Details
If you’re new to English Country dance, just show up about 20 minutes before the dance starts and we’ll show you how English dances work. Our admission fee is sliding scale – you can pay more than the suggested prices to provide additional support to this dance series, or less if that’s what works for you. Very occasionally we have to cancel a dance on short notice, so we urge you to check our web site before you travel.
Refreshments about half way through the dance are another attraction. This is our VERY popular Strawberry Shortcake night, featuring homemade shortcakes and real whipped cream, and we could use some help. We will have about 10 quarts of berries to slice; if you can come early (around 6 PM) armed with a paring knife, we can put you to work!
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
Trillium
Catherine Sloboda (Fiddle), Laurel Sharp (Winds), Meg Grindrod (Keyboard)
Trillium features Cat on violin, Laurel on an astounding variety of wind instruments, and Meg on piano and concertina.
Molly Jaynes Wilson
Molly Jaynes Wilson (violin)
Molly’s vibrant and sensitive violin playing has enlivened our English Country dances for many years.