Monday, May 2, 2011

Contra Dance Events and Lessons May 1-30 Locations Throughout Virginia

Virginia
Contra Dance Schedule

This is a list to keep track of all contra dances in Virginia including dance camps and weekends along with other events in Virginia which include contra dancing. Because most of the information is gathered from web sites and the listings are not updated as frequently as the web sites, dancers should visit the web sites for up-to-date information.

May 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011  Dance Series: Richmond - Waltz - Capital Ale Location: Richmond Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Recorded music; Note:
Sunday, May 1, 2011  Dance Series: Riner - Dare to Be Square Location: Riner Caller(s): Michael Ismerio, Phil Jamison and Will Mentor ; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA; Note: Square dance weekend; event ends on May 1, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011  Dance Series: Greenwood - Practice Location: Greenwood Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Recorded music; Note:
Wednesday, May 4, 2011  Dance Series: Tripple Creek Music Festival Location: Rocky Mount Caller(s): No festival this year; Band(s)/Musician(s): No festival this year; Note: Multi-day music festival with some dancing; event ends on May 7, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011  Dance Series: Tripple Creek Music Festival Location: Rocky Mount Caller(s): No festival this year; Band(s)/Musician(s): No festival this year; Note: Multi-day music festival with some dancing; event ends on May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011  Dance Series: Charlottesville Location: Charlottesville Caller(s): Gwyn Williams; Band(s)/Musician(s): Toad Mamas; Note:
Friday, May 6, 2011  Dance Series: Tripple Creek Music Festival Location: Rocky Mount Caller(s): No festival this year; Band(s)/Musician(s): No festival this year; Note: Multi-day music festival with some dancing; event ends on May 7, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011  Dance Series: Norge Location: Norge Caller(s): Karen Berquist and Steve Clement; Band(s)/Musician(s): FOAM; Note:
Saturday, May 7, 2011  Dance Series: Tripple Creek Music Festival Location: Rocky Mount Caller(s): No festival this year; Band(s)/Musician(s): No festival this year; Note: Multi-day music festival with some dancing; event ends on May 7, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011  Dance Series: Greenwood - Sunday Location: Greenwood Caller(s): Brian Hamshar and Valerie Helbert; Band(s)/Musician(s): Big Band Dance; Note:
Friday, May 13, 2011  Dance Series: Damascus - Appalachian Trail Days Location: Damascus Caller(s): Terry Doyle and Warren Doyle; Band(s)/Musician(s): Appalachian Storm (David Hayes, Terrell Jones, Kris Wallace, David White); Note: A dance is one of many events during this celebration. Event ends on May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011  Dance Series: Damascus - Appalachian Trail Days Location: Damascus Caller(s): Terry Doyle and Warren Doyle; Band(s)/Musician(s): Appalachian Storm (David Hayes, Terrell Jones, Kris Wallace, David White); Note: A dance is one of many events during this celebration. Event ends on May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011  Dance Series: Dayton - Virginia Location: Dayton Caller(s): Will Martin; Band(s)/Musician(s): Rob Craighurst and Rya Martin; Note:
Saturday, May 14, 2011  Dance Series: Floyd Location: Floyd Caller(s): George Segebade; Band(s)/Musician(s): Copious Notes (Julie Gorka and Mara Shea); Note:
Saturday, May 14, 2011  Dance Series: Richmond Location: Richmond Caller(s): Gwyn Williams; Band(s)/Musician(s): Toad Mamas (Rick LaRue, Patti Reum, David Stone); Note:
Sunday, May 15, 2011  Dance Series: Damascus - Appalachian Trail Days Location: Damascus Caller(s): Terry Doyle and Warren Doyle; Band(s)/Musician(s): Appalachian Storm (David Hayes, Terrell Jones, Kris Wallace, David White); Note: A dance is one of many events during this celebration. Event ends on May 15, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011  Dance Series: Greenwood - Practice Location: Greenwood Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Recorded music; Note:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011  Dance Series: Arlington - VA - Techno Contra Location: Arlington Caller(s): Will Mentor; Band(s)/Musician(s): DJ Improper; Note: Location: Artisphere, Arlington, VA
Friday, May 20, 2011  Dance Series: Charlottesville Location: Charlottesville Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): The Hot Seats (Josh Bearman, Ben Belcher, Ed Brogan, Graham DeZarn, Jake Sellers); Note:
Saturday, May 21, 2011  Dance Series: Norfolk Location: Norfolk Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Josh Bearman and friends; Note:
Saturday, May 21, 2011  Dance Series: Staunton Location: Staunton Caller(s): Herschel Nelson; Band(s)/Musician(s): Rhythm Road (Joe Dockery, Jim Harrington, Buddy Thomas, Kevin Walsh); Note:
Sunday, May 22, 2011  Dance Series: Greenwood - Sunday Location: Greenwood Caller(s): Tom Hinds; Band(s)/Musician(s): Albemarle Ramblers (Dick Harrington, Arnie Naiman, Pete Vigour); Note:
Tuesday, May 24, 2011  Dance Series: Norge Location: Norge Caller(s): George Marshall and Tim Van Egmond; Band(s)/Musician(s): Swallowtail (David Cantieni, Ron Grosslein, George Marshall, Timm Triplett, Tim van Egmond); Note: Admission: $12
Wednesday, May 25, 2011  Dance Series: Blacksburg Location: Blacksburg Caller(s): George Marshall and Tim Van Egmond; Band(s)/Musician(s): Swallowtail; Note:
Saturday, May 28, 2011  Dance Series: Richmond Location: Richmond Caller(s): No dance today; Band(s)/Musician(s): No dance today; Note:
Saturday, May 28, 2011  Dance Series: Roanoke Location: Roanoke Caller(s): John O'Brien; Band(s)/Musician(s): The McKenzies; Note:
Monday, May 30, 2011  Dance Series: Greenwood - Club Contra Location: Greenwood Caller(s): Brian Hamshar; Band(s)/Musician(s): DJ Solar Sound and Perpetual e-Motion; Note: Afternoon and evening dancing plus a potluck in between; register in advance for a discount; see site for details

