Dudley Laufman, who turned 80 a few months ago, finally got around to celebrating his milestone birthday last night with a couple hundred friends at a Sanbornton barn dance.
Dudley, who has been calling dances since 1948, mostly took the night off from calling, fiddling, and playing the accordion. Calling honors went to David Millstone, ably backed up by the Sugar River Band and other musicians who showed up with their instruments. That meant Dudley was able to spend most of the evening dancing with his longtime Two Fiddles partner, Jacqueline Laufman.
A legend in New England folk dance circles and beyond, Dudley was honored last year with the the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts: the National Heritage Fellowship, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The party was hosted by Lynn Chong and Rob Pearlman. Dancers included friends old and new, plus assorted children, grand-children, and other relatives of the honored guest.
Dudley and Jacqueline are still calling and playing for dances. Look on their website for more information.
