Alessandra Martinelli arrived in Maine to attend University 18 years ago and has never looked back. For over 12 years, Alessandra has been living, working, and raising her family in the greater Belfast community, where she developed a deep passion for and commitment to the cooperative model. She currently shares her co-op experience and knowledge with the world as the Outreach Coordinator for the Belfast Community Co-op, after serving on the Board of Directors for 6 years, during which time she held the office of president for 2 years. She believes that the cooperative structure has the remarkable ability to bring people together and bind them to a common cause. In her free time, Alessandra loves to read, knit, build Legos with her kids, and is currently teaching herself to sew.

Bella grew up on the coast of Maine on historically ancestral Penobscot lands.  She has been surrounded by traditional music from an early age, and has since expanded her interests to song and dance traditions from many cultures.  She is currently pursuing agroecology and international studies at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, where she can often be found dancing in the garden or reading a book in the top of a tree.  Bella is dedicated to spreading the joy of music and good food, and preserving the traditions of rural cultural heritage.

BFS Director and co-founder Chrissy is an organizer, leader, dancer and cheerleader. She likes to cultivate community by organizing fun stuff, including Flying Shoes programs and Puttin’ On the Dance, a conference for Northeast dance organizers. Chrissy also serves on the board of Dancing Well: The Soldier Project, an inspiring Louisville KY nonprofit. Besides serving as BFS director, Chrissy leads dances at BFS, other dance series, schools, weddings, camps, conferences, reunions, and more. She has danced in several states, including suspension and euphoria. Since 2008, she’s been cheering on her son, with whom she has danced our state contra—the Lady of the Lake. In her spare time, She once wrote a sermon on dance as spiritual practice.

Chuck first started contra dancing about 45 years ago and hasn’t stopped since. He also connects with dance traditions through his love of fiddle tunes, which he’s been playing for a quarter century. Joining the All Comers Band on First Fridays is a highlight of his month! Being on the BFS Board of Directors combines Chuck’s passion for music and dance with his nonprofit board experience, which includes board service with WERU Community Radio (including as board president), Ashwood Waldorf School, and the Watershed School. He currently serves on the board of the Maine Celtic Celebration. A retired physician, Chuck is involved in the local community in many ways, including volunteering as a deejay for the Saturday Morning Coffeehouse on WERU.

Mike’s family is from Aroostook County, and he was raised in Southern Maine. He loved the square and contra dance lessons in elementary school gym class, but it was uncool—especially for the boys—to show any interest. In college he began living out his passion for traditional music, attending coffee houses in Boston and Portland, Oregon and tuning in to local public radio stations. Entering the dance scene was more challenging, as it was uncommon then for openly gay men to be involved, and he lived many years in Germany where there were no dances. Following his husband’s retirement, the couple looked for a place to move on the Maine coast with their cat. A big draw to Belfast was BFS and the many opportunities in the area to support traditional music and dance.

Morgan Cafferata grew up in the occupied coastal territory of the Wabanaki. Most often, Morgan can be found cultivating crops or raising livestock. They also enjoy partner dancing of many flavors, playing tabletop games, and exploring Maine’s inland watersheds by canoe.

Sunniva moved to Maine with her family in 2014, and since then has rooted herself securely in this wonderful midcoast community. She lives in Montville and tends her dairy goats, works at an organic dairy farm, and a local organic vegetable farm. Sunniva plays Irish and Scottish trad music on fiddle and other instruments and loves to contra dance. She is also very interested in exploring the music and dance of other cultures. She is planning a trip to Scotland in 2024 to explore her passions for music and farming through work on a small holding in the Highlands and music festivals in the Outer Hebrides. She is delighted to be a part of the BFS board and community!