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Contra Dance Events Feb 24-Apr 7 2011 Rochester NY

Introductory English Country dance classes are being offered Sunday afternoons through March 13 at the First Baptist Church of Rochester, 175 Allens Creek Road (corner of Clover Street).  $5 per class, 3 – 5 pm.  Questions?  Call 442-4681
Thursday, February 24, 2011 - Contra Dance
Caller: Sharon Perry
Band: Sassafras Stomp
Travelling through Rochester from Maine are Adam Nordell on guitar & feet and Johanna Davis on fiddle.
Thursday, March 3, 2011 - Contra Dance
Caller: Richard Sauvain
Band: Miss Marty and SGB
Thursday, March 10, 2011 - Contra Dance
Caller: Nils Fredland
Band: Montage
Nils Fredland has the best dances, great teaching, and a golden voice.  Nils hasn’t called dances in Rochester since August 2008 but he’s been all over the country since then.  Great music tonight by Montage, with Rachel Bell and Jane Knoeck on accordions and Tom Santarsiero on mandolin, guitar, banjo and foot percussion.
Thursday, March 17, 2011 - Contra Dance
Caller: Joe Kwiatkowski
Band: TBA
Thursday, March 24, 2011 - Contra Dance
Caller: TBA
Band: Geneseo String Band
Long-time favorite, everchanging band led by Jim Kimball.
Thursday, March 31, 2011 - Contra Dance
Caller: Bob Nicholson
Band: Eileen Nicholson, Curt Osgood, John Wobus
Thursday, April 7, 2011 - Contra Dance
Caller: Katy Heine
Band: Perpetual e-Motion

