Wesleyan (mostly contra) DANCES

2011-12-06T23:07:00.003-05:00

Last Contra Dance of the semester this Friday!

Hi everyone!

The last dance of this semester will be this Friday, December 9th.

8-11 pm

Beckham Hall
(on Wyllys Ave., on the Wesleyan campus)

As is our tradition for the last dance of the semester, most of our callers and musicians will be Wesleyan Students!
Dances called by Rachel Fifer and Emma Gorin (and perhaps others)
Music by the Wesleyan Megaband -- an open band for students, and other musicians from the area.

As always, the dance is free for everyone (though we appreciate your donations.)

Beginners more than welcome! We'll see you on Friday!

2011-11-16T23:41:00.003-05:00

Contra Dance this Friday!

Hi everyone!

Our next dance will be this Friday, November 18th!

8-11 pm

Beckham Hall
(on Wyllys Ave., on the Wesleyan campus)

We have some phenomenal talent for the evening:
Calling by Kathy Anderson, all the way from Dayton, OH, one of the top contra and square callers in the country.
Music by The Figments -- Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, Anna Patton, and Owen Morrison. These guys rock!

As always, the dance is free for everyone (though we appreciate your donations.)

Beginners more than welcome! We'll see you on Friday!

Contra Dance is Back!

2011-09-20T22:07:00.002-04:00

The Wesleyan Contra Dance is starting up again for the fall semester!

Our first dance is this Friday, Sept. 23rd.
8-11pm
Beckham Hall

Beginners are more than welcome! All dances are taught, and there's always live music.

For this dance, we have calling by Adina Gordon, and music by Emily Troll, Mary Cay Brass, Roger Kahle, and Rebecca McCallum

Beginners more than welcome! We'll see you on Friday!

And there are more dances this semester:
October 14th
November 18
December 9

Contra Dance this Friday!

2011-03-29T18:01:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone!

Our next dance will be this friday April 1st!

8-11 pm

Beckham Hall

.. with calling by Linda Leslie, and music by Jane Knoeck, Rachel Bell, and Tom Santarsiero.

As always, the dance is free for everyone (though we appreciate your donations.)

Beginners more than welcome! We'll see you on Friday!

Contra dance tomorrow - Dec. 10th

2010-12-09T15:44:00.002-05:00

There's a Contra Dance on Campus
Tomorrow!
Friday, December 10th, 2010
8-11pm
in Beckham Hall

Calling by Hannah Bary (Wes '09)
Live music by Emily Troll (Wes '10), Rebecca McCallum (librarian at Olin), and Linda Henry (from Amherst, MA)

Sit-in musicians will be welcome for the second half of the evening!
If you play fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, or anything else you think would fit in, bring it along, and play with us! Here are the sets we'll choose from:

Reels

Galen’s Arrival (G) / St. Anne’s Reel (D)

Needlecase (D) / Speed the Plow (A)

Greasy Coat (Am) / Liza Jane (A)

Far from Home (G) / Brenda Stubbert (Am)

Reel de Mattewa (Em) / Lady Anne Montgomery (D)

Old Gray Cat (Em) / Kitchen Girl (A)

Scotland the Brave (G) / Highland Laddie (A)

Jigs

Maison de Glace (D) / Korolenko (G)

Road to Lisdoonvarna (Em) / Hundred Pipers (A)

Many of these tunes are in the Portland Collection volumes 1 and 2.

For those who are dancing:
All dances are taught, beginners are welcome, and it's free!

Contra dance next week - on December 10th

2010-12-03T11:05:00.003-05:00

There's a Contra Dance on Campus
Next Friday!
Friday, December 10th, 2010
8-11pm
in Beckham Hall

Calling by Hannah Bary (Wes '09)
Live music by Emily Troll (Wes '10), Rebecca McCallum (librarian at Olin), and Linda Henry (from Amherst, MA)

Sit-in musicians will be welcome for most of the second half of the evening! If you play fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, or anything else you think would fit in, bring it along, and play with us! We'll post on this blog again early next week with a list of tunes that we'll play....

All dances are taught, beginners are welcome, and it's free!

