2022
All public events are below, please refer to our Public Health Policy (here) and check back often for updated offerings!
Every WEEK ~ Flying Shoes Radio Hour: An hour-long program that highlights the roots and branches of the contra dance music we love, here in Belfast and beyond; the musicians who play it with and for others; and the dancers of all ages that it inspires.
- Airs weekly on Belfast Community Radio-WBFY.
- Fri 6:00 pm, replay Wed at 1:00 pm.
- Tune in = 100.9 FM, via livestream, or on demand.
- Make requests and read the archived transcripts.
Every FIRST FRIDAY ~ Flying Shoes First Fridays: Varied programming, see below for details. Support for First Fridays provided by these fabulous sponsors:
2022 Upcoming Programs:
June 3 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays – Dancing 2 by 2: Take Two — on the Footbridge! ~ Let your shoes fly through an evening of couple dances — waltz, schottische, polka, classic foxtrot & more — played by the All Comers Band, with special guest leaders. Possible tunes are on the All Comers Band page.
Mini-lessons offered for each of the different dance steps. As we dance side by side, all of us can practice courtesy and cooperation with our various dance partners, whether family, friends or neighbors. BFS will offer fun tips for dancing with consent and comfort for all!
At the Armistice Footbridge (Rain location THMS gym). The “doors open” 6:00 pm, All Comers Band warmup is at 6:30pm. Dancing is 7:00 – 9:00 pm, with mini-lessons interspersed. Before the event, look at the most recent BFS Public Health Policy (here). Suggested sliding scale donation $5-20.
June 5 ~ Sun: King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin ~ Local author, illustrator, and musician, Stephen Costanza hosts a multimedia book celebration featuring projections of book art, narration, and live music with Rita Brown, Maria Keeler, Edith Gawler & Zeb Campbell. Before the show, pianist Alden Mills will play popular hits from the 1890s – 1920s. Presented by BFS with support and funding from the Belfast Free Library, The Colonial Theater, Left Bank Books, First National Bank & First National Wealth Management, No Axe to Grind, and BFS contributors. Family-friendly show at 3:00 pm in Dreamland at the Colonial, 163 High St. $5 kids, $15 adults. Advance ticket sales at https://tinyurl.com/KingOfRagtime Book signing in the lobby after the show!
More info in this blog post, including cool videos!
June 6 ~ Mon: With BFS support, the Searsmont Town Library launched the Tri-Town Music Program in April 2022, for students in Belmont, Searsmont & Morrill. To celebrate the conclusion of the TTMP’s first semester, a short public Concert features Jennifer Armstrong’s ukulele class and Jeff Densmore’s percussion class. At the Searsmont Town Library, 37 Main Street South in Searsmont, at 4:00 pm.
July 1 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ ABCD: A BFS Community Dance! An old time contra dance at Steamboat Landing (rain location in the Boathouse), with longways sets, squares, couple dances and other formations. Calling by Chrissy Fowler with music by the All Comers Band and special guest leaders Ti’ Acadie (Pam Weeks, Jim Joseph & Bill Olson). “Doors open” at 6:00 pm, All Comers Band warmup at 6:30pm, Dancing 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Before the event, look at the most recent BFS Public Health Policy (here). Suggested sliding scale admission $5-20.
July 23 ~ Sat: With BFS support, the Makers Guild of Maine presents an Armenian Picnic at Searsport Shores Campground in Searsport. Food, music, dancing, and culture of one of Maine’s immigrant communities. 11am – 4pm, tickets go on sale June 1st. More details here.
August 5 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays
August 13 ~ Sat: BFS and Belfast Summer Nights present Scandinavian Music & Dancing with renowned Finnish band, Frigg, at the Boathouse on Steamboat Landing. Learn some Scandi dances! Hear stellar “Nordgrass” music! Honor the goddess from whom the band takes its name! Before the event, look at the most recent BFS Public Health Policy (here). Suggested sliding scale admission $5-20. Circa 6:45/7:00 pm (Come early for Frigg’s 5:30pm concert at the Gazebo, presented by Bagaduce Music. The BFS/Summer Nights dance workshop starts immediately after the concert, and Frigg will play for dancing soon afterward.)
Sept 2 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays
Sept 16-18 ~ Fri-Sun: With BFS support, the Makers Guild of Maine presents the Strung Together Old Time Music Campout + Gee’s Bend Quilters. Music, dancing, and quilting! Oh my!
