Long before Tom Amessé discovered English Country Dance, he pursued several interests which included both American History, and Acting. He was able to bring these interests together at The Richmond Town Restoration on Staten Island, where he was an enthusiastic volunteer. Tom participated in numerous events with themes ranging from Colonial America through the US Civil War era. He was assigned the role of Sheriff of Richmond County and immersed himself in the task of promoting law and order in the village, as well as enlightening visitors about the local history.
Twice a year, Richmond Town held country dances in the courthouse and Tom and his wife, Susan, attended. Tom was immediately intrigued by the beautiful music and the intricate patterns of the dance. If only he could pursue this on a regular basis. This wish came true a few years later after reading Linda Wolfe's article, In Step with Austen, published in the New York Times.
Since the article, Tom has become an active member of CDNY. He attends Tuesday night dances regularly and became an apprentice caller in 2001. He considers himself privileged to have studied with Beverly Francis, Paul Ross and Gene Murrow. In June of 2004, Tom graduated from the CDNY apprenticeship program, and went on to participate in ECD Leader's Programs at Pinewoods camp. He was fortunate to study with both Scott Higgs and Bruce Hamilton.
At about the same time, Tom began calling dances for the North Jersey English Country Dancers in Ridgewood, NJ where he continues to teach on a regular basis. He is the emcee of the North Jersey ECD Play-ful Ball each June, sharing the stage with The Flying Romanos. He has called English Country Dancing in White Plains, Hurley, and Troy, NY, Lambertville and, Princeton, NJ, Smithtown, Long Island, Washington DC, Amherst and Boston MA, and Binghamton NY, where he was the featured ECD caller for their Kindred Spirits Weekend in the Fall of 2006. He has also emceed New Haven's Elm City Assembly as well as The 2007 and 2010 Playford Balls in New York with fellow NYC caller Gene Murrow. He's taught workshops at the 92nd St Y -- Harknass Dance Center and leads the annual Goerge Washington Birthday Ball at the Mount Vernon Hotel & Museum in Manhattan. Each January, Tom emcees the Annual Twelfth Night Assembly at Historic Richmond Town On Staten Island which is held in an 1837 court house. His dance composition "Susan" can be found on The Flying Romanos Take-Off CD, which he co-produced with his wife.
In May 2002, Tom organized and led a troupe to Wales where they performed ECD style dances composed by American choreographers at the Tredegar House Folk Festival. This was the first time that American dancers had been invited to participate and the troupe received a warm and friendly welcome, including a special luncheon in their honor hosted by the Mayor. If Tom seems a natural on stage, some of the credit goes to his having acted in local community theater. Tom appeared in numerous roles from from plays by William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams, Niel Simon and Eugene O'Neil. He met his wife during a production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town." He is also a popular storyteller, especially around Halloween, as he is quite skillful at spinning spooky tales. He even won an international storytelling contest during his trip to Wales.
Tom has performed sword dancing with New World Sword, a NYC based Longsword side. You might also catch Tom on stage or at a dance workshop playing the fiddle or hammered dulcimer. Tom's dancing career has come full circle as he began teaching English Country Dance at The Richmond Town Restoration in February 2005. The first annual Staten Island Assembly was held in April of 2005 and it has become a tradition that Country Dance Staten Island holds an annual assembly with Tom as their emcee. There is always room for dance angels at the classes as well as at the assemblies.
Tom recently retired after nearly thirty years with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. He is proud to say that his last appointment was Chief Operating Engineer of a Sewage Treatment Plant on Staten Island, where he dealt with an entirely different sense of flow and worked diligently on cleaning the New York waterways.