Details
Update: Because the roads are forecast to be icy and all of tonight’s performers are traveling far distances, we are cancelling tonight’s dance. See you next week.
Tonight’s band are the Brother-Sister Fiddle Duo of Matt Sloboda and Catherine Sloboda-McCallen with Guitarist Tom Santarsiero.
Calling by the dean of upstate dance callers, David Smukler.
Intro lesson at 7:00, dance 7:30 – 10:00. Admission is on a sliding scale – pay what you can to support the dance. Suggested amount is $10.
Caller
David Smukler
David Smukler leads evenings of contras and squares, English country dances, family dances, school programs, and special events such as weddings, festivals, etc. He has also presented workshops on numerous dance related topics. His taste in dances is eclectic, and he presents a wide variety of dances. His repertoire includes plenty of New England contras, as well as an assortment of squares, singing calls, mixers, old chestnuts and freshly minted dances. He has a special fondness for English country dances, and his English programs also blend old favorites with new gems.
David grew up singing folk songs with his mom and began dancing contras in New Hampshire as a teen. In 1981 he was drafted to call for his local dance and has been calling ever since. David calls contras and squares, English country dances, and family and community dances, and is also a choreographer.
David is a retired inclusive early childhood and childhood educator who has also taught for years at the college level in a teacher preparation program. He has frequently used dance and song in his teaching, both with children and adults, sometimes to the great surprise of his students. A teacher through and through, David believes that people can always learn and grow. While welcoming change and evolution, David has enormous respect for the value of folk traditions and is the author (with David Millstone) of Cracking Chestnuts: The Living Tradition of Classic American Contra Dances, published in 2008 by CDSS.
Bands
Matt Sloboda
Matt Sloboda (Fiddle, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Accordion)
Raised in the tradition, Matt has played with many bands, including Lake Effect and Glenrose. Matt brings a great lift to his style that swings.
Tom Santarsiero
Tom Santarsiero (Guitar, Mandolin, etc.)
One of our favorite pickers, Tom is equally at home with the guitar, mandolin, banjo and other fine instruments. We’ve enjoyed his music in many ways, including with The Groovemongers and Riverbend.