The next dance in the "Montpelier Contra Dance" series will be this coming Saturday--Feb. 2! We'll start with a newcomers' instruction session at about 7:30, led by the dance caller for the evening, David Kaynor. If you are new to this type of dancing, or just want a refresher, come at 7:30! We'll follow this with 3 hours of fun dancing starting at 8:00. Music will be provided by Bill Olson on guitar (and maybe upright bass), and George Wilson on fiddle.
David Kaynor has been calling dances since 1980, usually playing fiddle at the same time! He's been at the center of the contra dances at the Greenfield MA Guiding Star Grange, a mecca for dancing for decades. He's noted for being inclusive, encouraging everyone to join in the dancing—and the music-making.
He's calling along with his long-time friends and collaborators, Bill Olson and George Wilson as musicians. They've played together for years, and easily find the right tunes and rhythms to make the dancing fun!
Bill is based in Maine, and is also a noted caller who has written many dances that callers around the country—and the world—use. He plays and/or sings in at least 3 other bands, Scrod Pudding, Ti' Acadie and Jimmyjo and the Jumbol'Ayuhs. His repertoire of tunes includes Irish, Quebecois, Cajun and other types. He is also Assistant Director at the Maine Fiddle Camp, where he teaches guitar.
George, a native of and still resident in upstate NY, has also been playing fiddle for decades. He too has played for hundreds of dances, as well as concerts, folk music and dance festivals and camps, coffeehouses, as well as teaching fiddle and banjo. He's part of Fennig's All Star String Band, Groovemama and the Beaudoin Legacy among others. He is also part of "Peter, Paul & George", teaching community dancing in elementary, middle and high schools.
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 6612 Rt. 12 (aka Northfield St), Berlin VT 05602 (for GPS) 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
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