[syr-contra-news] Summer Dance Schedule and more

[David Smukler]

As always, scroll down if you want to skip the news and just see our
schedule information.

We hope to see many of you at our dance this weekend with Kitchen Chair, a
favorite musical duo from Ithaca. Please note that we are NOT dancing the
following weekend (June 22). Many of us like to go to the Old Songs Festival
that weekend <http://www.oldsongs.org/festival/>, a veritable feast for
those interested in traditional music and dance. Notice also that our
"windfall weekend" dance on June 30th will be co-sponsored by the Hamilton
Friends' dance, and is at their regular location in Madison Hall, rather
than ours in Fayetteville.

Lots of exciting planning has been happening for our Phylla Mae Fall Fest,
scheduled for October 19 and 20, 2007. Performers this year include Kathy
Anderson, the Great Bear Trio, and Long John & the Tights. Expect many
opportunities for great contra dancing, as well as sessions related to
fiddling, English country dance, Morris dancing and square dancing. The
weekend will once again be held at the Pastimes Club, which is in Syracuse,
NY. The hall is located right at the crossroads of Central New York, easily
accessible from I-81, I-690, and the thruway. (Why do you think they put the
State Fair so close to our location?) You can pick up a registration form
for the weekend at any of our dances, and many other area dances as well, or
find one online at <www.syracusecountrydancers.org/PhyllaMaeFallFest.html>.

We are very focused on making the PMFF a financial success this year (our
10th!) as well as an artistic one. With that in mind, some great
fun/draisers for the PMFF '07 have been planned. One is a silent auction, to
be held on September 15th. Stay tuned for more details, but if you have
desirable items in any price range that you'd be willing to donate, please
contact Gretchen Ziegler <eververdefarm at aol.com>. We are also very
enthusiastic about our "Win a Dance Tune" raffle. Andrew and Noah
VanNorstrand of the Great Bear Trio have graciously agreed to compose a
tune-to-order for the raffle winner. You can decide if you want your tune to
be a reel or a waltz or any other rhythm; you can choose the key, the title,
the mood, or whatever. Imagine the possibilities! A tune for Aunt Sadie's
50th anniversary, or the birth of your best friend's daughter, or any
occasion at all!! Or you could compose a dance of your own and have the boys
create the perfect tune for it... Tickets are $1/chance or $5 for six
chances. Tickets are available at all Syracuse Country Dancers' events, and
the winning ticket will be drawn on October 20th at 10 PM, during the
Saturday night dance at the Phylla Mae Fest.

We hope you'll have fun with these fun/drasisers, but most importantly we
hope to see you at the weekend, where we KNOW you'll have fun.

Our web address is <www.syracusecountrydancers.org>. Here is our upcoming
dance schedule:

====================

Saturday, June 16
Caller: David Smukler
Music: Kitchen Chair

Friday, June 22: NO Syracuse Country Dancers' event
Check out the Old Songs Festival in Altamont, NY

Saturday, June 30 (co-sponsored with Hamilton Friends)
Caller: Peter Blue
Music: Smash the Windows
DIFFERENT LOCATION! Madison Hall in Morrisville, NY

Saturday, July 7: English country dance
Caller: David Smukler
Music: Jane Knoeck & Friends

Friday, July 13
Open microphone for callers (Bob Nicholson, coordinator)
Music: Three Wheel Drive

Saturday, July 21
Caller: Hilton Baxter
Music: Mockin'bird

Friday, July 27
Caller: Bob Nicholson
Music: Contra Rebels

Saturday, August 4: English country dance
Caller: Carmen Giunta
Music: The Amorous Goddesses

Friday, August 10
Caller and band TBA

Saturday, August 18
Caller: David Smukler
Music: White Squall

Friday, August 24: NO Syracuse Country Dancers' event
See you in September!