[syr-contra-news] Dance Schedule

[David Smukler]

(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 <http://ecd.binghamtondance.org/ECD_calendar.htm >
5/3- Rochester Jane Austen Ball
<http://rochestercontra.com/JaneAustenBall.html>

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
<http://www.hands4dancers.org/frolic/2009/index.html>
- 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 <http://rhbamericana.com/> 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
<http://www.syracusecountrydancers.org> 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