Soft Option are probably one of the longest established Appalachian dance sides in Worcestershire and have been performing since the early nineties. They are fortunate to have an extremely patient and extensive band who go by the name of 'No Option' so the music is always performed 'live'.
The girls choreograph all their own dances, and are well known for their fast and furious performances. During the Spring and Summer months, Soft Option can be found performing at local pubs on a Thursday night. These are very informal performances and therefore, you'll see the girls and band at their most relaxed!
However, at weekends, you'll find them performing at local events such as fetes, fund raisers and also, some of the major folk festivals that are held in the UK. Take a look at the Diary page on this site to see if you can catch them at some point in 2011!
If you've never encountered this type of dance before, it's basically tap dancing to bluegrass music - fiddle, banjo and guitar provide the tune and the dancers supply the percussion. Appalachian dancing has evolved from a mixture of dance styles taken to the mountains of North America by English, Irish and Scottish settlers in the 19th Century. It's danced to the 'old time' tunes that they took over with them and has greatly been influenced by the African and native American rhythms they found in the New World.
Subsequently, this dance form has come back to the UK, and the traditional steps recreated and adapted by the Appalachian Step Dance sides in existence today.
Watch Soft Option dance at Bromyard Folk Festival 2011