BACDS September 2011 Electronic Mailing

BACDS sponsors English and American traditional dances in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is fun, relatively easy, community-oriented dancing with live music. All dances are taught, no partner is necessary, and first-timers are welcome unless otherwise noted.

Find out more about BACDS at the BACDS website
Can't find an old flyer? Don't forget to check out our archive of past mailings

BACDS Quarterly Calendar

See all the dances and special events for October-December of 2011.

PDF printable calendar (October-December 2011)
BACDS online calendars (by month)

Bay Area Country Dancer, #87 - September 2011

The BACDS newsletter. Catch up on all the local dance news. In this issue:

Nicolas Broadbridge Visits from Scotland: ECD teacher and Caller for Fall Ball (by James Candlin)
In Thanks for Fried (by Sharon Green)
American Week in a Haiku Nutshell (by Eric Black)
Contra Grad School (by Joyce Fortune)
The President's Corner (by Jens Dill)
Volunteer Thanks
Upcoming Events
25th Annual No Snow Ball (by Dina Rosenblatt)
Henry Purcell - Singing in Praise of (by Stewart Hall and Ric Goldman)
Coming Soon: Extreme English Country Dance? (by Jens Dill)
A Letter to the Editor - Why I Stopped Contra Dancing (by Ellen Wall)
Save the Dates

Dancer #87 PDF issue

Check out the San Francisco English Fall Schedule

Saturdays, September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10, 2011, San Francisco

Here's the San Francisco 2nd Saturday ECD flyer for the dances through the year's end. We've got great programs lined up; spread the word!

L.A.'s 11th Annual Playford-to-Present Ball

Saturday, October 1, 2011, South Pasadena

This year's Los Angeles Playford Ball features caller James Hutson and Bay Area musicians Jon Berger, Eric Ievins, Shira Kammen, and Michelle Levy for a very special string quartet evening of English Country Dance. Local hospitality is available!

Jane Austen Dances in San Jose

Sundays, October 2 and November 6, 2011, San Jose

There's an effort afoot to bring a new BACDS dance series to the San Jose area. The series may include but not be limited to Contra and English Country dance. The first two lets-try-out-the-area dances will be English Country, with a focus on the dances of the Regency Period. It's co-sponsored by BACDS and the 1st Unitarian Church of San Jose, and features Bob Fraley calling to the music of William Allen and friends. Check out the flyer for details.

Jane Austen Dances PDF flyer

Fall Frolick

Friday-Sunday, October 14-16, 2011, Aptos

Fall Frolick is a primarily all-English country and display (morris/sword, etc) dance weekend, with a strong music and singing track. It provides a wonderful opportunity for dancers, callers, and musicians to explore the extraordinary range of these dance styles with wonderful teachers and splendid musicians in a glorious setting.

Fall at the Berkeley Experienced English series (added October 13, 2011)

Saturday, October 22, November 26, December 24, 2011 Berkeley

Less teach - more dance! We have a collection of callers and dances just for you.

Ooh, scary! It's the San Francisco Halloween Contra

Saturday, October 28, 2011, San Francisco

Start your Halloween weekend with caller Joyce Miller and music by the Retrospectacles from Seattle (Andrew Foster, Josie Sokoloff-Toney, Ethan Jodziewicz, Scotty Leach). Costumes admired but not required. Show off your Fall season orange outfits!

BOO! It's time for the Palo Alto Halloween Costume Ball

Sunday, October 29, 2011, Palo Alto

This special dance is three hours of contra dancing followed by one hour of couple dancing. Wear a danceable costume and compete for the Ron Award!

Contra College returns!

Friday-Sunday, November 11-13, 2011, Palo Alto

This year's Contra College is an urban teaching weekend focusing on assisting new(er) and intermediate dancers in building skills and confidence in contra dance. Experienced dance might come and help out, bring a less experienced friend or learn the other gender role. Susan Petrick calls and teaches with a variety of local musicians. And for the experienced dancers, you can go to Contra Grad School as a stand-alone event!

Spend an entire weekend of English dance in Portland

Friday-Sunday, November 11-13, 2011, Portland, Oregon

The Portland Country Dance Community presents its English Country Ball Weekend. It's a full weekend with a fabulous Friday dance, a Saturday workshop and evening ball, and a Sunday brunch and afternoon dance. All this with the calling of Erik Weberg and music by Earl Gaddis, Fred Nussbaum, George Penk, and Lisa Scott at the evening Ball.