2010-11-04T13:47:00.004-04:00

There's a Contra Dance on Campus
Tomorrow!
Friday, November 5th, 2010
8-11pm
in Beckham Hall

Calling by Will Mentor
Live music by the band Nor'easter

All dances are taught, beginners are welcome, and it's free!

Final Spring Contra!

2010-04-30T15:08:00.002-04:00

Our last contra of the semester is coming up next Friday, May 7th!

The Wesleyan/Middletown MEGABAND will be performing for your dancing pleasure. If you're interested in joining the band, please email etroll@wesleyan.edu beforehand.

The dance is from 8-11 in Beckham Hall. wescontra@gmail.com for more info.

Calliope House - upcoming fiddling event

2010-03-20T12:04:00.002-04:00

Join us in Russell House Sunday, March 28th at 3:00 for a short-sweet fiddling event!

Emily Troll's senior thesis presentation brings together New England fiddlers to share stories and tunes with Wesleyan and Middletown audiences with a spotlight on practicing - practice strategies, practice frustrations, practice environments.

Called "Calliope House" in honor of the Greek Muse of epic poetry and the popular fiddle jig.

Email etroll@wesleyan.edu for more information.

End-of-Semester Dance

2009-11-29T14:05:00.003-05:00

Come celebrate the impending snow and vacation with our final dance of the fall semester!

Friday December 11th
9:00-12:00
Note the time change: we're starting an hour later to catch some latecomers from a fiddle concert in town

As always, the last dance features the Wesleyan MEGABAND open to all. If you're interested in playing please email etroll@wesleyan.edu for more information on rehearsals and tunes we like to play.

Our dances are open to all - bring friends, family, professors, students, workmates!

Contra dance Friday the 13th

2009-11-12T18:13:00.000-05:00

Contra dance!
Friday the 13th
Beckham Hall
8:00-11:00

Music by Rebecca McCallum (fiddle), Emily Troll (fiddle), and Josh Van Vliet (guitar)
Calling by Carl Levine.

SNACKS! provided by Folk Revival Initiative and by YOU

Contra dancing is a community event. Families welcome, beginners welcome. Bring your friends, your professors, your neighbors! All dances will be taught. Come enjoy the live music and social atmosphere.

Email wescontradance@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

Upcoming events

2009-10-27T14:36:00.001-04:00

Scottish Country Dance Party
Wednesday October 28, 7-10, $10
First Church Hall, 190 Court Street, Middletown
(across from Klekolo's, entrance in back of building)
Live music and refreshments! Beginners welcome. Email sjripa@wesleyan.edu for more information.

Jeremiah McLane and Dave Surette
Sunday November 1st at Russell House, 3pm
Beautiful accordian and guitar playing traditional dance tunes from all over the place. It's FREE!
http://www.wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.html#music
http://www.jeremiahmclane.com/

Eilen Jewell and the Sacred Shakers
Friday November 6th at 8:00,
Amazingly good old-country music and gospel. It will be a great show. Don't miss this!
http://www.wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.html#special
http://eilenjewell.com/

Contra dance!
November 13th 8-11, Beckham Hall, Wyllys Ave
Music by Josh Van Vliet, Emily Troll and Rebecca McCallum (guitar and fiddles)
Calling by Carl Levine from NY
Bring friends, bring beginners. Stop by after dinner or join us from start-to-finish. Snacks will be provided. It's FREE! (but there's a donation box if you can help us out a little)

If you're interested in helping out with the contra dance, or want more information about any of these events please email wescontradance@gmail.com

Contra dance is back!

2009-09-28T12:08:00.001-04:00

Our first contra of the year is less than a week away -

Friday, October 2nd
8:00-11:00
Beckham Hall

We have two fabulous musicians coming from Western Mass to play for us: Karen Axelrod on piano and Mary Lea on fiddle. Quality. Please join us and bring friends. It's easy and fun and everyone is welcome.

We'll also be having dances on November 13th and December 11th - mark your calendars!

We need some help to put on a big event like this, set-up, clean-up, snacks, dinner, sound... If you're interested in getting involved please email etroll@wesleyan.edu. Volunteers are always treated to a free homecooked dinner beforehand (plus it's fun).

