Documentary on the Contra Dance Community

In  The Picayune Sentinel I came across a link to this youtube video of a short documentary about the contra dance community:

 

Larks and Robins

Came across this article in Eric Zorn's Picayune Sentinel:

 A veteran traditional dance caller (me) bids farewell to “gents” and “ladies”

The short video of contra dancing accompanying the article included a couple of familiar faces (Hi, Charles & Michele!)

Oct-Nov Dance Weekends at Tapestry in Minneapolis

Received from Tapestry:

Dear Dance Colleagues,

 

Tapestry Folkdance, now celebrating its 35^th Anniversary year, is hosting three major dance weekends in October and November.  I found your contact information through the NFO Membership Directory, and I’m sending you this information to share as appropriate with your community of dancers.  Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have questions about these events, or about Tapestry Folkdance Center.

 

 

 

October 13 – 14

Falling Leaf Contra Dance Weekend

Featuring Sue Hulsether, Caller, with George Paul and Potent Brew.

Sam Timmreck, Flatfooting

http://tapestryfolkdance.org/programs/yearly-dance-events/fallcontra/

 

 

October 19 – 21, 2018

Star of the North English Country Dance Weekend

Featuring Susan Kevra and Olde World Charm School

http://tapestryfolkdance.org/programs/yearly-dance-events/star-of-the-north/

 

 

November 2 – 4, 2018

A Weekend of Romanian Dance with Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu

Saturday Evening Dance Party with Orkestar Bez Ime

http://tapestryfolkdance.org/programs/yearly-dance-events/fall-international-weekend/

 

Traditional Dance & Music Fest Mar 16-18, 2018 - Urbana, IL

http://www.centralillinoisecd.org/marchfest.html

Central Illinois English Country Dancers & Urbana Country Dancers
Sixteenth Annual Marchfest
Traditional Dance & Music Festival
March 16-18, 2018
Phillips Recreation Center, 505 W.Stoughton,Urbana, IL

Friday evening contra dance, various dance workshops during the day Saturday, a Saturday evening English Country Ball and music events on Sunday (with the possibility of some dancing).

Featuring the band Rare Privilege from Wisconsin

Dance Instruction By Jon Hanson, Jonathan Sivier, Local English Dance Leaders

Jim Hemphill, Contra caller from Missouri

Additional Music By The Flatland Consort

Door Co Folk Fest Jul 12-16, Contra Dance Weekend July 14-16

Door County Folk Festival (We-Su, Jul 12-16)
Contra Dance Weekend (Fr-Su, Jul 14-16)
http://www.dcff.net/
http://www.dccontrafest.net/

• special guest Balkan dance instructor is Steve Kotansky.
   
• The Festival also features a select group of Regional Dance Instructors (see website)
   
• Guest Musicians are Tantsova Grupa (Nashville) and Nick Bratkovich (Tulsa).
   
• The Contra Weekend guests include callers Jonathan Sivier and Meg Dedolph, Clogging instructor, Lynn Szatkowski, and Shape Note Singing leader Carol Crawford.
   
• Guest Musicians include Rare Privilege, The Cosmic Otters, Jason Busnieweski and the DCFA Contra Dance Band.
   
• Program Overview
• 14 Ethnic Dance Workshops (Thu-Sun)
• 2 Ethnic Singing Workshops (Fri-Sat)
• 5 Ethnic Dance Parties (Wed-Sun)
• 9 Contra/Square Workshops (Fri-Sun)
• 2 Contra/Square Parties (Fri-Sat)
• Family Barn Dance (Fri)
• 2 Shape Note Singing Sessions (Sat-Sun)
• 2 Lunchtime Dance Sessions (Fri-Sat)
• Fish Boil Dinner (Sat)
• 2 Mini-Concerts (Thu-Fri)
• Youth Activities (Fri-Sat)
• Details: www.dcff.net/activities
   

Door County Contra Dance Weekend Jul 15-17

Received from Paul/DCFF:

 07/15-17 Door County Contra Dance Weekend (Fr-Su) Baileys Harbor,  Ephraim & Sister Bay, WI. Featuring calling by Carol Ormand. Live Music with Rare Privilege and the Toe Trippers
Key links are www.dcff.net/schedule-contra, www.dcff.net/staff-contra www.dcff.net/brochure-contra.

