Details
Swing into April with Cat, Laurel, Meg, and David Smukler!
Mark your calendars for a night of music, movement, and community! Join us on Thursday, April 4, 2024, for a vibrant contradance featuring the delightful tunes of Catherine McCallen on fiddle, Laurel Sharp on winds, and Meg Grindrod on keyboard, guided by the expert calling of David Smukler.
🎶 Cat on fiddle – Cat’s fiddling will sweep you off your feet and onto the dance floor.
🎶 Laurel on winds – Laurel’s winds will create an enchanting atmosphere, perfect for an evening of dance.
🎶 Meg on keyboard – Meg’s keyboard skills will set the rhythm, making each step a joyous dance.
Caller David Smukler: David’s expert calling ensures a night of fun and engaging dances for all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned contra dancer or a newcomer, David will guide you through the steps with joy and precision.
As part of our new weekly “Rose Blooms” pre-dance workshops, Stephen Spinder will lead “Contra Connections” at 6:30 pm to take you beyond the basics. Since contra has little footwork involved, it’s most important to maintain the connection with your partner – hand/eye/shoulder – and with the whole room of dancers, band, and caller. We’ll make time, ask permission and execute flourishes safely! Come join other dancers in connection.
Sliding Scale Pricing: Our sliding scale ensures that everyone can join the dance! We suggest an average of $10 per person to support this well-attended and lively event.
No partner or experience is necessary – just bring your enthusiasm, and let’s fill the Rose Room with the joy of contra dancing. We offer a basic introduction to Contra every week at 7:10 pm.
Members: It’s time to think about submitting scholarship applications for Pinewoods camp
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.
Bands
Catherine, Laurel & Meg
Catherine Sloboda (violin), Laurel Sharp (many whistles & recorders & oboe), Meg Grindrod (concertina, piano)
Trillium
Catherine Sloboda (Fiddle), Laurel Sharp (Winds), Meg Grindrod (Keyboard)
Trillium features Cat on violin, Laurel on an astounding variety of wind instruments, and Meg on piano and concertina.