Go Figure! Traditional Dance Music from Central Virginia

Janet Muse and Mike Dunn have performed as a piano / fiddle duo since 2006.

They honor the great tradition of New England-style folk dance music, and draw from sources as diverse as the British Isles, French Canada, and their own inventiveness.

As dance musicians, they have performed for contra, English, and Scottish dances throughout central Virginia. They have also given concerts in venues as diverse as coffee houses, hospital lobbies, and church sanctuaries. In addition, they have performed at weddings and other private events, and have appeared on acoustic radio shows in the Charlotteville area. In 2011, they were fortunate to be chosen to perform at First Night Virginia.

They have a great love for waltz music, because of the possibilities it opens for both artistic and emotional expression. In 2011, they released an album of waltz music entitled "Sunday in Greenwood". Almost every track on the CD is original. Influenced heavily by Celtic and other folk idioms, the mood of each tune varies, expressing by turns joy, longing, melancholy, and wonder.

Janet Muse:

Janet began studying classical piano at the age of five.

She has played in contra dance bands over the past 25 years, including the nationally known group, Caledonia. As part of Caledonia, she headlined Feet Retreat, Spring Dance Romance, Charlotte Dance Gypsies Weekend (NC), and Chesapeake Dance Weekend (MD). She has also been on staff at Augusta Heritage Arts Irish Week (WV), Charlottesville Fall Dance Festival (VA), and several all-night dances

She has also performed at the Prism Coffeehouse (VA) and the first First Night Virginia.

She has been a choir and solo accompanist, church organist, orchestra violinist, and accordionist for Morris teams.

Janet and her family live in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Mike Dunn:

Mike is a classically trained violinist / violist, and attended Duke University on an AJ Fletcher music scholarship. He began playing traditional fiddle music about 15 years ago, and has taken prizes in numerous fiddle contests, including several Scottish fiddle contests and the Virginia State Fair. He has performed several times at First Night Virginia as part of the Sugar Ridge Quartet, and at Monticello. He has been on staff at the Charlottesville Fall Dance Festival, and also at Scottish Weekend (Timber Ridge, WV).

Mike and his family live in Crozet, Virginia.