Time to register for Fall Ball

Saturday, November 19, 2011, San Mateo

Fall Ball is pleased and excited to have Nicolas Broadbridge, founder of the Glasgow & Edinburg Assembly (UK) as this year's Dancing Master this year for "A Purcell Ball" featuring historical and modern dances to the tunes of Henry Purcell, with music by Andy Eggleston, Bill Jensen, Erik Ievins, and Judy Linsenberg, you simply won't want to miss this event at the San Mateo Masonic Temple.

The afternoon workshop to review the dances runs from 2:30pm to 5pm, followed by a break for dinner - good restaurants are minutes' walk away. We reassemble at 7:30pm for singing of songs (including Purcell tunes) of the season. Dancing opens with a Grand March at 8pm and concludes at 11pm, following by our scrumptious community potluck following.

Join us for the 25th Annual No Snow Ball

Saturday, December 3, 2011, in Oakland

Celebrate the 25th Annual No Snow Ball Festive Contra from 7:30-11:30pm at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Oakland, with a free beginner's orientation at 7:00pm. Join callers Charlie Fenton, Erik Hoffman, and Susan Petrick and the music of Ratnip (Cole Ingraham, Caroline McCaskey, Howard Booster, and Alan Snyder) for a great evening, and don't forget the potluck after...

New Year's Eve at the Palo Alto Contra

Saturday, December 31, 2011, in Palo Alto

Finish out the year with good cheer and good dancing at the Palo Alto Contra. Special price and location for this event, with calling by Tina Fields to the music of Star Thistle (Cheryl McKinney, Dave Kistler, Lonna Whipple, David Wright. Happy New Year!

English Country Dance Style Workshop in Palo Alto - Save the Date

Saturday, January 14, 2012, in Palo Alto

Local treasure Bruce Hamilton gifts us with these offerings for the new year - an afternoon English Country Dance style workshop in and a special ECD evening of great calling, music, and dance. The workshop is not a here's-how-you-hold-your-hand-with-attitude session, but real life ECD, classic and modern, showing you how to feel the musical phrases, move with the flow, connect with your fellow dancers, and otherwise get the most out of English Country Dance. You'll discover that you can enjoy any dance even more than before. Later that night, Bruce hosts and calls for what will be one of the best evenings of ECD you can find. You don't wanna miss either of these.

Spring Fever Weekend at Monte Toyon - save the date

Friday-Sunday, March 16-18, 2012, Aptos

We've got exciting callers Eric Weberg and David Newitt. We've hand-picked musicians from some of the best bands across the country: Dave Langford and Bill Tomczak from Latter Day Lizards, Ann Percival from Wild Asparagus, Anita Anderson from KGB, Jim Oakden from Roguery, Michelle Levy from StringFire. And we're not done yet! Join us for a high-energy weekend of music and dance that puts the awesome in Hot Contra dancing and Exuberant English dancing. Thrill to workshops that challenge newcomer and experienced dancers alike. Besides, Saturday is St. Paddy's Day, so expect some surprises!

Playford Ball - save the date

Saturday, March 31, 2012, San Jose

It's the high event of the season for English Country Dance. David Newitt will lead the fun as we return to the elegant Landmark Ballroom at the San Jose Women's Club to hear the music of Shira Kammen, Charlie Hancock, Danny Carnahan and special guests. Plus there's a month of Ball workshops, the Friday-night-before "rehearsal dance" party, and the Sunday-after brunch and social.

Looking for more places to dance?

We've compiled a regional list of Contra and English country dance venues so you always know when and where to get your dance fix. Check out our easy-to-use summary with an at-a-glance look at the dancing month (and let us know if we missed any)!

Contra Dance Directory PDF flyer (updated October 13, 2011)
English Dance Directory PDF flyer (updated October 30, 2011)
Bay Area Contra quick-reference half-page PDF flyer

Are you a BACDS member?

Our "rolling" memberships are now good for 12 months from the date you join so you can start enjoying the benefits today. Be the envy of all your friends, and help support the dance community!

The Bay Area Country Dance Society Website

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