[syr-contra-news] Dance Schedule

[David Smukler]

(As always, feel free to scroll down past the announcements to go directly
to our schedule information.)

Ladies and gentlemen, this is NOT an April Fools joke. We have lots of great
music and dancing to let you know about!

First, this weekend...

** PROM, SPRING FLING and FIDDLEHEAD FROLIC **

It's time for the our annual CONTRA PROM! Whether you are young at heart or
just young, don't miss the dance THIS FRIDAY (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.

The Great Bear Trio is also being featured this weekend at "Spring Fling
2009," an annual event sponsored by the New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers'
Association and the NYS Cultural Resources Council. The Spring Fling takes
place April 3-4 at the same location as our regular dances: the United
Church of Fayetteville. It starts with a free music jam on Friday night from
7-11 PM. We're hoping some of the NYSOTFA members will do some dancing with
us, and that some of our dancers will do some jamming with them. What do you
think? You could bring an instrument on Friday night, come to the prom, and
go back and forth -- a little jamming, a little dancing...

Then on Saturday, April 4, you can come back for the rest of the Spring
Fling: 1:00-11:00 PM, which includes concert by the Great Bear Trio, an open
mic for fiddlers, and an "Old Tyme Round and Square Dance."

Alternatively, on Saturday, you could drive down to Ithaca for their annual
"Fiddlehead Frolic," which this year features Sue Rosen and Phanthom Power
from the Boston area and a variety of Ithaca talent including Pamela
Goddard, Katy Heine, Nancy Spero and Contrapasso.


Next, other events of interest in May (put 'em on your calendar now!)...

** MORRIS DANCING, OSWEGO DANCE, LIZ CARROLL/DAITHI SPROULE, JANE AUSTEN
BALL **

May 1st MORRIS DANCING -- May Day Morris Dancing at Thornden Park

Join several Morris teams at the water tower in Thornden Park at dawn
(that's right: 6 AM) for the annual May Day festivities. If you have been
before, we know you'll be back, but if you have not this is an amazing
event. It includes...
- Morris Dancing and more Morris Dancing
- Sword Dancing (what you see there that morning you will never see again!)
- Singing
- Speechifying
- Flowers
- Morris cake
- A Mummers Play
- A child-friendly Maypole dance
- And an entire year's worth of luck, yours just for attending!

Dress warmly. The event happens, rain or shine (although the Bassett Street
Hounds, one of the local Morris Teams, insist that "it never rains on the
Hounds"). The whole thing will be done by 7:30, so you have plenty of time
to get to work (or just go back to bed).

Also on May 1st, CONTRA DANCE IN OSWEGO

The Ontario Center for the Performing Arts will be holding their next contra
dance. The band is Judy and The Jets and David Smukler is the Caller. The
dance runs from 7:30 to 10:30 PM (with a newcomer workshop at 7:00) at the
beautiful old McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake Street in Oswego, adjacent to
Breitbeck Park overlooking Lake Ontario.

May 3rd - LIZ CARROLL AND DAITHI SPROULE

The Syracuse Irish Sessions and Kellish Hill Farm presents Liz Carroll
(fiddle) and Daithi Sproule (guitar) at Kellish Farms, 3192 Pompey Center
Road in Manlius. There will be musicians' workshops from 2-4 PM, an open
session from 4-6 PM, and a concert with Liz and Daithi at 6:30 pm. This is a
really big deal; Liz and Daithi are extraordinary musicians. For more info,
call (315) 256-1577.

Also on May 3rd - JANE AUSTEN BALL

English Country dances in the spirit of the Jane Austen era for one and all.
If you want to dress up and dance with grace and elegance, this is the event
for you! Joanna Reiner, Dance Mistress and music by "Lost in Austen" (Paul
Morrissett, Judy Kleppel and Roberta Truscello). Note that preregistration
is required. Here's a web address for details:
<http://www.rochestercontra.com/JaneAustenBall.html>.

Don't forget to bookmark <syracusecountrydancers.org>.

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

Below is our upcoming schedule through the end of May.

Fri, Apr 3: the Contra Prom
Sarah VanNorstrand
The Great Bear Trio

Fri, Apr 10: NO SYRACUSE COUNTRY DANCERS EVENT

Sat, Apr 18: English country dance
David Smukler 
Kathy Selby, Hope Grietzer and Tom Hodgson

Fri, Apr 24
Bob Nicholson 
Tunescape

Sat, May 2
Bob Nicholson
Strings on Wings (Todd Clewell and Barb Schmid)

Fri, May 8 
Bev Bernbaum
Mockin'bird

Sat, May 16: English country dance
(NOTE ALTERNATE LOCATION Kellish Farm)
Pamela Goddard 
Four Hands Round

Friday, May 22: TBA

Sat, May 30
Sarah VanNorstrand 
Miss Marty and SGB