Bernie Culkin is a dance teacher and caller based in Cheshire in the UK, who loves the dances of Playford as well as modern choreographies in the Playford style. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she was quick to move her calling onto Zoom and regular hosted virtual ECD dance sessions for her own and local clubs, attracting dancers from across the UK and US.
Bernie is renowned for her clear and engaging calling style, regularly leading dances at clubs across the Northwest of England. She also calls at evening dances and weekend events throughout the UK. Her notable appearances include venues like Casterton, the Eastbourne International Folkdance Festival, Scarborough, and Edinburgh. Bernie has also been featured at folk festivals such as Lichfield, Southam, and Whitby, as well as internationally at the NVS Summer Folk Camps in the Netherlands.
Bernie is the co-founder of Kindred Spirits Folk Dance Club in Cheshire (www.kindredspiritsfdc.co.uk), where the focus is on dancing with style. As a dance teacher, she wants all dancers to dance to the best of their ability by encouraging good technique, timing and teamwork.
Bernie is also a committee member of the following organisations.
- Cheltenham Assembly for the Cheltenham Playford Ball (https://cheltenhamplayfordball.wordpress.com/)
- Friends of English Dance (www.FriendsofEnglishDance.org.uk)
She is webmaster for:
- The Pat Shaw Legacy Group http://www.patshaw.info
- Adlington Folk Dance Club in Cheshire (https://adlingtonfolk.co.uk)
- Malvern Folk Dance Club https://bculkin.wixsite.com/malvernfolkdance