Dance Schedule Archives 2008

Band:  Chicks with Guns
Caller: Judy Bass
Guest Callers: David Keller and Chrystal Galacci

Band:  Chicks with Guns
Caller: Judy Bass
Guest Callers: David Keller and Chrystal Galacci

Workshop 7:30

Intermediate Workshop: Star Through, Square Through, Petronella

Led by Judy Bass

Ever wonder the differences between a star through and a square through?  Why sometime you're on time and other times you’re not? Ever have a neighbor who’s unsure of which way to twirl in a Petronella? How do you help a new dancer with these moves?  What are some subtle ways you can stay more connected to your partner/neighbor while doing these moves?  Come find out the answers to these questions and learn some subtle ways to be an even more graceful dancer. 

Saturday Feb 9
8-11 pm

Workshop
7:30 pm

Intermediate Workshop

Active Inactivity:
What you probably should be doing when the caller isn't telling you to do something

Led by: Wade Pearson

For much of the time during a dance, the caller is giving instructions only to your partner or your neighbors. That doesn't mean that you should just stand there and twiddle your thumbs! Good dancing demands that you do more than that. Learn how the laws of physics (really!) provide guidance for you when you are left to your own devices.

Saturday Mar 8
8-11 pm

Workshop 7:30 pm

Intermediate Workshop: Connecting with your Partner

Led by: Greg Rohde

What's an action you do dozens of times during a dance, often on autopilot?

• Engaging & Disengaging your partner.
• Receiving & Releasing.
• Linking & Letting Go.

In this workshop we’ll encourage dancers to be very intentional about how, when, and where they connect and disconnect with their partner. Since limiting one sense helps us focus more on the others, a portion of the dancers will be invited to dance "blind". No one will be forced to do it.

Bring some supplies (sunglasses, sleep masks, a couple of bandanas, etc) that we can offer our seeing-impaired partners. Be creative.

Band:   Night Crawlers
Caller:  Mac McKeever
Guest Caller: Wade Pearson

Band:   New Bad Habits
Caller:  Paula McFarling

Intermediate Workshop: How to be a Better Twirlfriend

Led by: Martha Edwards

Box the Gnat, Swat the Flea, Star Through, California Twirl - and more!  In this workshop we'll explore the variations of the "twirl to swap" moves, as well as other twirl opportunities, as time permits: Rory O'More, twirl in the hey, ladies' chain. The key to success, as always, is safety, momentum and awareness of the passing of time. As the Cat in the Hat says, "It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how."

Band:  Mickey Soltys, Jeff Miller and Jim Nelson
Caller: Jerome Grisanti

Intermediate Workshop: "Hey there" (You with the Stars in your eyes)

Led by: Jerome Grisanti

The Hey for Four is one of the few non-contact moves in the contra dance repertoire. In this workshop, we'll play with a variation known as the Push-Back (or Richochet) Hey.

How does one do this? When it is appropriate? (Hint: Not always). Who can do it? Is it always called, or can it be done "on the fly?" How can you signal to initiate it, or turn it down?

These questions and more will be answered in a most breathless manner by Jerome Grisanti (MA in Flirtation, Universitá di Amore, 1999).

In addition, we will examine the pleasures of the hands-across star (gasp!). If you believe a hands-across star is just an allemande for four, come and let us change your mind.

If time permits, we will also play with the scandalous Gypsy Hey, which was actually banned in 1848 by Emperor Franz-Josef II of Austria. This move demands a surety of step and space, and is not for the faint of heart. The closely related Gypsy-Arch Hey may also be covered.

Band:  Chicks with Guns
Callers: Judy Bass and Larry Boyer

Sat Jun 14

Workshop
7:30 pm

Intermediate Workshop: The Thrill of Being On Time

Led by: Bob Green and Martha Edwards

Band:  Hogtied
Caller: Paula McFarling

Band:  James River Scraphounds
Caller: Gaye Fifer

Special pre-dance workshop featuring Dutch Crossing, a double square dance for multiples of 16 people. See this YouTube version done with origami cranes.

Sign Up for Dutch Crossing
You should sign up if you want to do this dance, since it must be done in multiples of 16. Just send an email with your name and the subject "Dutch Crossing", to Martha at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Here is the list of people who have already signed up.

Band:  Marc Rennard, Robert Freeman, Jim Nelson
Caller: Deborah Hyland

Band:  Mound City Slickers
Caller: Mac McKeever
Guest callers: Karen Jackson and Dale Wilson

Band:  Night Crawlers
Caller: Martha Kelley

Band:  Matt Turino & Ben Smith
Caller: Deborah Hyland

No Waltz Party tonight - Flash Dance at the Botanical Gardens instead!

Band:  Old Corn Lickers
Caller: John & Cathy Coffman

Band:  Bottomfeeders
Caller: Mac McKeever

First Saturday Hatchling Dance
Band: Tu'Penny Uprights and Reel Women & the Jigelos
Calling: Hatchlings

Band: Echo Valley String Band
Caller: Judy Bass
Guest caller: Martha Edwards

First Saturday Hatchling Dance
Band: Reel Women and the Jigelos
Caller: Hatchlings

Fifth Sunday Dance - special dance to honor Alice's special birthday.
6-7 Waltzes composed by Marc Rennard
7-10 Contra

Band: Marc Rennard and Friends
Caller: Ted Steele

First Saturday Hatchling Dance
Band: Reel Women and the Jigelos
Callers: the Hatchlings

Band:  The Avant Gardeners and Chicory
Caller: Open Calling

Admission: $10 (and bring a snack to share!)