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BACDS September 2012 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
Table of Contents
- BACDS Quarterly Calendar
- Bay Area Country Dancer #91 - September 2012
- San Francisco Contra Fall Season
- San Jose Community Dance 2012-2013 Season
- San Rafael English Country Dance Fall Season
- Pride & Prejudice & Zombies Dance - here we go again!
- Contrafusion - Push the limit at the Palo Alto Contra!
- Playford-to-the-Present Ball - Register now!
- Peninsula ECD - special dates for October
- Fall Frolick - there's still room!
- Boo! It's the BACDS Halloween Costume Ball
- No dirty tricks - just a pre-election treat
- Matriculate to Contra College!
- A night of "Dancing on Water" at the Fall Ball
- Join us for the 26th Annual No Snow Ball
- Palo Alto Contra New Year's Eve dance
- ECD Style Workshop with Bruce Hamilton
- Spring Fever Weekend at Monte Toyon - sign up now!
- Looking for more places to dance?
- Are you a BACDS member?
BACDS Quarterly Calendar
See all the dances and special events for October-December of 2012.
Bay Area Country Dancer, #91 - September 2012
The BACDS newsletter. Catch up on all the local dance news. In this issue:
- Spring Fever Weekend is making new tracks (by Jens Dill)
- Contra College is not just for beginners (by Jens Dill)
- Best Family Week Ever (by Vicki Solomon)
- Balance the Bay 2012: All about the Fun! (by Julie Thomas)
- A Note of Thanks (by Elizabeth Miranda)
- A Conversation with Melissa Running (by James Candlin)
- 26th Annual No Snow Ball (by Dina Rosenblatt)
- The President's Corner (by Jens Dill)
- Volunteer Thanks
- Can you help us out?
- Upcoming Events
San Francisco Contra Fall Season
Starting Saturday, September 1, 2012, San Francisco
The San Francisco Contra is just bursting with special events in its fall schedule. It's always a good time! Join us 1st and 3rd Saturdays, and 4th Fridays.
- SF Contra
Fall Season PDF flyer
- Oct 20 - Ellen Eagan Birthday Bash - FREE ADMISSION!
- Oct 26 - Halloween Dance - Calvacade of Callers and a Community Band
- Nov 17 - Bob Ashforth's Birthday Bash with The Syncopaths
- SF Contra webpage
- About Contra Dancing (with video) and the SF Contra
- Find us on Facebook
San Jose Community Dance 2012-2013 Season
Usually 1st/3rd Sundays, San Jose
Join us for this beginner-friendly sampler of English and Contra dance on
Sunday afternoons at The First Unitarian Church of San Jose!
Dancers of all ages welcome! It's only 3rd Sundays in September and October (September 16 and October 21), then
1st and 3rd Sundays each month until the end of June (Nov 4 & 18 - Dec 2 & 16 - Jan 6 & 20 - Feb 3 & 17 - Mar 3 & 17 - Apr 7 & 21 -
May 5 & 19 - June 2 & 16). We dance 2:30 - 5:30pm.
Introduce your friends and acquaintances to dancing at this beginner-friendly
dance, and help publicize the dance by printing out a few copies of the attached
flyer and posting it or passing it out wherever you can.
Add to the festivities by bringing light snacks to add to the refreshment table
for the break.
Help out the organizers by coming a few minutes early to help set up or pitching
in with cleanup after the dance.
And most important of all, offer your friendly smile to new dancers and anyone
on the sidelines as you invite them to dance.
San Rafael English Country Dance Fall Season
Sunday, September 9 & 23, October 28 and November 11, 2012
Join us this fall on Sundays from 2:00 - 4:30pm for easy and fun traditional English and American dancing. No experience necessary! All dances taught. No partner necessary! Comfortable shoes recommended. Live music, friendly and helpful callers, and refreshments. Dances are $12 at the door, or register through the San Rafael Recreation Department for reduced fees for the four-dance session. Pickleweed Community Center, 50 Canal Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 415-485-3077
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies Dance - here we go again!
September, 29 2012, Las Vegas
The 2nd annual Pride & Prejudice & Zombies dance is delightfully whimsical mix of English Country, Scottish Country, and "other" dance styles, mixed up in a brew to raise the dead (and not so dead). There will be a workshop to review many of the odder dances the same day. Please join us for this .... unusual evening of dancing. Please let me know if you have any questions or need notes. Planned dances are:
English - The Black Cat, Michael and All Angels, Night Peece, Cheshire Rounds (Improper, to Softly Good Tummas), The Astonished Archaeologist, Young Widow, The Black Nag, Room for Ramblers, Alice, Well Done Jack
Scottish - Follow Me Home, De'il Amang the Tailors, Old Spedling Castle Ghost Dance, Black Leather, Catch the Wind
Other - The Time Warp (your personal interpretation of this timeless classic), Black Almain (not as Renaissance as you might expect), Two deadly waltzes
ContraFusion! Push the limit at the Palo Alto Contra
September, 29 2012, Palo Alto
The Palo Alto Contra goes to the limit with this exciting mix of traditional and modern. Check out Contrafusion!
