This week, we’re revisiting our episode “What Is Appalachia?” from December 2021. Appalachia connects mountainous parts of the South, the Midwest, the Rust Belt and even the Northeast. That leaves so much room for geographic and cultural variation, as well as many different views on what Appalachia really is.
Students Awarded College Scholarships to Play …Music & Dance
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How many basement rehearsal rooms have you been in that literally shake with the pounding steps of ten flatfoot dancers? If you’ve never had the pleasure, then you could try imagining a team of tap dancers…add a smidgeon more stomping, kicking, laughing, and top it off with a lot of whooping.
The students at Davis and Elkins College take this wild rumpus music very seriously though. The dancers exchange little nods with their string band- a group of five students who play the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, washboard and banjo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13sppHER-lU
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Becky Hill is the dance instructor for the Appalachian Ensemble
They’re all part of a new program at Davis and Elkins College that’s helping to preserve the art of traditional music and dance.
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Scotty Leach is a fiddle player for the Appalachian Ensemble
Their group is called the Appalachian Ensemble- a touring string band and dance ensemble. The college treats the musicians and flatfoot dancers like sports stars: it offers them scholarships to play. The group started just four years ago – so the first students to participate will graduate this year. Roxy Todd recently spent a day hanging out with the Appalachian Ensemble as they were practicing, and creating, their own style of fusion Appalachian music.
The West Virginia Legislature returns to Charleston and Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his State of the State address. Also, flu cases are rising in surrounding states. What does that mean for West Virginia?
On The Legislature This Week, the legislature gavels in and Gov. Patrick Morrisey lays out his vision in his state of the state address. We also hear the minority party’s response to the governor’s address.
The West Virginia Legislature is back in Charleston for the 2026 legislative session. Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his second State of the State to the legislature Wednesday night and is seeking a 3% pay raise for state workers and a 10% income tax cut, among other items. Also, in this show, Sen. Mike Woelfel and Del. Sean Hornbuckle offer the minority response.
With recent reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Huntington, students gathered at the center of Marshall University’s campus to voice their concerns for their fellow students and community members.