Monday, January 17, 2011

Contra Dance Events and Lessons Jan 15 - Jun 18 Athens , GA

Dances

Google Map Upcoming Dances Description of Dances Regional Dances
Next Dance: January 15th 2011
Time and Location: 7:30 to 11:00, Memorial Park Administration Building, 293 Gran Ellen Dr. Athens, GA
Orientation session from 7:30 – 8:00 PM: introduction, basic moves, helpful hints for enjoyable dancing– for new & experienced dancers
Dance: 8:00 – 11:00 PM
Band: Curley Maple
Caller: Deena Kushner
Directions to Memorial Park: From loop 10, use Exit No. 6-Milledge Ave. Proceed on S. Milledge Ave. Look for the Memorial Park & Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail sign. Turn onto Gran Ellen Dr.. It is one street north of the East Campus Drive traffic light. Memorial Park is about three blocks down Gran Ellen Dr. on the left.
Remember…
No partner needed;   All dances are taught;   Clean, soft-soled, comfortable shoes are recommended
Google Map to Memorial Park

View larger map
Upcoming Dances in 2011 – Third Saturday of the Month
Saturday January 15      Caller: Deena Kushner     Band: Curley Maple
Saturday February 19    Caller: Janet Sheperd       Band: Garnet River Gals
Saturday March 19         Caller: Doug Singleton     Band: Whistlin’ Rufus
Saturday April 16           Caller: TBA                        Band: TBA
Saturday May 21             Caller: TBA                       Band: TBA
Saturday June 18            Caller: TBA                       Band: TBA

Description of Dances
Our contra dances are participatory social dances. We always have live acoustic music, with most bands from the Athens or Atlanta areas, and a dance caller. The music is usually either old-time Appalachian string band music or Celtic jigs and reels. The main instruments are fiddle, banjo, guitar, and bass; occasionally we’ll also have piano, mandolin, autoharp, or harmonica.   The way the dances work is that the caller decides on a set of dances to call for the evening. The types of dances that we do include contra dances, square dances, circle mixers, and progressive circle dances. Most of the dances in an evening are contras and squares; usually only one or two circle dances are included.  The moves used in all of these dance types overlap considerably. Moves such as do-si-do, swing, stars, circles, allemandes, and promenades are done in most of the dances. As a result, once new dancers learn a few moves, they can dance most of the dances done that evening. The formation (contra lines, squares of 4 couples, or circle of couples), how many dancers are in each set, and whether you keep the same partner for the entire dance, are the main features that distinguish contra, square, and circle dance types.  Each dance is taught in a walk-through before the music starts. Then the caller cues the musicians and the dance begins. The caller prompts the moves until the dancers get the pattern, and sometimes drops out till the end. The caller decides how long the dance will continue (usually about 10-12 minutes), and tells the band when he wants 1 or 2 more times through the music. Then the dancers stop when the music ends.  At the half-way break, and at the end of the dance, we have a waltz. We usually conduct a short 20-30 minute orientation session from 7:30 – 8 PM before the dance to give new dancers an introduction to what we’ll be doing, and to have them walk through the basic set of moves that we’ll be using for the dances that evening. The dance usually runs from 8 – 11:00PM. Our dances usually have a mix of ages and folks come from all parts of town. The main reason we dance is that we enjoy dancing. When I call, I always tell the newcomers that the most important thing to do in an evening of dance with our group is to relax and have fun. Newcomers are always welcome, so if you like to dance, I suspect you’d have a good time at one of our dances.

Links to Regional Dances
Atlanta Friday contra dances: Chattahoochee Country Dancers
Sautee Saturday contra dances: Sautee dance
Chattanooga Saturday contra dances: Chattanooga dance

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Contra Dance Event Jan 9 Gainesville , FL

Contra Dance Jan 9

Time: 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Location: Rion Ballroom
Organization: Contra Dancing Club
Event Type: Dance/Party
Description: The Contra Dancing Club and the Gainesville Oldtime Dance Society are co-sponsoring a contra dance on campus. Contra dancing is a fun, social dance that is easy to learn. There is an introductory workshop before the dance. There will be music provided by a live band.