Balfa Toujours comes to Wesleyan!

2009-09-13T17:02:00.002-04:00

We're starting the year off with a BANG

Our first event: dance party with Balfa Toujours!
Friday September 18th 10:30 Beckham Hall

Preceded by a concert at Crowell Concert Hall, 8:00. Get your tickets at wesleyan.edu/cfa/boxoffice.

Preceded by a dance workshop at 4:30, pick up a little two-step and waltz. Not at all a pre-requisite for the dance, just some extra info for the curious.

Thanks to the CFA for sponsoring an entire night of wonderful Cajun music!
If you're curious about Balfa Toujours, check out their website balfatoujours.com, or this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU2Rn0anz48&feature=related

Hope to see you there! As always, feel free to email etroll@wesleyan.edu with questions or suggestions.

PS Save these dates for upcoming contra dances: October 2nd, November 13th, December 11th.

Final Contra Dance

2009-04-27T12:43:00.002-04:00

Our last contra of the year will be Tuesday, May 6th, Beckham Hall, 8-11 - don't miss it! Email etroll@wesleyan.edu for directions.

Stay tuned - we'll be back in the fall...

Megaband returns!

2009-04-27T12:41:00.002-04:00

The Wesleyan Megaband will be playing the second half of our Final Contra Dance (next Tuesday, May 5th). All musicians welcome!

We will rehearse/jam for one hour Monday night (time TBA), so if you're interested in playing, please email etroll@wesleyan.edu with the times you would be free and the instrument you play.

I hope you'll join us!

The Hip Bones

2009-04-16T17:45:00.002-04:00

The Hip Bones (you may remember them from a fabulous dance at Wesleyan last year) will be playing Ralph Sweet's SHINDIG AT THE BARN this Sunday. Definitely check it out! More info and directions at www.powdermillbarn.com.

April 10th - (Not Just A) CONTRA DANCE

2009-04-08T22:47:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone!

This time get ready for an evening of contra, squares, swing, schottische, and waltzing! Music provided by yours truly, Emily and Josh.

8-11 in Beckham Hall as usual

Bring friends, especially beginners, and get ready to dance your socks off! You do not need to know anything except how to have a good time.

Email etroll@wesleyan.edu with any questions.

2009-03-23T12:22:00.002-04:00

March 27th - Special feature!

In the spirit of West Indian week, we'll be having a West Indian quadrille demonstration and teaching by Wesleyan students of WISA (West Indian Student Association).

Way cool! Come early so you don't miss it.

Next Dance: March 27th

2009-03-13T13:20:00.004-04:00

Celebrate the start of spring with a contra dance!

Friday, March 27th
Beckham Hall
8:00-11:00

Lively (and very much alive) music by:
Steve Hickman and Karen Axelrod

Calling by: DeLaura Padovan

Everyone is welcome, as always. Bring friends and beginners! Invite a professor!

January Dance

2009-01-28T14:58:00.001-05:00

First dance of Spring 2009!

Friday January 30^th

8:00-11:00

Beckham Hall (Wyllys Ave)

Music by: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, Anna Patton, Owen Marshall

Calling: Rebecca Lay

Beginners and friends always welcome! It’s gonna be good...

Last dance of the semester!

2008-12-03T22:35:00.002-05:00

The last Wesleyan contra dance of 2008 will be this Monday, December 8th, from 8-11 in Beckham Hall. Come celebrate the end of classes with an all-student team of musicians and dance callers!

Barn Dance - photos!

2008-11-16T14:53:00.009-05:00

-Hannah

Dance on Friday 11/14!!!!

2008-11-05T23:37:00.003-05:00

Get ready for some wild & crazy dancing, with some fantastic musicians all the way from West Virginia! Friday night, November 14th, in Beckham Hall, 8-11.

The band? The Fox Hunt, four guys from West Virginia, some of the best traditional musicians in the state. They started out playing heavy metal and rock and roll in college. So their approach to fiddle tunes is inspired, rowdy, and bound to get everyone dancing.
The dance? Contras with some squares thrown in, to get us all cheering.

For more information, contact agevalt@wesleyan.edu.