Join us for contra dancing at American Legion Post #43, 143 Church Street in Belfast! The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a Community Dance called by Chrissy Fowler 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 Will Mentor. Will hails from northern Vermont, where he also teaches fine art at Saint Michael’s College, in Burlington. On the dance stage, Will is known for his relaxed, upbeat presence and for choreographing fun and sometimes surprising sequences of dances and tempos.
Stomp Rocket
The New England contra dance scene is rife with cool band names (see below for a few), but the Stomp Rocket moniker may top them all, not only because it evokes a certain wholesome recklessness, but because it also perfectly captures the zip/chunk/zoom essence of this trio’s sound. Fiddler extraordinaire, guitarist, and teacher Dave Langford is best known as a member of the Latter Day Lizards. Mandolinist and tenor banjo player Glen Loper picks also with Frigate, Steampacket, and Riptide, among other bands. Bethany Waickman is the rhythm section of the dance trio Anadama, but her clean, driving DADGAD guitar has also backed such luminaries as fiddlers Lissa Schneckenburger and Rodney Miller and accordionist Jeremiah McLane.
Dave Langford—fiddle
Glen Loper—mandolin, tenor banjo, stomping
Bethany Waickman—guitar
Sound 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]. Find us on Facebook too!
Special Note: This dance marks the 13th anniversary of Belfast Flying Shoes. We’ll celebrate, as always, with silly hats, clementines, and the Amazing Tower of Cupcakes. Come ready for a party!