Details
New Brew is a blend of three accomplished musicians. We see them on stage playing with other bands and always admire their versatility and musicianship. Eileen Kalfass on fiddle, Jane Knoeck on keyboard and accordion, and Tom Santarsiero on mandolin and percussion.
Maxine McDonald, despite being our youngest local caller, has years of experience calling and even more years experience on the dance floor. Her timing is impeccable and she always calls her favorite dances–which coincidentally are our favorite dances, too!
Colleen Liggett is sharing the caller stage tonight. In addition to being Talent Coordinator for the Sunday English dances, Colleen is an avid contradancer and burgeoning caller. She is a trained vocalist, so enjoy her dulcet tones as she guides us through some interesting choreography.
Callers
Maxine McDonald
Young Maxine McDonald calling has a locked-in sense of timing that is never off, and never obtrusive. Quiet and unassuming, she puts the music first for a sweet evening. Her enthusiasm for the dance is contagious, and stems from a love of historical re-enactment at the Genesee Country Village and Museum–and a delight in twirling on the dance floor!
Colleen Liggett
A longtime member of our dance community, Colleen initiated live music at our dances, arranging music and organizing the first bands when the English dance series began in the 1980s. Colleen currently books our performers and has more recently turned her considerable enthusiasm towards calling. In addition to calling for us, she and her husband, John, host dances on their back porch.
Band
New Brew
Eileen Nicholson Kalfass - fiddle, Jane Knoeck - piano, accordion, Tom Santarsiero - guitar, mandolin, feet
One of Western NY’s top traditional dance bands, these accomplished musicians combine broad celtic influences to brew up world class world music in the bal folk, New England Contra, Quebecois traditions.