Wed 22 Mar 2006
Thank you, Gene Hubert
Posted by David under journalism, music & dance, philosophizing
[3] Comments
[
](http://www.newsobserver.com/cgi-bin/nao/obits/show_details.cgi?id=115948)
Last night I called a [contra dance in Indianapolis](http://indycontra.org). A few days earlier, a friend of mine from Indy emailed me pointing out that legendary contra dance choreographer, caller, and dancer [Gene Hubert had died](http://www.newsobserver.com/cgi-bin/nao/obits/show_details.cgi?id=115948). I had heard that he had been diagnosed with [pancreatic cancer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatic_Cancer) and was very ill, but I had not heard about his death on March 6. He was 51 years of age. This is obviously a terribly sad event for Gene’s family, but I don’t know any of them. What I do know is that Gene’s dances are some of the most frequently called in modern contradancing (at least in the Midwest), and that this stems immediately from the fact that they are so smooth and so fun.
Glenn Augenstein called an entire program of dances by Gene at the [contra dance in Louisville](http://www.louisvillecontradancers.org) on Monday night, and I decided to follow his lead and the suggestion of my friend and do the same last night. It’s caused a good deal reflection for me about everything from what makes Gene’s dances so good to how the great people in the American contra dance community have contributed to the joy of others. Gene was a member of a very small group of contra dancers about whom I am prone to use the word “legendary”. The fact that he is gone at age 51 is a tragedy. At the same time, his dances are likely to be part of my life for as long as I continue to live.
Thank you, Gene. On behalf of all of us.
Since a lot of the callers here were actually pretty close with Gene, we’ve been dancing his dances a lot during the past few months. Which is pretty nice, considering few callers like to call his dances because they’re complex.
I know that Gene has influenced me a lot, even though it’s not really all that apparent. But his dances were the first ones I started reading online. So if I ever do become a caller, it will be partially because of Gene.
And I think it’s true that you say he’s “legendary.” I think most people are familiar with Gene’s dances, and aren’t familiar with most other contra composers. I’m just glad that people can celebrate his life by having a good time and enjoying themselves. I can’t imagine a better way to be remembered.
I just re-read your comments and am amazed at your sensitivity and your writing skills. M
Hi David – I was reading a bit of your blog just now and ran across this. I know it’s years later, but I recently had this epiphany about Gene Hubert I thought I’d share with you. After dancing yet another of Gene’s dances with that incredible smooth momentum they have, I suddenly flashed on Gene, up in heaven, writing dances for the angels. The dances were in nine dimensions, but the angels danced them perfectly. Made me want to change my ways so I could go to that heaven too…
M
E