The next dance in the "Montpelier Contra Dance" series will be this coming Saturday, with a newcomers' instruction session at about 7:30, led by the dance caller for the evening, Adina Gordon, with 3 hours of dancing starting at 8:00. Music will be provided by Dave Langford on the fiddle, and Colin McCaffrey on the guitar.
Adina has called all over the United States, and we're lucky to have her living in VT so we can enjoy her clear calling and enthusiasm for contra dancing. The remarkably large-sounding band of Dave and Colin bring swinging rhythms and driving melodies to propel exciting dancing. They have played at this dance for about 2 decades, and we keep inviting them back!
Dave is based in the Boston area, and plays with a variety of groups (Latter Day Lizards, Stomp Rocket) in addition to performing with VT-based Colin McCaffrey, whom you will also hear playing with Patty Casey, Myra Flynn, and the Stone Cold Roosters.
Contra dances with great live callers and bands like these are presented on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday evenings, at the Capital City Grange Hall in Berlin. The Hall is located on Rt. 12 (aka Northfield St), just south of the I-89 overpass, a mile from downtown Montpelier. The Contra Dance Umbrella, the volunteer committee which puts on the dances, wants everyone to come and have a good time. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids and low-income. Or be a dance supporter and pay a bit more--almost all of the money goes to the caller, the band, and the sound person, plus rent to the Grange.
We suggest light, comfortable clothing, clean soft-soled shoes to protect the beautiful dance floor, and a water bottle to keep hydrated--you can fill it at the water fountain/bottle filler. Come by yourself and find partners at the dance, or bring your friends!
Whoever you are, we invite you to share a warm evening of friendly, social, high-energy dancing! Questions? Call Tim Swartz at 802-225-8921 for more info, or see the Contra Dancing page on the Grange website: http://capitalcitygrange.org/dancing/contradancing