MARLOW, N.H. – The final week of October signifies the end of harvest season, the coming of winter, and the celebration of the spookiest of holidays: Halloween.
Marlow-based dance performance group A Company of Witches (ACOW) has been eagerly preparing for its yearly Halloween tradition, A Haunted Forest Witchy Walk. The free event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 3:30-7 p.m., at the Satori Center for Nature and Forest Therapy, located at 164 Washington Pond Road in Marlow, N.H. The dancing witches invite one and all to join them for tricks and treats along the ghostly wooded trail.
The witches have had a busy season, with shows from Chester, Vt., at the Chester Fall Festival, to Salem, Mass., where ACOW presented two performances before a huge audience, then spent nearly half an hour posing for photos with fans.
On Saturday, at 4 p.m., ACOW will perform its 16-minute dance routine that includes the witchy modern dance known as “Shake Your Bacon.” Written by German songwriter Peter Fox, the song’s original title was “Schüttel deinen Speck.” It has gained popularity in recent years as the “witches dance” choreography, performed by various community groups and flash mobs, went viral.
The troupe will also present its brand-new dance, “It Cuts Like a Scythe,” for the first time in public. A magically creepy dance choreographed by ACOW Artistic Director Dianne Eno, the song is a remix of Blue Oyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.” The witches are excited to premiere the piece on Saturday, right in the spot where they have been working on the dance in rehearsals throughout the witching season.
Following the performance, the witches will take their places along the haunted forest trail to greet trick-or-treaters and hand out candy from 5-7 p.m. Complimentary hot mulled cider and doughnuts will be served as well.
The Satori Center sits within a wooded, 50-acre forest, with miles of nature trails, a waterfall, and a stream, where Eno leads guided forest-bathing walks, and nature- and arts-based classes and workshops.
Eno and ACOW have been presenting their witchy dances at fall festivals and a variety of events for six seasons. An environmental dance artist and educator, Eno first saw the “Shake Your Bacon” dance and thought to herself, “Hey that looks like fun.” She also thought it would be a good way to focus on women coming together and dancing together.
“Dance is the entry point for us to embody a connection with the earth, ourselves, and other women. As practitioners, we join together and nurture ourselves. It’s like a first-aid kit.”
ACOW has a magical appeal to so many children, especially young girls, who often come to events dressed as witches themselves, and one can tell that they feel seen and validated by the dancers, many of whom are mothers and grandmothers. ACOW ends each performance with an invitation for the audience to join them around the cauldron for a cheeky dance to “Coconut” by Harry Nilsson.
Eno’s take is that the group’s earnest performance style and dedication to the choreography and costuming gives permission for everyone watching to be silly, authentic, and joyful, dancing in community with each other. The performances hook people on a superficial level because they entertain and are fun to watch, while also providing possibly new information, and encouraging the audience to find growth, discovery, and connection.
The members of ACOW find the experience even more rewarding. As a new member this year, I can attest to the commitment required, but also the absolute bliss that I feel dancing with my witchy sisters, feeling the crowd’s enjoyment, and the magical relationship we create together.
Eno’s longtime friend and beloved company manager, Betty Walker, coordinates the dozen or so women in the group, making sure everyone stays safe and hydrated, and that we show up on time.
ACOW dancer and newly named Assistant Director Cheryl Zajac joined the company for its 2025 season. “ACOW has brought me so much joy,” Zajac said. “As a full-time working mom of three, I was seeking something that was just for me.” Zajac attended a recruitment event and “felt welcomed right away.”
Zajac is grateful to have been given the opportunity to rediscover her love of dance, and to “flex [her] creative muscles with costuming and makeup.” But the greater reward of joining ACOW, Zajac admits, is to have “found a sisterhood. Everyone is so loving and supportive. It’s such a special dance company.”
ACOW is always recruiting new members. Follow ACOW’s latest news and performance schedule on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075583491650. Catch them before they fly away for the season.
A previous version of this article stated that ACOW would perform at Alyson’s Orchard on Oct. 30. Unfortunately, this performance has been cancelled.