Details
Community dance downstairs at 6:00 with Margaret Mathews calling to music by the CDR Open Band, led by Micah and Clara, followed by an intro to contra at 7:00, and hot dancing upstairs at 7:30 with Eileen, Audrey & Jane providing the music to calling by Daniel Levitin, who is visiting us from Boston.
Admission is charged on a sliding scale, with $12 as the suggested donation. Our admission fees don’t cover all our costs, so feel free to pay more if you can. We offer an introduction to contra dancing starting at 7:00.
Callers
Daniel Levitin
Daniel Levitin is an up-and-coming caller from the Boston area. They love calling dances ranging from graceful and flowing to driving and energetic, and have a flair for complicated choreography with satisfying resolutions. Their calling style blends a mathematician’s eye for detail with a teacher’s care for clear instruction. They call dances that run the gamut from exciting and high-energy to flowing and ooey-gooey smooth, and from old classics to intricate new dances.
Margaret Mathews
With more than 35 years experience as dancer, musician and caller, Margaret’s easy-going, engaging style gets everyone out on the dance floor. Her ability to smoothly adjust the dances to the experience level of the dance community make it a fun and accessible evening for everyone. In addition to contra dances, she calls for traditional Old Time square dances, Civil War reenactments, hoedowns, weddings and other joy filled occasions. Her dance calling has taken her up and down the East coast, from the Carolinas to Vermont, as well as the Northwest and Canada. As a musician, Margaret has played with Homage Quebecois, Wildroot String Band, and others.
Bands
Audrey Potter
Audrey Potter (fiddle)
Fiddler Audrey Potter enthusiastically plays for our contras. She is a music educator, conductor, violinist, and fiddler from Rochester, NY. She is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia with degrees in Violin Performance and Music Education. Audrey is passionate about using music to connect individuals and communities, as well as to empower people. When she’s not making music, Audrey loves reading, biking, and playing with her dog (Sadie) and cat (Clarabelle).
Jane Knoeck
Jane Knoeck (piano, accordion)
Jane Knoeck is the doyenne of Rochester dance piano for both English country and contra. She is a member of the nationally touring band, The Groovemongers, as well as River Bend, Sister Haggis, and others reaching back over many years. It’s always a great night for dancing when Jane is on stage.
Eileen Kalfass
Eileen Kalfass (fiddle)
Hailing from Syracuse, Eileen Kalfass is a much in demand fiddler with a wide repertoire, from Quebecois, Irish, Trad New England, and English Country. She has been a member of numerous country dance ensembles including Sister Haggis, Seaglass & Montage, and has played all over the US and beyond.