| The North Berkshire Community Dance (NBCD) has had a gloriously fun summer in North Adams — which we’re extending that into September for the sheer joy of it. North Berkshire Community Dance will hold two(!) dances in September: on September 14theptember 14th, we’ll be in North Adams. 3-5 PM, Eric Buddington will lead a pre-dance workshop for musicians, exploring musical ways to be heard in a noisy dance hall – acoustically. All experience levels are welcome. 7:30-10:30 PM, Steve Howland will call a community contra dance welcoming to all, from the newest of dancers through the most experienced. Music will be by mixer bands. Mixer bands are volunteer musicians in small groups, with the order of the evening decided by Eric Buddington. Interested musicians please email eric@buddington.net. Location: All Saints Episcopal Church, community hall (door closest to post office), on Summer Street, North AdamsAdmission: $5 – 15 suggested; no one turned away for lack of funds Role Terms: non-gendered |
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| On September 28th, we’ll be in Williamstown. 7:30 – 10:30 PM Jeff Walker will call a program admirably suited to introducing new dancers to the joy of community dance. Experienced dancers will enjoy it, too! Music by Kathy and Jeff Walker: fiddle and guitar, in the classic tunes so admirably suited to the dance form. Role terms: Gents and Ladies Location: the community hall of the First Congregational Church, 159 Main Street, Williamstown, MA. This is the iconic white church in the middle of town. Admission: $12 – $20 suggested; no one turned away for lack of funds. |
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| Here’s our schedule for the remainder of 2024: October 12th WilliamstownQuena Crain will call to music by Cedar Stanistreet and Michael Sokolovsky – the duo version of Sycamore! Role terms: Larks and RobinsQuena’s calling is a supportive delight, loved by dancers of all experience levels. November 9th Williamstown Andy Davis will call, and likely play the accordion, with Mary Cay Brass on piano and Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle. These three are fantastic together – playig a classic New England fiddle tune repertoir with driving rhythms and foot-lifting joy. December 14th WilliamstownMaggie McRae will call, to music by Three out of Four Musicians Walked into Thirty-Two Bars. Those three musicians are Rebecca Weiss, Rebecca Hollingsworth, and George Wilson. I hope we’ll see you there! A few background reminders about our dance: as a community dance in a small college town, we try to be welcoming to and fun for a wide range of dancers. Novices and families with children are encouraged to arrive by 7:30 to participate in the introductory dances. More experienced dancers can certainly enjoy the first half (simpler dances make socializing easier and more relaxed) , but some may prefer the second half ot the evening when we often shake out somewhat more complex or vigorous dances. Role Terms: contra dancing can be taught without gender roles, or with the more traditional “gents and ladies.” It’s fun either way. In these last few years we’ve enjoyed a variety of approaches, ranging from positional calling, in which instructions are given based on your position relative to other dancres on the floor, with role terms “Larks and Robins,” “Rice and Lentils,”, and “Gents and Ladies”. When we use Gents and Ladies, the caller will almost always say “the person dancing the gentleman’s [or lady’s] role” or similar, making it clear that these are roles, not identities. As a general rule, dancers are wise to dance with whomever is present and ready. Location: in the Community Hall of the All Saints Episcopal Church, on Summer Street, in North Adams, MA. Next door to the Post Office. Admission: $5 – 15 suggested; no one turned away for lack of fundsORin the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, on Main Street, in Williamstown, MA. The side door of the iconic white church in the center of twonWe start promptly at 7:30 pm with an introduction for newcomers and run ’til 10, or 10:30 on a lively night. Admission: $12 – $20 suggested; no one turned away for lack of funds. Did I miss anything? Questions welcome via email to NorthBerkshireDance.com |
North Berkshire Community Dance 