Address
Contra College 2013
c/o Les Addison
123 Jasmine Avenue
East Palo Alto, CA 94043
Email Address
info@ContraCollege.com
Phone Number
510 599 2219
Sponsored By
Bay Area Country Dance Society
In Collaboration With
North Bay Country Dance Society
Traditional Dancers of the Golden State
Traditional Dancers of Santa Cruz
The Saturday evening dance is the normal second Saturday dance of the Palo Alto Contra series, just at a nearby location for a change of pace.
Susan Michaels is a well-loved, Los Angeles-based teacher and a caller of traditional American dancing, especially contra dancing and square dancing. She has called and taught dances at local evenings, weekend workshops, week-long elementary school programs, week-long family camps and dance weekends throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her "calling" in life is to teach people how to hold hands in a circle.
The Whoots mix an eclectic blend of Irish, Scottish, French Canadian and Old Time tunes, and are comfortable with contra styles from the most traditional Chestnut dances through Contrafusion, which combines heavy rhythm and electronic effects with trad musical sensibilities.
Michelle Levy has been performing on and exploring the possibilities of the violin/viola for over 20 years. She currently performs with the Boston Camerata, and regularly plays for contra & English dances and camps on both coasts. She recently did an East Coast dance tour with Tritonic, ending with a packed contra at NEFFA.
Jim has gone through a succession of musical stages, morphing from classical and early music to traditional and ethnic styles. Jim specializes in dance musicianship, and regularly plays for a dozen or so different dance traditions on an absurd number of instruments--from accordion and bagpipe to whistle and zurna. He's taught and performed at dance and music camps throughout the US and Europe, and currently is artistic director of the BACDS American Music and Dance week.
Shira Kammen is an internationally-known musician, appearing on over 40 recordings. She's a sought-after staff member at dance and music camps throughout the country, and regularly leads musician workshops internationally. Her contra playing is powerful and creative, featuring driving rhythmicity and unmatched harmonization skills which make people want to get up dance.
| 6:30PM | - | 7:00PM | Beginner Lessons |
| 7:00PM | - | 10:00PM | Community Dance |
A waltz workshop, open to the community, will be held between 4:00 and 5:30 before the community dance. Please refer to the information found on the dance workshop page for information and how to register for this special class.
Following the workshop, enjoy dinner out with others in the community at nearby Palo Alto restaurants before coming back to the community dance.
At 6:30 PM, 30 minutes of beginner lessons will be available before the dance. This time is available to all community members with admission to the community dance.
The regular Second Saturday Palo Alto Contra Dance will be held at 475 Homer Ave. from 7 to 10 pm. Note earlier time and special location.
The Women's Club of Palo Alto is only a hop, skip, and a jump from the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto... well maybe a bit further.
While only three (or so) blocks from the normal home of the Palo Alto Contra Dance, dancers shouldn't have a problem locating the dance at this special location. Just two more blocks away from University and one block closer to the train station.
Work with the map to look into how to easily find your way.
There is no advance registration for the community dance. Registrants of the Contra College program have their admission costs included in their overall registration. Other community members will be asked to contribute the normal admission costs of $10.00 general, $8.00 member, and $5.00 youth/student. As always, the dance has a pay as you can policy so please don't stay away for lack of funds.
The supporting organizations and Conta College have identified a number of policies that are in place to make our dance events fun and safe. For further information, please review the information on the policy page.