Details
Come practice dances that will be done at the Jane Austen Ball on May 1!
COVID precautions in effect. You must bring (or have brought to a previous Rochester dance) proof of being fully vaxxed and boosted and must wear an effective mask, such as Kn95, or a cloth mask over a tightly fitted surgical mask. No consumption of food in the hall. Please bring your own water bottles.
Parking and the entrance are located behind the building. Turn onto Hillside Ave. to reach them. Walk down the long covered sidewalk to the glass doors leading to the main lobby. On the right of the doors, there is an intercom connected to the office. Press the button. You will be buzzed in. CDR personnel will be stationed at the door for the first hour.
After class. we need to clear out quickly for the next users. Please don’t dawdle or dilly dally.
Please do not bring food of any kind. This is a Kosher facility. No food.
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.
Band
Laurel & Chris
Laurel Sharp (winds and oboe), Chris DeGolyer (piano)