Come cheer up, and warm up, at a community contra dance, on Saturday, December 13th, in Williamstown, MA. We’ll have live music in the New England tradition by George Wilson and Selma Kaplan, and calling by Luke Donforth.
This month, we will start with an introductory lesson at 7:15 PM. This is little earlier than the 7:30 start time you may be accustomed to. Please do come for the lesson if you can — Luke’s lesson is fun, engaging, and leads smoothly right into the evening’s dance program. It’s a perfect start for you or a friend who’s been hesitating to try something new — also a good refresher if you danced long ago and want to ease back into it — and a great way to help welcome newcomers to our community dance if you’re a regular.
- Where: in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
- When: 7:15PM – 10:30PM, on Saturday, December 13th
- Music by George Wilson on fiddle, with Selma Kaplan on keyboard
- Calling by Luke Donforth, using Larks and Robins role terms
- Cost: pay-what-you-can, donations of $12 – $20 recommended, but no one turned away for lack of funds
- Respiratory Health Policy: Please stay home if you feel at all unwell, and we’ll be glad to see you next month. Masks are welcome, but not required. Windows open.
Music will be provided by George Wilson on fiddle with Selma Kaplan on keyboard. The two have been supporting contra dances with dynamic traditional music for well over thirty years. George’s fiddling, strongly influenced by Cape Breton and French Canadian styles, will lift your feet, and Selma’s piano will provide a solid and sensitive rhythmic foundation.
Additionally, this month, we’re having a playgroup from 10AM – 12PM, in the Williamstown Public Library. Anyone with an interest in learning to call, seeing what goes into calling, or just being a biddable dancer to help new callers learn, is very welcome.
As a community contra dance in a small college town, we try to be welcoming to a wide range of people and abilities. Contra dancing is a group activity, perfect for meeting neighbors, making new friends, or just enjoying live music and a low stakes, pleasant social activity. Come alone or with friends – no need to bring a partner. In contra dancing it is usual to find a new partner for each dance within the evening, and you’ll end up dancing with everyone in the hall, more or less. Newcomers, and families with children, please do come for the introductory lesson at 7:15.
We’d love it if you were to print and share the poster, to help new people find the dance!
Join us this Saturday, June 10th, for a delightful community contra dance! Maggie McRae will call (teach), starting the evening with easy dances accessible to novices and families with children. The hall will fill with lively, energetic dancers, new skills will be taught as needed, and by the end, we’ll have danced the old chestnut, “Chorus Jig”, to the traditional reel of the same name. (Trust us, Chorus Jig is fun! That’s why people have been dancing it since 1820, at least.) Come alone, or with friends.
Music will be provided by two masters of New England’s traditional dance music: Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle, and Mary Cay Brass on keyboard. Mary Cay has been a foundational performer and teacher in the traditional dance and music community for many years. In addition to teaching choral singing, she has supplied a vital pulse in various beloved dance bands, including “The Greenfield Dance Band” with David Kaynor, and “Airdance” with Rodney Miller. Laurie Indenbaum has been fiddling for dances in Vermont and surrounding states since 1976, with many fine callers and bands, including “Applejack” and “The Full Catastrophe”. 
North Berkshire Community Dance 