirling and twirling, laughing and having such a fantastic time. “

John Francis, Assistant Director, HEOP and ACCESS Programs, The College Of Saint Rose, Albany, NY

“I would like to take this time to thank you for the generous donation of your time and talents. You put smiles on our campers’ and staff members’ faces and provided them with memories they will never forget. Our campers thoroughly enjoyed the performance and talked about it well into the evening. You were able to motivate not only our campers but our staff as well. For this I am truly grateful.”

Christopher K. Schelin, Director; Laura Taylor, Assistant Director; Adina Benno, Program Coordinator, Clover Patch Camp, Glenville, NY

Summer Camps

“Homespun knows how to make a special event special! Paul Rosenberg has a phenomenal ability to structure the dance time both for learning and participating. Everyone leaves happy and exhausted!”

Sherie Alden, Director
Point O’ Pines Camp (residential, ages 7-15), Brant Lake, NY