Door County Folk Festival - July 8-12, 2015

http://www.dcff.net/

36th Annual DOOR COUNTY FOLK FESTIVAL
A Celebration of Folklore with Dance and Music
Wednesday-Sunday, July 8-12, 2015
Baileys Harbor, Ephraim & Sister Bay, Wisconsin

Guest Ethnic Dance Instructors:    Marty Koenig & Larry Weiner
Balkan Singing Instructor:    Tzvety Dosseva Weiner
Live Music by:    Lyuti Chushki Orchestra, Nick Bratkovich
Contra/Square Dance Callers:    Dot Kent & Paul Collins
Live Music by:    A Rare Privilege, Chirps Smith

Cross-step waltz, Ragtime two-step, Victorian dances - Apr 4-6, 2014

Received from Mady:

Susan de Guardiola will be teaching an introduction to cross-step waltz next Saturday, April 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Ida Noyes Hall during the afternoon workshops of the University of Chicago's contra dance weekend with Les Z Boys and Seth Tepfer (which should itself be a fun time!). Then she'll be teaching Ragtime and Two step at Fermilab's Barn on Sunday afternoon, April 5, 3 to 6 p.m., and Cross Step Waltz - review and further moves Sunday evening from 7 to 10 p.m. (suggested $10 donation per workshop).

Monday evening, April 6, at Oak Park's 19th Century Club, Susan will present dances of the Victorian era for a Victorian Ball, 7 to 10 p.m., with live music by the Cosmic Otters and Tim Macdonald.

more information:  English dancing website.

 

Flyer:

http://www.fnal.gov/orgs/folkdance/english/SDWwSdG2015.pdf

NPR: Youth Flock to Contra Dancing

Fwd: New Years at Ashokan!

In a message dated 9/30/09 9:08:01 PM, office@ashokan.org writes:

NEW YEARS FIDDLE & DANCE FEST at ASHOKAN
http://www.ashokan.org/ashokan/campnyrs.shtml
Thurs, Dec 31, 2009 4pm to Sun, Jan 3, 2010 2pm.
Three nights of dancing and jamming...
plus daytime workshops in dance, fiddle, banjo, guitar, singing and more!

Can't make the whole event?
Join us New Years Eve for a festive dinner followed by contras & squares in one room and swing, Cajun & waltzes right next door.
Enjoy plentiful snacks & refreshments and dancing till the wee hours!

THE RED STICK RAMBLERS - Hot swing and Cajun music direct from Louisiana
GREAT BEAR TRIO - Cutting edge contradance music (New Years Eve only)
SWINGOLOGY - Swing, Blues and Waltzes with JAY & MOLLY, MIKE & RUTHY, PETER DAVIS, PETER ECKLUND, DAVE DAVIES & HARRY ACETO)
SUSAN KEVRA & JOHN KRUMM - Calling contras and squares for all
CINDY OVERSTREET & STEVE RYAN - Show you swing and Slow Blues moves and grooves
ESTHER BRILL - Cajun and Zydeco dance basics and more

Bed & Board We serve wholesome, delicious meals, and sumptuous late night snacks with beverages round the clock. Sleep in our heated bunkhouse (rooms hold 15-20, good showers), or check our Local Lodging page.

Cost $495 - incl. everything Thurs 4pm to Sun 2pm.
or $465 - if you're sleeping off-site.
(Children deduct $20 for each year under age 16.)

Apply by mail with a check, or by phone or online with a credit card.

A deposit of $150 per person reserves your spot at Winter Camp till Dec. 1 when the balance is due.

Cancelations - Cancelation fees per person are: $35 till Dec 1; $75 till Dec. 14; $100 till Dec. 30; $150 after Dec. 30.

New Years Eve Only options (no bunk)
Dance $25 - Thurs, 8pm-3am No reservation needed.
Dinner & dance $50 - Thurs, 5pm-3am Paid in advance only.

APPLY NOW http://www.ashokan.org/camp/

Sorry, no pets or alcohol.
For more information call 845-246-2121 or email us.

Generous Work Scholarships are available for those who would like to help us in the kitchen, or with setup and cleanup, etc. See our Work Scholarships page, call for details, or send $150 deposit with your work inquiry. Your deposit is fully refundable if you don't get the work you want.