Information for Dancers
at the San Francisco Contra Weekend
This page contains copies of the E-mail notices that have been sent out to the dancers who have registered for the weekend.
Welcome Letter (August 7)
Hello Dancers,
Only a week away to Balance the Bay 2010! We've planned a great weekend of contra dance, music, and companionship, and we're glad you will be part of it. Please be sure to read through the information provided below.
We're looking forward to dancing with you!
-- the BTB Committee
What to Bring:
- Dance shoes, or comfortable shoes with clean, non-marking soles.
- Dance clothes, extra shirts, etc.
- Something turquoise to wear for Saturday night.
- Coffee mug and/or refillable water bottle, with your name on it.
- Brown-bag lunch for Saturday and/or Sunday if you'd like to remain on site and visit. Note: refrigeration will not be available.
- Musical instruments for jam sessions.
- Money for buying skirts/shirts, this year's t-shirt/tote, CDs, and any lunches out.
- A windbreaker or jacket. It can get cold when the fog rolls in.
- Your enthusiasm and contra dance energy!
Registration:
If you get this as an E-mail, you are registered. We expect full attendance, about 230 dancers. If you're reading this online, we do have a waiting list, in case of last-minute cancellations. If you have registration or waiting-list questions, call 510-473-7172 or visit http://bacds.org/btb/feedback.html#registration
Cancellations:
If you cancel and we can fill your place from the waiting list, you will get a partial refund. Details at http://bacds.org/btb/cancellation.html
Arriving by Car:
Things you should know: The address is 207 Skyline Boulevard, but there is no entrance from Skyline. Enter "100 Zoo Rd, San Francisco" into Google, Yahoo, Mapquest, or your GPS for more accurate directions. Full driving directions are at http://bacds.org/btb/location.html
Parking:
There are at least 200 on-street parking spaces on Zoo Road and Herbst Road right next to the site. There's nobody else around except for the backside of the Zoo, so we get to use all the spaces.
How to Contact Dancers for Carpooling, Jamming, etc.:
You can send a message to all dancers by emailing it to btb-2010@bacds.org
Public Transit:
For information on arriving by public transportation: http://bacds.org/btb/location.html#transit and/or go to http://511.org to plan your trip.
Accommodations:
By now, we should have found accommodations for everyone who requested hospitality. We also have a list of local hotels at http://bacds.org/btb/hotel-guide.html. Contact our hospitality committee if you have questions or concerns: http://bacds.org/btb/feedback.html#hospitality
Starting Time & Schedule:
The doors open at 7:00 pm on Friday 8/13. Anyone arriving before that will be welcome to join the setup crew. Dancing starts at 8:00 pm on Friday.
The schedule for the weekend is posted online at http://bacds.org/btb/schedule.html and will be available in printed form at the dance hall.
Volunteering/Work-Trade
Balance the Bay is run by volunteer effort. Your contribution is always welcome. If you signed up to volunteer or do work-trade when you registered, you should have heard from our Volunteer/Work Trade coordinator by now. If not, or if you have questions about volunteering or work trade, please contact Merrie by E-mail or call her at 510-729-3997.
You're welcome to join us at our pre-weekend preparation party on Thursday afternoon, August 12--let Jens know at 510-886-6549.
Saturday Night Dance:
Get ready for our Saturday night Toast to Turquoise dance:
Is it blue? Is it green? No it's TURQUOISE! Even if you can't spell it, you can wear it. Get set to twirl in your twinkle-toes, too-fine, turn-your-partner, turquoise best, from t-shirt to tux. As long as it's turquoise (however you interpret that) you're dressed!
Sunday Night Dance:
The Latter Day Lizards will be playing again Sunday night (7:00 - 10:00 pm) at the San Francisco Contra Dance, with Charlie Fenton calling. This dance is not part of the Balance the Bay weekend. Just 3 miles north of the BTB venue, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church is located at 1399 43rd Avenue (at Judah St), San Francisco. Cost is $12, $10 for BACDS members, and $6 for youth.
The Facility:
The dance hall at the Janet Pomeroy Center is a gym with a sprung floor (the modern, rubber-pad kind of sprung rather than the old-fashioned wood-sprung type). There's room for six lines with at least 19 couples in each, and doors for ventilation on all four corners.
The main hall will be used for snacks, dining, information and sales tables, and just hanging out. It has a fireplace and a big window overlooking Lake Merced. There are also balconies overlooking the lake, and a grassy courtyard. There are plenty of rest rooms, so you shouldn't have to wait.
Jamming:
Bring your instrument if you want to jam. There will be an instrument check area behind the information desk. There are lots of great jamming locations, in the hallways, courtyard, balconies, and the workshop room (when not in use for workshops).
Saturday Dinner:
Dinner on Saturday is part of the event. We will be serving a sit-down meal for everyone. Plan to be there.
Breakfasts and Lunches:
Breakfasts and lunches are on your own. We suggest you eat breakfast before you arrive. You can bring your own lunch and stay on-site to enjoy the company of other dancers, or you can go out to one of the local restaurants with a few friends. There's a partial list of local restaurants on the web site, http://www.bacds.org/btb/restaurant-guide.html; it will also be found on the backside of the printed program available at the Information Table.
Snacks:
Thanks to all who contributed to the snack fund. We will have a variety of healthy (and less-healthy-but-oh-so-delicious) snacks available throughout the weekend.
Ingredients and Special Diets:
Ingredient lists for the dinner menu and snacks will be available. We hope to offer enough variety to meet everyone's dietary concerns. If you have special needs or concerns (other than what you indicated on your registration), contact our food crew: http://bacds.org/btb/feedback.html#food
Drinks:
We will provide water, coffee, and tea. Anything else is up to you. We encourage you to bring your own coffee mug and refillable water bottle to cut down on waste. Put your name on them, please.
Health:
Colds and flu are always with us, even in the summer. Please protect yourself by washing your hands before you eat or drink, and protect others by using the spoons and scoops provided to pick up food for your snack plate.
Recycling/Compost:
To minimize our garbage impact, we will provide bins for recycling cans, bottles, and plastic cups. We will also be collecting paper plates, napkins, cups, and food waste for composting and will wash and reuse plastic tableware. Please help us by putting things in the right disposal bins.
Fragrance Free Policy:
Balance the Bay is a "Fragrance Free" event. Please do not use scented products (cosmetics, cleaners, and personal hygiene items). Chemicals used in perfumes and fragrances cause allergic reactions in some of our dancers. While many reactions range from irritated eyes to dizziness and nausea, a few of our dancers are known to experience symptoms that are even more severe. In consideration of our valued dancing friends who are affected, please come scent free.
Community Dancing:
Booking ahead: Please don't. Dance with your friends, yes, but leave some dances for meeting new people, and take the time to check with people who have been sitting out. Avoid falling prey to center-line syndrome.
Other policies:
For policies on smoking, alcohol, harassment, and such, visit http://bacds.org/btb/policies.html
More Information:
This letter, and other useful information, can also be found at http://bacds.org/btb/dancer-info.html
Driving Directions to Balance the Bay (the Janet Pomeroy Center):
Driving Directions to the Sunday Night SF Contra:
To get to the San Francisco Contra on Sunday night (St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 1399 43rd Avenue, San Francisco), go north to Sloat, turn left (from Skyline) and then right on 43rd, and go north to Judah. Alternatively, go south on Skyline, turn right to go north on the Great Highway to Sloat, turn right on Sloat and left on 43rd.