[syr-contra-news] Syracuse Country Dancers e-newsletter

[David Smukler]

The Phylla Mae Fall Fest is fast approaching. Have you registered yet? Don't
miss out on the fun!
 
This year's special fall dance weekend from the Syracuse Country Dancers
(our tenth annual!) includes spunky calling by the inimitable Kathy
Anderson, sizzling music from the Great Bear Trio, a joyful old-time groove
set by Long John and the Tights, and much more! What's the more, you ask?
Other performers include Hearts Delight, Joyce Rossbach, Bob Nicholson and
the Bassett Street Hounds. Aside from incredible dances each evening you can
attend daytime sessions dedicated to contra dance, English country dance,
square dance, or Morris dance, or be part of a fiddle workshop or an open
jam. We have a few surprises planned as well, and we hope you will come and
join in the festivities.

FYI, here's a little background: The Phylla Mae Fall Fest is probably the
most frequently mispronounced dance weekend you will ever run across. When
the weekend first began in 1998, we called it our "Fall Harvest Fest."
Phyllis Antos, one of our regular dancers and organizers, was instrumental
in making the weekend a success. Some of you may remember Phyllis. She was a
dancing fool. She loved all kinds of dancing. You name it; she'd do it:
contras, square dancing, English country, clogging. Phyllis' "nom de dance"
was "Phylla Mae"; that's the name she always put on her badge at dance
weekends. She pronounced it "Fill-a May," with a short "i" sound. The name
has nothing to do with the word "phylum!"
 
Phyllis was a large woman with a large heart. She danced with grace and
style, and always made you feel incredibly welcome. She drove a big white
Cadillac car, not the most politically correct vehicle perhaps, but somehow
she always felt most comfortable driving in a big car.
 
When Phyllis died in a car crash on her way home from clogging practice one
night we struggled to come up with a way to honor her memory and celebrate
her life and dancing spirit. We decided there was no better way than to name
the weekend she had worked so tirelessly for after her dance nickname. We
strive to be as welcoming as Phyllis always was, and sometimes we come
close...
 
Anyway, we hope you will join us this year. The tenth annual Phylla Mae Fall
Fest takes place on October 19 and 20 at the Pastime Athletic Club in
Syracuse, NY. See 
<http://www.syracusecountrydancers.org/PhyllaMaeFallFest.html> for details.

But here's what you really need to know: Registering in advance is a good
idea, and time is running out! If you register by October 12, you save 25%
on the price of the weekend, plus you can register for the convivial onsite
meals, and we'll even make you a priceless button--one that you can use for
years to come in dance after dance. So send your registration in now. If you
dance in central NY you can probably find our registration form at your
local dance. If not, you can download one from the website listed above.
 
Hope to see you there!

There are many other great contra dance opportunities if you want to find
them. Our website can lead you to lots of these. There are fine weekly
dances in Ithaca and Rochester. Binghamton, Owego, Cooperstown, Susquehanna,
Morrisville and Oswego and others all have great dances as well.

Our website is <http://www.syracusecountrydancers.org>. Here's the upcoming
schedule:

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

Sat, Oct 6 - an English country dance
David Smukler
Fine Companions Lyte

Fri, Oct 12
David Smukler
Kitchen Chair

October 19 & 20 - Tenth Annual Phylla Mae Fall Fest (see above)
Kathy Anderson
Great Bear Trio
And lots more!

Fri, Oct 26
Bob Nicholson
Tributary

Sat, Nov 3 - An English country dance
Richard Sauvain
Arugula

Fri, Nov 9
Sharon Perry
John Wobus and Friends

Sat, Nov 17 (co-sponsored by the Hamilton Friends)
Joyce Rossbach
Rick Manning and Friends
Note different location: Madison Hall in Morrisville, NY

Fri, Nov 23
NO SYRACUSE COUNTRY DANCERS EVENT
Check out the Rochester Thanksgiving Dance Weekend

Sat, Dec 1 - English country dancing especially for experienced dancers
Carmen Giunta, Lindsay Morgan and Richard Sauvain
Band TBA
Note different location: Masonic Temple in Tully, NY

Fri, Dec 7
Mike Jones
Miss Marty and SGB