Join us for an evening of contra dancing at American Legion Post #43, 143 Church Street in Belfast. The festivities begin at 6:30 pm with a Community Dance called by Chrissy Fowler and Lisa Newcomb, and with music by the All Comers Band. All musicians are welcome to sit in. Fun and simple dances will be taught, giving beginners the opportunity to learn new skills and offering experienced dancers a chance to brush up on their steps. The Contra Dance begins at 8:00 pm.
This month’s caller is Sarah VanNorstrand. An avid contra dancer since her teens, Sarah co-founded a contra prom at her high school in upstate New York. Since her debut as a caller in 2006, she has built a nationwide following with a style that combines clarity, enthusiasm, and an infectious sense of joy. Sharing the Flying Shoes stage with Sarah will be:
Dance Panther
Named after a crumbling (yet still terrifying) plaster panther that lurks in the dining room of a Portland apartment, Dance Panther often creeps around Maine looking for unsuspecting dancers. Alden Robinson on fiddle, Glen Loper on mandolin and tenor banjo, and Bethany Waickman on guitar are a trio ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. With all the great contra dance musicians roving the New England landscape, why do so many of the hottest bands include at least one of these guys? Ours is not to reason why; ours is but to balance, swing, and carry on.
- Alden Robinson—fiddle
- Glen Loper—mandolin & tenor banjo
- Bethany Waickman—guitar & piano
Sound provided by Eric Weest Johnson
Admission to the Community Dance is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Admission to the Contra Dance is $10 for adults, $8 for ages 13 to 20 and adult All Comers, and $5 for children. Bring along a window fan and get $1 off. For more information, email us at [email protected], or find us on Facebook.