Events

UPCOMING DANCES

January 14, 2023: Andy Davis will call, band led by Arthur Davis on keyboard. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

February 11, 2023: Music by George Wilson on fiddle and Selma Kaplan on keyboard. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

March 11, 2023: Quena Crain calling, band soon to be announced. Quena has special facility with family dances, so this is a particularly good month to bring the whole family for the first half of the evening. We’ll still dance “Chorus Jig” near the end of the evning, as every month.

April 8, 2023: Caller and band soon to be announced. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

May 13, 2023: Caller and band soon to be announced. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

June 10, 2023: Caller soon to be announced.  Musicians Mary Cay Brass on piano with Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

We send a quick email reminder once a month before each dance. If you would like to be included, you can subscribe here.

SUBSCRIBE

North Berkshire Dances are held from 7:30 to 10 PM in the community hall of the First Congregational Church, Williamstown, MA.

Admission is free, or “pay what you can”. An average donation of $10 per person will ordinarily cover our major expenses: rent for the hall, and payment for musicians and callers.  Contributions of volunteer time are always welcome — possibilities include simple jobs such as sweeping the floor, assisting with vaccination checks at the door, and (in nonpandemic times) bringing potluck snacks to share at the break.

PAST DANCES

CANCELED due to Covid-19: March 14, 2020 — Music by Karen Axelrod on keyboard and Dave Langford on fiddle.  Liz Nelson will call, starting with a lesson for beginners at 7:15. Larks and Ravens role terms.

February 8, 2020 — All-comers band.  All musicians are welcome to join the band, which Annika Amstutz and Becky Hollingsworth will anchor.  Caller Andy Davis will open with a lesson for beginners from 7:30 – 7:45.

January 11, 2020 —  Paul Rosenburg will call; Eric Buddington & Todd Reynolds on fiddle, with Tony Pisano on guitar and accordion.

December 14, 2019 —  Tony Parkes calls Squares and Contras; music by George Wilson and Selma Kaplan and David Kaynor.

November 9, 2019  — Will Mentor will call, using “Larks and Ravens” role terms; music by Marko Packard and George Wilson.

October 12, 2019 — Sarah VanNorstrand calls. Music by David Kaynor on fiddle, Becky Hollingsworth on keyboard, Tony Pisano on accordion, and Doone MacKay on fiddle.

September 14, 2019 — Quena Craine calls.  Music by Annika Amstutz on fiddle and Peter Madsen on guitar.

July 13, 2019 — Live music by Matthew Christian and Max Carmichael, calling by Steve Howland.  The driving Celtic folk music of Matthew and Max summons shimmering dance energy, with tight harmonies and danceable up-tempo rhythm.  Steve’s calling and fidlling have been a mainstay of the local dance and folk music scene for decades, and he can be counted on to lead a comfortable, well balanced, evening of engaging dance.

June 8, 2019— Luke Donforth calling, music by Cloud Ten

May 11, 2019— Our inaugural event:  Tony Parkes called, music by George Wilson, Selma Kaplan, and Andy Davis.