Schedule

UPCOMING DANCES

May 13, 2023: Featuring an open band, anchored by Susan Conger on fiddle and Becky Hollingsworth on piano.  Bring your instrument and join the band!  Andy Davis will call. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.  (Musicians can find sheet music in the “New England Fiddler’s Repertoire” or the “Fiddler’s Fakebook”.)

June 10, 2023: Maggie McRae will call, with master musicians Mary Cay Brass on piano and Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

July 8, 2023: Peter Stix will call.  An nice full band this month, with Eric Buddington and Doone MacKay on fiddle, Tony Pisano on accordion, Seamus Connor on guitar, and Butch DeGiorgis on mandolin. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

No Dance in August.

Monthly dances will resume September 9, 2023.

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 $12 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

March 11, 2023:  Quena Crain calls a program specially suited to families with children. Music by Marko Packard on guitar and George Wilson on fiddle. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

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

January 14, 2023: Andy Davis will call, music by Cedar Stanistreet on fiddle and Arthur Davis on keyboard and banjo. This year we will dance the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, every month.

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.