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The Groovemongers

Contra Sutra

Steve Zakon-Anderson

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Information for Dancers
at the San Francisco Contra Weekend

This page contains useful information for people planning to attend Balance the Bay, as well as copies of any E-mail notices that have been sent out to the dancers who have registered for the weekend. The information on this page may be updated periodically. When we do so, we will add a link to the Updates section below, so you can easily find what has changed.

Polka Dot is a Color?

The color scheme this year is Polka Dot. You may be wondering how we can consider Polka Dot to be a color. There is a precedent. Plaid as a color has its own FaceBook page and a well-reasoned rationale from Piers Anthony, in his Author's Note to The Color of Her Panties (Avon Books, 1992).

Sadly, Polka Dot as a color is less well supported. The only FaceBook page we could find takes the opposite viewpoint, but it's not well supported, either. Anybody who wants to create a "Polka Dot is a Color" FaceBook page is welcome to reference this event.

Generally Useful Information

What to Bring:

Registration Status:

You should receive an E-mail telling you your registration status. We expect full attendance, about 220 dancers. If we are oversubscribed, we will maintain a waiting list and let you know about it. We often get last-minute cancellations, so you may have a good chance of getting in. If you have registration or waiting-list questions, call 510-224-5677 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. It's OK to park overnight.

Parking Lot Safety:

Remember that this is a big-city neighborhood. It's a relatively safe area, but don't tempt fate. There was a car break-in right in front of the Center in 2010. Don't leave valuables in your car, don't leave anything valuable-looking on the seat, and be alert for suspicious activity.

How to Contact Dancers for Carpooling, Jamming, etc.:

You can send a message to all dancers by emailing it to btb-2011@bacds.org. Do not try to do this before registration opens (March 1), as we will not have created the mailing list until then.

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:

If you have requested hospitality, we should have found accommodations for you in the weeks leading up to the event. 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 Times & Schedule:

The doors open at 6:30 pm on Friday 8/12. Anyone arriving before that will be welcome to join the setup crew. Dancing starts at 7:30 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 will hear from our Volunteer/Work Trade coordinator shortly before the weekend. If you don't, 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 11 — let Jens know at 510-886-6549.

Saturday Night Dance:

This year's "color" scheme is Polka Dot. Any kind, any color, any size.

Don't believe that Polka Dot is a color? Stretch your imagination, put on your dots, and come prepared to . . .

Polka, Polka, Polka!

. . . Polka-DOT, that is. Although the dress is dotty, the dancing will be the usual mix of contras and waltzes, possibly with a polka or two, who knows?

Sunday Night Dance in San Francisco:

The Groovemongers will be playing again Sunday night (7:00 - 10:00 pm) at the San Francisco Contra Dance, with Steve Zakon-Anderson 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 students/youth. (more info)

Monday Night Dance in Palo Alto:

Contra Sutra will be playing Monday night (7:30 - 10:30 pm) at the Palo Alto Contra Dance, with Deb Comly calling. This dance is not part of the Balance the Bay weekend. It will be at the First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto, 625 Hamilton Avenue, (one block from University, between Byron and Webster). Cost is $12, $10 for BACDS members, and $6 for students/youth. (more info)

Thursday night preview dance in San Rafael:

The Groovemongers will be playing. with Steve Zakon-Anderson calling, in San Rafael on Thursday night, August 11 (7:30-10:30), just before Balance the Bay. This dance is not part of the Balance the Bay weekend. It will be at the San Rafael Masonic hall, 1010 Lootens Place, between 4th and 5th Streets, in San Rafael. Cost is $12, $10 for NBCDS members, $7 for students/youth, and $2 ages 6-17. (more info)

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.

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

Driving Directions to Balance the Bay (the Janet Pomeroy Center):

Click here.

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.