From info at syracusecountrydancers.org Tue Feb 17 11:37:47 2009 From: info at syracusecountrydancers.org (David Smukler) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:37:47 -0500 Subject: [syr-contra-news] Dance Schedule Message-ID: (As always, feel free to scroll down past my announcements to go directly to our schedule information.) Trying to conserve cash in this time of economic restraint? Our dances are cheaper than dinner out, cheaper than a movie, MUCH cheaper than a vacation, and immensely good for the body and spirit! We've planned lots of special Syracuse Country Dancers' events for the near future. We hope you will come to them all, including --> MAGGOTS, CHESTNUTS, AND THE CONTRA PROM. MAGGOTS? If you are a lover of English dance, check out our "Mostly Maggots" dance this coming weekend. This themed evening was the brainchild of Lisa Brown, the president of the Syracuse Jane Austen Society and a regular English dancer in Syracuse, Rochester and Toronto. Many English dances have the word "Maggot" in their title. Come enjoy a varied selection of these, and find out how such a charming variety of dances have come to be called "Maggots." Three fine callers will provide the maggoty instructions, and The Fine Companions will offer exquisite musical accompaniment. Also, English dance lovers, you should put the following two events on your calendar: 3/28- Binghamton Ball 5/3- Rochester Jane Austen Ball CHESTNUTS? Chestnuts are the old style New England dances that used to be the mainstay of an evening of contra dancing fifty and a hundred years ago. There's a good reason they've lasted so long; they are fabulous dances! To celebrate the publication of "Cracking Chestnuts," a loving look at a variety of favorite classic American dances, we are sponsoring an all-chestnuts evening in Madison Hall on March 14th. David Smukler will be calling along with other guests, and George Wilson and Tom Hodgson will crank out just the right tunes with energy and gusto. Thanks to some generous donations and the co-sponsorship of CDSS, this will be a FREE dance (unless you are moved to buy the book or George's new CD: A Collection of Northern Tunes). CONTRA PROM? If you're young at heart (or just young), don't miss our annual Contra Prom, on April 3rd. As always, all are invited; you do not have to be "of prom age" to attend. Wear any sort of prom clothes you like: a tux, a prom dress or your freshly ironed favorite tee-shirt. Expect the usual outstanding decorations and refreshments. The dancing will be exciting as well: Sarah VanNorstrand is calling and the Great Bear Trio will heat up the hall. Note that the Prom is on a Friday night that weekend, because we thought you might also want to check out one of two other great events on Saturday April 4th: - The Fiddlehead Frolic in Ithaca, NY - A Syracuse area gathering of the New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers Association By the way, we just took a week off for the Flurry, and if you are itching for a Syracuse-area contra dance this Friday night, there's a good one at the Kellish Farms, with Carmen Giunta calling and music by Harvey Nusbaum's band, the Salt Potatoes. See for directions, etc. So, remember: maggots, chestnuts and the contra prom. But don't feel you have to limit yourself to those. We have a great dance almost every week (and on the second weekend of March we have two)! Our website will link you to many other dances in CNY as well, including the weekly Thursday night dance in Rochester, weekly Friday night dance in Ithaca, twice a month English dance on Sunday evenings, also in Rochester, and many more. ==================== Below is our upcoming schedule in "just the facts" form: Sat, Feb 21: "Mostly Maggots" English Country Dance Carmen Giunta, Bob Nicholson, and Richard Sauvain Fine Companions Fri, Feb 27 Bob Nicholson and Sharon Perry Miss Marty and SGB Sat, Mar 7 Various callers from the annual CNY callers gathering Eileen Nicholson and John Wobus Fri, Mar 13 Nancy Spero Harvey Nusbaum and Friends Sat, Mar 14: "Cracking Chestnuts" Book Release Party and FREE dance David Smukler and guests George Wilson and Tom Hodgson Alternate location: Madison Hall in Morrisville, NY Sat, Mar 21: English country dance Richard Sauvain Kathy Selby and friends Fri, Mar 27 David Smukler Confluence Fri, Apr 3: the Contra Prom Sarah VanNorstrand The Great Bear Trio Friday, Apr 10: NO SYRACUSE COUNTRY DANCERS EVENT