Mo Brachfeld (they/them) is a musician, dancer, and dance caller.
Mo has been singing, dancing, and making music since childhood. They started contra dancing at age 6, when they attended an intergenerational dance camp, Terpsichore’s Holiday. Over the years the camp provided a wonderful sampling of folk music and dance styles, including rapper sword dancing, clogging, and Irish sets. When Mo started playing fiddle at age 8 they always spent the weeks before camp planning what tune they would perform at the evening camp gathering. Since the beginning of their music playing Mo has loved jamming with others and playing for dancers.
As a teen Mo joined the Bog Band, an Irish band of teen musicians, and began a deep dive into Irish music. Soon after joining the Bogs Mo was introduced to sean nós dance (Irish old style) while sharing the stage with Shannon Dunne Dance. Mo has studied with many musicians and dancers including John Carty, Maura Shawn Scanlin, Ellie Grace, Nic Gareiss, and Sandy Silva.
Mo graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 2018, where they choreographed andperformed a dance capstone. Since graduating Mo has taught dance lessons and workshops to all ages, both in person and online. They have been writing tunes that pull from Irish, French, English, Old Time American, and Quebecois styles.
Mo's current work includes playing dances and house concerts as the band Starling with Jared Kirkpatrick, running Dissident Rhythms with Nic Gareiss, and making pottery.
