2023
Belfast Flying Shoes programs, below, including details on our weekly Radio Hour and our First Friday Sponsors (scroll down, past upcoming calendar listings)
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First Friday Flying Shoes ~ Dance DETAILS:
- 6:00 pm ~ Musicians Warmup ~ Tunes on the All Comers Band page
- 6:30 pm ~ Community Dance ~ Lisa Newcomb & Chrissy Fowler calling with the All Comers Band, led by Benjamin Foss & Willy Clemetson ~ Admission is $1 kids, $2 adults
- 8:00 pm ~ Contra Dance ~ Guest caller & musicians ~ We use the terms lark and robin to identify the dance roles. (More about roles, here.) ~ Admission is $15 suggested (everyone is welcome; pay what you can; $15 each will help us cover expenses; admission supports the performers and BFS)
- Fellowship Hall of First Church in Belfast UCC, 8 Court St, Belfast (entrance is on Spring St)
- See Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ ~ BFS programs are chem free ~ Stay home if you don’t feel well
- First Friday Sponsors: Artisan Builders, Belfast Community Co-op, Colburn Shoe Store, First Light Community Midwives, The Grasshopper Shop, Grace Chiropractic, The Green Store, Holly No. 7, North Branch Farm, Searsport Shores, Thomas Fowler PE, and Worth Real Estate
- Everyone is welcome at this two-part monthly dance series. From neophytes to lifelong participants, we all collaborate to make this community-building participatory arts program a joyful success. See you at the dance!
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Looking for more music & dance?!?
Check the DownEast Friends of the Folk Arts online calendar ~ deffa.org/events/
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Upcoming BFS Programs:
JUNE 2 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ (Scroll to top of page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ) The contra dance features Hannah Chamberlain calling, with music by Alden Robinson, Benjamin Foss & Bennett Konesni, and Alex Hennings on sound.
JUNE 10, Saturday ~ Special Community Contra Dance with music by John Pranio, Toki Oshima, Benjamin Foss and the All Comers Band (all musicians welcome!) Calling by Chrissy Fowler. At the Searsmont Town Library, 37 Main St South, Searsmont, ME. Outdoors on the lawn (rain location in the community room). Dancing starts at 4:00 pm. Bring your own picnic to enjoy after the dance! Come to dance, play, or just listen to the music. Part of the Live Outside the Library free music series supported by BFS and the Onion Foundation. 
JULY 7 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ (Scroll to top of page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ) The contra dance features Nils Fredland calling, with music by Spintuition (Willy Clemetson, Samuel Foucher & Silas Hamilton) and on sound.
AUGUST 4 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ (Scroll to top of page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ)
SEPT. 1 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ (Scroll to top of page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ) The contra dance features Lisa Greenleaf calling, with music by Rebecca Weiss, Rose Jackson & Benjamin Foss, and on sound.
OCT. 6 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ (Scroll to top of page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ)The contra dance features Sue Hulsether calling, with music by Cedar Stanistreet & Friends, and on sound.
NOV. 3 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ (Scroll to top of page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ)
DEC. 1 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ Celebrating our 18th BFS Birthday Party! ~ (Scroll to top of this page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ)
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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 pm, replay Wed 1 pm
- Tune in = 100.9 FM, via livestream, or on demand.
- Make requests and read archived transcripts.
Every MONTH ~ “Flying Shoes First Fridays”
Participatory social dance programs (see info above). Supported in part by these fabulous First Friday Sponsors:
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Past Programs:
JANUARY 6 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ Chrissy Fowler and the Gawler Family Band (Ellen, John, Molly, Edith & Elsie Gawler, Ethan Tischler & Bennett Konesni)
FEB. 3 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ This month’s contra dance features Chris Ricciotti and SpringTide (Elsie Gawler, Willy Clemetson & Ethan Tischler).
MARCH 3 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ This month’s contra dance features Maggie Robinson and Drive Train (Ed Howe, Stuart Kenney & Bennett Konesni)
MARCH 11, Saturday ~ **POSTPONED** OH! Flying Shoes ~ Community Dance & Contras at the Rockport Opera House, Rockport ME ~ Due to water damage at the Opera House, we’re rescheduling our collaboration with the Rockport Opera House.
APRIL 7 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ (Scroll to top of page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ) This month’s contra dance features Hannah Chamberlain calling, with music by Benjamin Foss, Alden Robinson & Glen Loper, and Eric Johnson on sound.
MAY 4, Thursday ~ Musicians’ Workshop: Playing for Dances ~ Partnership Program w/Waterfall Arts ~ Practical wisdom and tools of the trade from stellar dance musicians, Emily Troll & Larry Unger. Emily leads open bands in Maine and beyond; Larry teaches dance musicians at camps and festivals throughout North America. We’re thrilled to have them offer this workshop in Belfast! The two-hour workshop starts at 6:00 pm at Waterfall Arts, 256 High St in Belfast. Doors open at 5:30. Come early to get tuned up! Sliding scale admission $10-25. Check the BFS Community Care Policy.
MAY 5 ~ Flying Shoes on First Fridays ~ (Scroll to top of page for dance details, incl. Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ) This month’s contra dance features Chrissy Fowler calling, with music by Emily Troll & Larry Unger and Eric Johnson on sound.
MAY 7, Sunday ~ Waltz Time ~ Special Waltz Workshop* & Open Waltzing ~ Workshop* starts at 2:00-3:00 pm, with workshop* leader Alyssa Adkins and music by Benjamin Foss & Larry Unger. Open waltzing 3:15-5:00 pm with Benjamin, Larry & the All Comers Band, featuring waltz tunes composed by Larry Unger. At the Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller St in Belfast. (Greater Belfast has a variety of eateries, if you want to extend the evening with a meal!) Check the BFS Community Care Policy. Suggested admission $15. Everyone is welcome. Pay what you can, knowing that admission supports the performers and the BFS nonprofit.