Playford-to-the-Present Ball - Register now!
Saturday, October 6, 2012, Pasadena
Head south for the 12th annual Southern California Playford-to-the-Present English Country Dance Ball at the lovely Pasadena Scottish Rite Temple, with Dance Master Ric Goldman and music by The Syncopaths (Ryan McKasson, Ashley Broder, Jeffrey Spero, Christa Burch). The event is sponsored by the California Dance Cooperative and the Culver City English Country Dance.
Peninsula ECD - special dates for October
Wednesdays, October 3, 17, and 31, 2012, Palo Alto
The Peninsula English Country Dance has a new location a day of the week during the month of October. Mark your calendars for Wednesday October 3, 17, & 31st, and set your GPS for First Baptist Church, 305 N. California Ave., Palo Alto (at the corner of Bryant & California).
Fall Frolick - there's still room!
Friday-Sunday, October 12-14, 2012, 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.
Boo! It's the BACDS Halloween Costume Ball
Saturday, October 27, 2012, Palo Alto
Join us for the a scaryful fun evening of Contra dancing and Waltzes at the Palo Alto Masonic Temple with the music of The Rosin Doctors (Erik Hoffman, Daniel Engle, and Topher Gayle) joined by Joyce Miller and ghost callers. Costumes encouraged but not required.
- BACDS Halloween Dance PDF flyer (with the November 5 dance announcement)
- BACDS Halloween Dance webpage
No dirty tricks, just a pre-election treat
Monday, November 5, 2012, Palo Alto
Palo Alto contra hosts a special dance on Monday, Nov. 5 with KGB (from Seattle) and Frannie Marr (from L.A.). They're in Northern California for Fall Has Sprung and staying after to give us another fabulous evening of contra dancing.
- Palo Alto Special Monday Dance PDF flyer (with the Halloween dance announcement)
- Palo Alto Contra webpage
- Find us on Facebook
Matriculate to Contra College!
Saturday-Sunday, November 10-11, 2012, 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.
A night of "Dancing on Water" at the Fall Ball
Saturday, November 17, 2012, San Mateo
This year, we're pleased to showcase the English Country
Dance calling of
Melissa Running
(Silver Spring, Maryland). Her fresh mix of traditional and modern dances is
sure to please, and the music of Shira Kammen, Judy Linsenberg and
Rebecca King,
with sound by Erik Ievins, will especially enhance the evening's enjoyment.
The Ball is preceded by an afternoon workshop to review the dances, also led by
Melissa joined by musicians Ruth Anne Fraley and David Strong. Following a
break for dinner - good restaurants are minutes' walk away - we resume for the
evening's dancing and a community potluck.
Join us for the 26th Annual No Snow Ball
Saturday, December 1, 2012, in Oakland
Celebrate the 26th Annual No Snow Ball Festive Contra from 7:30pm-midnight at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland. There's a free newcomer's session at 7:00pm. Join callers Susan Petrick and Ric Goldman and the music of Star Thistle (Dave Kistler, David Wright, Lonna Whipple, and Cheryl McKinney) for a great evening, and don't forget the potluck after(contributions appreciated!). For more information, see the event page on Facebook.
Palo Alto Contra New Year's Eve dance
Monday, December 31, 2012, in Palo Alto
Finish out the year with good cheer and good dancing at the Palo Alto Contra. Special price and special location for this event, with calling by Lynn Ackerson to the music of StringFire (Erik Ievins, Patti Cobb, and guesy Chris Knepper). Happy New Year!
ECD Style Workshop with Bruce Hamilton
Saturday, February 16, 2013, Palo Alto
Local treasure Bruce Hamilton gifts us with a workshop that's 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.
Spring Fever Weekend at Monte Toyon - sign up now!
Friday-Sunday, March 15-17, 2013, Aptos
It's almost 3 camps in one with separate tracks for Contra dance, English Country, music/singing/calling/choreography! We've got exciting callers Sue Rosen, Susan Kevra, and Gary Roodman, plus two incredible bands: The Syncopaths (Jeff Spero, Ryan McKasson, Ashley Broder, Christa Burch) and Goldcrest (Dave Wiesler, Daron Douglas, and Paul Oorts). 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.
- Spring Fever Weekend Registration PDF Flyer
- Spring Fever Quick Info PDF Flyer
- Spring Fever Weekend web page
- Find us on Facebook
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
- Bay Area Contra quick-reference half-page PDF flyer
- Northern California English Dance Directory PDF flyer
- Southern California List of English Country Dance 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!