Details

Join us as we come together to celebrate the magic of live music and dance. David Smukler, a captivating caller with a passion for creating dance magic, will guide dancers of all levels through an array of lively and engaging dances. Paired with the vibrant melodies and infectious energy of Sister Haggis, this promises to be a night where the dance floor comes alive.

Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or stepping onto the dance floor for the first time, this event is your ticket to an evening of joy, connection, and shared experiences. So mark your calendar, rally your friends, and join us for an enchanting night of music, movement, and camaraderie that you won’t want to miss! We can’t wait to dance the night away with you.

If you’re new to contra dance, have no worries. We offer an introduction to the moves about 15 minutes before the dance. Just let us know when you arrive. The entrance fee is a sliding scale; pay what you can, with a suggested amount of $10.

This week, we will hold a brief meeting at the break to elect CDR officers for Oct 2023- Sept 2024.  Only CDR members for the 2023-2024 year may vote for the new board.  Votes will be taken by a show of hands on both dates. Please only vote once.

The CDR nominating committee has put forward the following list of candidates for the CDR board for 2023-2024:

  • President: Cindy Culbert
  • Vice-President: Padraic Neville
  • Treasurer: Michael Pallischeck
  • Secretary: Charlie Rosenberg

Members may propose additional nominees by phoning or sending an .  Members who cannot attend on either the 14th or 17th should contact the Secretary.

 

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

Sister Haggis

Eileen Nicholson Kalfass - fiddle, Jane Knoeck - piano, accordion

Western NY duo Eileen and Jane, are familiar to Rochesterians but also well known traveling musicians who play all over the country. Here they get together as good friends to play the tunes they love and give us a great time. We’ve known Eileen, daughter of long-time Syracuse caller Bob Nicholson, since she was a lass. Now playing nationally as a member of the bands Seaglass and Continental Drift, we always enjoy her lilting fiddle style. Jane is a founding member of The Groovemongers, and Montage, as well as a number of great combinations including Riverbend and New Brew.