= contra; 
= English; 
= Square
BACDS currently holds dances on Wednesdays and Fridays through Sundays. Click on the calendar dates to go to listings for that day.
S M T W T F S
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Please note: Except where noted, all dances start at 8pm.
ASH--Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo, Berkeley, at Gilman, Special Thursday night ceilidh dance
= contra; = English; = Square
Bold dates in brackets indicate the revision date for entries updated from the printed calendar.
Kick off the month with an English dance in downtown Palo Alto at MT. Series host Bob Fraley calls to the music of Nonesuch Country Dance Players (Ruth Anne Fraley, Susan and Stanley Kramer, Mark Daly and Paul Kostka)
.
Saturday, March 2
Lise Dyckman conducts the second Playford Ball Workshop in downtown Palo Alto at MT . Since the dances at the ball are only prompted, here's your chance to learn them in an unhurried atmosphere. Music by Ruth Anne Fraley and David Strong. It runs from 2pm to 5pm, admission $7.
SF The SF contra at SF features Santa Monica caller Drew Tronvig with local favorites Hillbillies from Mars (Ray Bierl, Paul Kotapish, Daniel Steinberg).
Sunday, March 3
CEILIDH The second in a series of special Sunday ceilidh dances in Berkeley at GNC, starting at 7pm. Jonathan Coxhead teaches all you need to know about this energetic and easy-to-learn dance form from England. Music by the Toasted Cheese Band, featuring the amazing musical community that is Bruno (Jason Adajian & Friends).
Wednesday, March 6
It's a Wednesday night, so of course there's dancing at GNC in Berkeley. Tonight's caller is the estimable Mavis McGaugh, with music by an Open Band led by Bobbi Nikles, Paul Kotapish, and Erik Hoffman. Wow...
Friday, March 8
The second Friday Berkeley contra takes off at FIN. Kirston Koths calls to the decidedly Irish sounds of Tipsy House (Jack Gilder, Chris Knepper and Richard Mandel).
Saturday, March 9
The Palo Alto contra at PA with Kirston Koths calling and music by those amazing The Contra Bandits (Kathrine Gardner, Chris Knepper, Charlie Hancock, and Kit Nelson)
.
... while up in the Noe Valley district of San Francisco at BET, Lydee Scudder will lead English dance to the tunes of the dynamic trio of David Strong, Robert Hill and Mark Carroll. The dance starts at 7:30, and as many folks as will meet at 6pm for dinner at a nearby restaurant, call 415/430-1269 x3293 for details.
Sunday, March 10
The El Cerrito square/contra dance starts at 7pm at ECV, with series host Jim Saxe calling to old-timey tunes by The Barnburners (Stephanie Prausnitz, Evie Ladin, Dan Warrick).
Wednesday, March 13
At GNC, the Berkeley English dance featurss caller Ric Goldman, with music by Laurie Chastain, David Strong, and Chuck Ward.
Friday, March 15
and more. BACDS' Spring Weekend at Monte Toyon starts tonight and runs through Sunday afternoon. Check out the Spring Weekend website for more information on staff and whether there are still places available (this one fills up quickly...)
Only 8 more dancing days to the Playford Ball! Better head to downtown Palo Alto at MT, where the Ball's "Minister of Mirth" Bob Fraley leads the dance to Nonesuch Country Dance Players (Ruth Anne Fraley, Susan and Stanley Kramer, Mark Daly and Paul Kostka)
.
Saturday, March 16
The third Saturday contra at SF (in San Francisco, oddly enough) has Kirston Koths calling to the music of Luceo (Rebecca King, Bobbi Nikles, & Lee Anne Welch).
Wednesday, March 20
The Berkeley contra at GNC... series host Erik Hoffman calling, with music by an Open Band led by Chris Knepper, Paul Kotapish, and Kyle Thayer.
Friday, March 22
For contra fans, it's hard to beat the 4th Friday contra at SF, with special guest Warren Blier from Monterey, with tunes served up by Ray Bierl, Kevin Carr, and Craig Johnson.
... but if you're an English dancer, you'll probably want to be at the final Playford Ball rehearsal, in San Mateo at "SMT". A number of local callers will be giving instruction on most of the dances to be done at the ball, music is by two astounding ECD favorites: Chuck Ward and Jon Berger. Worth going to even if you're not attending the ball...
Saturday, March 23
BACDS' Playford Ball, a fancy-dress English country dance extravaganza! This year's ball is "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with Master of Mirth Bob Fraley and music by Bangers & Mash (Susan and Stanley Kramer, David Strong and Craig Johnson)
. 6:45-11pm. Advance registration required! For info call 510-233-5065 or visit http://www.bacds.org/playford.
The Palo Alto contra at PA Series host Eric Black calls, to the glorious sextet Québecquasi (Kevin Carr, John Hamstra, Caroline Cirimele, Barbara Mendelsohn, Laurie Rivin, Daniel Steinberg).
The 4th Saturday experienced Berkeley English dance at GNC is CANCELLED - come to the Playford Ball!
Sunday, March 24
The El Cerrito Square/Contradance at ECV starts at 7pm and features Jim Saxe calling with music by an Open Band led by Vista Strings (Bobbi & Roland Nikles, Daren Santos, Lisa Croen).
Wednesday, March 27
The English dance at GNC, with David Newitt calling and teaching, music by an Open Band lead by Shira Kammen, Judy Linsenberg, & Charlie Hancock.
Friday, March 29
A fifth Friday dance? Of course! The English dance in downtown Palo Alto at MT features Alan Winston calling to the music of Nonesuch Country Dance Players (Ruth Anne Fraley, Susan and Stanley Kramer, Mark Daly and Paul Kostka)
.
Saturday, March 30
Equal time, in the same city--there's also a fifth Saturday Palo Alto contra at PA. Charlie Fenton, calls, music by Bog an Lochan (Alan Snyder, David Hansen, Pat Ryan).