Scandi Shoes + Flying on the Bridge

Looking forward and reflecting back, shoes are really flying in August!

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Scandinavian Dance Party Ahead = Finnish supergroup, Frigg

  • Saturday, Aug 13
  • 7:00 pm ~ Workshop on easy Scandi dancing with Andrea Larson of Virginia, accompanied by a local spelmanslag led by Bennett Konesni
  • Frigg plays for the Scandi dance party after the workshop! Open dancing any way that your shoes want to fly (whether you do a slangpolska, schottische or hambo,  or you wiggle your toes, cavort, tap or sway!)
  • $5 – 20 sliding scale suggested donation, to help BFS and Summer Nights cover costs.
  • Belfast Boathouse, inside, with a smooth dance floor & the big doors wide open
  • Jointly presented by Flying Shoes & Belfast Summer Nights, with support from Viking Lumber and Worth Real Estate
  • + Local Hero! Belfast’s own Noah Fishman is joining the Frigg tour as a sub for one of their regular members. We’re thrilled that Noah will be with Frigg to kick off the tour in our dear hometown!
  • 5:30 pm ~ Come early for Frigg’s concert at Steamboat Landing, presented by Bagaduce Music. The BFS/Summer Nights program follows the concert ~ first, the workshop by Andrea & our local spelmanslag; then Frigg plays for the Scandi Dance Party.)
“Nordgrass” supergroup, Frigg on Belfast Waterfront – Saturday, Aug 13 – 5:30 Concert presented by Bagaduce Music; 7:00 workshop & scandi dance party presented by Summer Nights & Flying Shoes

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First Friday Recap = Euphoria on the Footbridge

Wow, another amazing 1st Fri! The weather cooperated, with breezes off the water and clouds that held their rain. Everyone was beaming, including the bemused pedestrians who wove their way through the joyful chaos.

Gratitude goes to Julia & Benjamin and the 23 talented musicians who joined them, scores of happy dancers and listeners (over 100 at the peak!), generous contributors to the admission can, the City of Belfast, Belfast Parks & Recreation, our First Friday Sponsors, and the folks fishing for stripers who kindly moved their poles and gear so we could set up.

Extra-special thanks to the volunteers who helped out before, during, and after the dance ~ All 23 of the ACB musicians, Christina B, Steve C, Joanne M, Lauren McP, Tara A, Ruby A, Alex C, Kate D, Gary B, Casey, and others who lent a hand on the fly! 

Enjoy these photos + the first verse of the newly-composed lyrics from a BFS dancer/musician.

(to be sung to the tune, Sentimental Journey, the foxtrot played by the ACB on 8/5)

Tonight’s the night, at last we dance a contra.
Gonna set our hearts at ease.
Like a child in wild anticipation,
We’ll renew old memories.

All Comers Band warming up

 

Julia McDonald-Plumb & Benjamin Foss leading the musicians
Long lines, forward & back
Dancing early on
Two contra sets, east and west
Shoes were still flying at sunset
What if someone wrote a tune called “Bonaparte Crossing the Passagassawakeag” as a change tune for “Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine”?