Oct 7 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays
Nov 4 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays
Dec 2 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ Our 17th Birthday Party!
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Past Programs:
Feb 5 ~ Sat: snow date Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ Mac’s Music and a Movie! At the Bazz (Basil Burwell Community Theater), 17 Court St in Belfast. 5:30 doors open, 6:00 pm workshop followed by a movie and a jam session. Masks required for all; see BFS Public Health Policy. Sliding scale admission $5-20. Join us as we celebrate Bob McQuillen, a beloved dance musician, teacher, and tunesmith from the Monadnock Region of NH. Learn new tunes in a music workshop and join the All Comers Band session hosted by former ACB leader, Molly Gawler, BFS Board Member, Ethan Tischler, and Elsie Gawler. Delight in watching “Paid to Eat Ice Cream: Bob McQuillen and New England Contra Dancing“, a 70 minute video by David Millstone, about the NEA National Heritage Fellow and Maine Fiddle Camp staffer who carried a piano in his truck!
February 15 ~ Tues: BFS joins Waterfall Arts for a Fireside Chat, with Jennifer Armstrong and Chrissy Fowler. At 256 High St in Belfast, 5:00-6:30 pm. Free! Dress warm and share your stories about community music & dance, and maybe even shoes that fly. BFS is the nonprofit partner for this “enthusiastic experiment meant to ignite conversations, boost empathy, and offer a platform for shared stories to help all of us set new intentions for our collective future.” Learn what inspired this new event series, here, and get the details from Waterfall Arts.
March 4 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ March Forth! Featuring Greg Boardman, Steve Muise and Elsie Gawler. This talented trio of Maine Fiddle Camp staffers will teach tunes in 2/2 and 4/4 time, present a concert, and facilitate an All Comers Band Jam Session. At the Fellowship Hall of the First Church in Belfast UCC, 8 Court St, Belfast (entrance is on Spring St.) 5:30 doors open, 6pm workshop followed by the concert and jam session. Masks required for all and the venue has a limit on attendance; see BFS Public Health Policy (here). Sliding scale admission $5-20.
April 1 ~ Fri: Flying Shoes on First Fridays – Musical Mischief with Larry Unger – at the Bazz (Basil Burwell Community Theater), 17 Court St in Belfast. 5:30 doors open, 6:00 pm musicians’ workshop, followed by a concert and jam session. Featuring Larry Unger, the consummate dance musician and prolific composer.(Lots more in this blog post!) Plus! Back in 2005, Larry kicked off our Flying Shoes! Masks required for all and the venue has a limit on attendance; see BFS Public Health Policy (here). Sliding scale admission $5-20.
April 9 ~ Sat: We’re tickled to share this local event from community performers: A New Vaudeville Revue ~ Belfast’s own fun-filled, down-home music and comedy variety show. Featuring contra dance musicians (Drive Train – Bennett Konesni & Ed Howe), a BFS teaching artist (Ando Anderson), and plenty of humor, music, and even some ragtime! At THMS in Belfast. Complete details here.
May 6 ~ Fri: “Dancing 2 by 2” was POSTPONED ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ Dancing 2 by 2 ~ Let your shoes fly through an evening of couple dances — waltz, schottische, hambo, polka, classic foxtrot & more — played by the All Comers Band led by Larry Unger & Rebecca Weiss. Tune info for participating musicians is on the All Comers Band page.
Mini-lessons on the different dance steps interspersed throughout the evening. As we glide across the wooden floor, all of us can practice courtesy and cooperation with our various dance partners, whether family, friends or neighbors. BFS will offer fun tips for dancing with consent and comfort for all!
At the Troy Howard Middle School gymnasium, 173 Lincolnville Ave (Rte. 52) in Belfast. Doors open 6:00 pm, All Comers Band warmup is at 6:30pm. The music and dancing is 7:00 – 9:00 pm, with couple dance mini-lessons interspersed. Masking indoors, in accordance with the BFS Public Health Policy (here). Sliding scale admission $5-20.
May 19 ~ Thurs: BFS and the Makers Guild of Maine present an evening of Celtic music featuring Seán Heely & Beth Patterson, with special guest Owen Kennedy, at Mermaid Plaza, 1 East Main St (Rte1/Rte3) in Searsport on Thursday, May 19. A 6:30 pm workshop for musicians kicks off the event, followed by a 7:45 pm concert. Sliding scale admission for the workshop is $5-20, concert admission is $10-25. BFS Public Health Policy, here. Details about the performers on the BFS blog.
