Details
Community dance downstairs at 6:00 with Margaret Mathews calling to music by the CDR Open Band, led by Micah and Colleen, followed by an intro to contra at 7:00, and hot dancing upstairs at 7:30.
All are welcome for an exciting evening of exhilarating fun. Nancy Spero calls fun dances. Long-time dance musicians Sister Haggis understand how to use the music to lift the dancers’ feet, and they’re joined with fiddler Ben Jackson.
Community dance admission: $5 each or $15 cap for a family.
Contra admission: suggested amount $12.
We have a sliding scale admission policy, with a target of $12. 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. Pay more if you can, less if you can’t – come dance!
Caller
Nancy Spero
Nancy Spero lives in Ithaca NY. She has been calling contra dances, square dances, and community/family dances in the Northeast since 1988. Her dances provide high energy fun for participants of all ages, whether they are newcomers or seasoned dancers. She will have you movin’ and groovin’ to the music in no time!
Bands
Sister Haggis
Eileen Nicholson Kalfass - fiddle, Jane Knoeck - piano, accordion
Known as Sister Haggis, Eileen Kalfass and Jane Knoeck have been making music together for over 15 years. Bringing their wealth of experience to both Contra and English dance, Eileen’s lilting fiddle and Jane’s dynamic piano provide both high energy and exceptional musicality to the dance floor. Their repertoire features both traditional and modern tunes and draws from a number of musical traditions. Together, and with other ensembles including the Groovemongers and Continental Drift and New Brew, they have travelled the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe, playing for numerous dance weeks, camps and festivals.
Ben Jackson
Ben Jackson (fiddle)
After decades as a classical violinist, Ben Jackson has recently discovered the joy of making dancers’ feet fly across the floor. Since first encountering the country dance world four years ago, he has appeared at English and contra dances across the country with bands Forgery and Blind Carbon Copy, and other frequent collaborators including Jeff Spero, Dave Bartley, Audrey Jaber, and more. Ben is currently enrolled in a graduate program in violin at the Eastman School of Music here in Rochester. He will delight you with his fiddle wizardry.