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 with music by the All Comers Band. All musicians are welcome to sit in. Fun and easy 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 Belfast’s own Chrissy Fowler. A founder and leading light of the Belfast Flying Shoes dance series, Chrissy called her first dance in 1999. Since then, she has cheerfully guided people through the steps of contra dances at festivals, schools, dance series, and special events throughout New England. She is especially gifted at introducing the joys of traditional dance to the uninitiated in educational, community, and professional settings. Chrissy is committed to building community and sees traditional dancing as a vital means to connect people of all ages and levels of experience.
Sharing the Flying Shoes stage with Chrissy will be:
The Racket Factory
Based in beautiful Western Maine, the Racket Factory has decades of experience playing traditional acoustic music for dances and listening. Their dance repertoire highlights New England fiddle music’s roots in the Celtic, French Canadian, and Old Time traditions. And With three fiddles and a super-solid rhythm section–including guitarist and Flying Shoes sound guy Eric Johnson–they put their tunes across with style and drive.
The band’s name comes from the old Maine Racket Factory building in New Sharon, the town where most of the members lived when the band was formed.
Margaret Cox—fiddle
Cynthia Phinney—fiddle
Hank Washburn—fiddle
Eric Johnson—guitar
Mark Rains—bass
Sound provided by Eric Johnson and John Pranio
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.