= 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.
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
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Please note: Except where noted, all dances start at 8pm.
BET--Bethany United Methodist Church, 1268 Sanchez (at Clipper), San Francisco. 2nd Saturday English dance, 7:30pm.
= contra; = English; = Square
Bold dates in brackets indicate the revision date for entries updated from the printed calendar.
Wednesday, May 3
The wonderful first Wednesday dance in San José at SJS, with Alan Winston teaching the dance, and Stan Kramer and Bill Jensen providing the music.
The Berkeley Wednesday contra at GNC. Series host Erik Hoffman calls, with music by an Open Band featuring the Scottish sounds of Bog an Lochan (Alan Snyder, David Hansen, Pat Ryan), making their first BACDS dance debut.
Friday, May 5
The Palo Alto English dance, downtown at MT, with series host Bob Fraley and music by Nonesuch Country Dance Players (Ruth Anne Fraley, Susan and Stanley Kramer, Mark Daly and Paul Kostka)
.
Saturday, May 6
A very special contradance in SF amazing caller, soundman and banjoist Warren Argo (from Seattle, but he gets around) offers us the first of these talents (and perhaps the the third). Joining him will be The Kozmonutz (Ray Bierl, Craig Johnson, Paul Kotapish), formed to play the ADFT tour of the then-Soviet Union in 1988 (speaking of getting around...)
Wednesday, May 10
Once a month, I have to say it: if it's a Wednesday, there's dancing at GNC in Berkeley. Tonight it's English, with David Newitt calling to the music of the glorious trio of Charlie Hancock, Danny Carnahan, and Jon Berger.
Friday, May 12
The monthly Friday Berkeley contra at FIN, with Kirston Koths and music by 96 or So (Bobbi Nikles, John Light, & Maureen Brennan). Hmm, fiddle, accordion and harp... 96 of what? You'll have to come and find out.
Saturday, May 13
The once-a-month San Francisco English dance in the Noe Valley district at BET starts at 7:30. David Newitt teaches you all you need to know, music by Craig Johnson, Ruth Temple and Robert Hill. Arrive a bit early if you're driving--parking can be tight.
[5/1] While down in Palo Alto, at PA, Charlie Fenton calls the contra joined by hot Boston fiddler Carol Bittenson and local hero Peter Spicer.
Sunday, May 14
& Second Sunday, so it's time for the El Cerrito Square/Contra dance at ECV, starting at 7pm. Jim Saxe calls with music by dotGals (Susan Sullivan, Dan & Karen Warrick, and Adam Cavan).
Wednesday, May 17
The Berkeley contra at GNC features Erik Hoffman calling, with music by an Open Band led by Charlie Hancock, Kathrine Gardner and Kyle Thayer.
And down in San José at SJS, the English country dance features series host Jody McGeen leading the dance, with music by Stanley Kramer and Ruth Anne Fraley.
Friday, May 19
A rare event--a dance combining English and contradance in one evening at MT in downtown Palo Alto. Bob Fraley joins forces with Andy Wilson to call, music by the irrepressible Nonesuch Country Dance Players (Ruth Anne Fraley, Susan and Stanley Kramer, Mark Daly and Paul Kostka)
.
Saturday, May 20
A special Scottish evening at the San Francisco dance at SF as Charlie Fenton calls to the music of the SF Scottish Fiddle Club.
Wednesday, May 24
The Wednesday Berkeley English dance at GNC features Lise Dyckman calling to music by David Newitt, Craig Johnson and friends (it's an Open Band night, after all....)
Friday, May 26
Fourth Friday contra at SF, featuring Monterey caller Warren Blier and Blood Red Moon (Ray Frank, Brian Theriault and Kerry Parker) in their BACDS debut.
Saturday, May 27
Down in Palo Alto, the contra at PA features Kirston Koths calling with music by those stringband sensations dotGals (Susan Sullivan, Dan & Karen Warrick, and Adam Cavan)
[5/16] ...while in Berkeley at the experienced English country dance at GNC, you can dance to Jody McGeen (making a mysteriously rare appearance in Berkeley!) with music by that superb trio Shira Kammen, Judy Linsenberg and Charlie Hancock.
... and concluding our fourth Saturday web-based tour, there's the Fairfax contra at FCC, with series host Stuart Moody calling to Vista Strings (Bobbi and Roland Nikles and friends).
Sunday, May 28
& [5/16] At the 7pm fourth Sunday Square/Contra series, we have Jim Saxe calling the dances and Vista Strings (Bobbi and Roland Nikles and friends) calling the tunes.
Wednesday, May 31
Every fifth Wednesday the Berkeley contra has an Open Band and Open Caller night. Tonight it's led by Erik Hoffman coordinating the callers, and David Brown leading the band. If you're interested in calling, contact Erik either by e-mail or by phone at 510/444-4397.
There's also a fifth Wednesday dance in San José at SJS. Alan Winston calls an evening of English country dances to the music of Stanley Kramer and Bill Jensen.