Details
It’s a special contra dance night at The Rose Room this week, with our good friends, Tim Ball and Helen Kuhar making the trip from Ithaca. Their repertoire spans the best of Irish, WNY, French Canadian, and (of course) classic contra dance tunes. Tim’s album, Upstate Crossroads, was #1 on the FAI Folk DJ chart for January. Nancy Spero will be calling the dances.
Beginner Workshop (7:00 PM – 7:30 PM): New to contradance? Join us for a beginner workshop before the dance to learn the basics and get ready to hit the dance floor with confidence!
No partner? No problem! Bring your friends, family, and fellow music and dance enthusiasts for a night of energetic music, laughter, and connection. Contra dancing is all about community and good vibes.
Video by Carla Reidlinger
Caller
Nancy Spero
Ithaca caller Nancy Spero is especially welcome in Rochester. In addition to being a fine contra dance caller, Nancy is particularly interested in the music and moves of traditional, old-time square dancing and she calls for square dances held several times a year in the greater Ithaca area. On our stage, she is always smiling and moving to the music of the band.
Band
Tim Ball and Helen Kuhar
Tim Ball (fiddle), Helen Kuhar (guitar)
Tim Ball’s solo fiddle album Upstate Crossroads was the No. 1 album of January 2023 on the FAI Folk DJ chart. Helen Kuhar is rapidly establishing themself as an in-demand guitarist and singer in Boston’s vibrant Irish and contra dance music scenes. When the two met at an Irish session in Ithaca, NY in mid-2022, their musical chemistry was immediate—they quickly discovered that they shared an affinity for fiddle tunes from Celtic-influenced cultures from both sides of the Atlantic, a passion for working out tight, energetic arrangements, and a feel for the nuances of groove that can only come from years of contra dancing.