What is Contra Dancing??
There are lots of definitions of what is contra dancing. I know that its fun!!,
you get lots of exercise and during the dances you'll get to dance with
everbody else who is on the floor, not just your parner. The
caller will explain each dance and walk the dancers through the forms
before the music starts so that even inexperienced dancers can quickly
join in on the fun.
Check out the following sites for more information.
What is Contra Dancing #1?
What is Conta Dancing # 2?
Contra Dance Info
Where can you contra dance in central Virginia? Check out my favorite below - the Dayton Contra Dance.
Where can you find a contra dance in North America?
What is a dance gypsy? Resources to locate a(many) dance(s) in your neighborhood or for all of your travel destinations!
Where can you go Conta Dancing in the Shenandoah Valley?
There are contra dances all around Virginia and the closest one to me is the Dayton Contra Dance. The dance
happens on the second Saturday of each month in Dayton, VA. It is organized by
a local group of musicians who volunteer their time to have a caller
and band and a sound system set up and ready to go for the 100 or so
dancers who come out each month. The upcoming schedule includes
some great bands and callers as listed below.
Date
| Caller
| Band
| | 08-Sep | Shawn
Brennema |
Toss
the Possum
Robbie
Zisette (fiddle), Jane Zisette (flute, whistle), Chas Zisette (bass),
Laura Zisette (piano)
| 13-Oct
| Becky
McKenzie |
Avant
Gardeners from
Charlottesville, VA - Laura
Light
on fiddle and George Paul on piano
| 10-Nov
|
Paul
Rosen
|
Toad
Mamas
- Rick
LaRue on fiddle, Patti Reum on whistles and flutes, Jack Maus on
piano and David Stone on mandolin and guitar.
| 08-Dec
|
Brad
Saylor
|
The
Mudcats Mac
McCumsey on fretless clawhammer banjo, James Leva
on fiddle, and
Rick Friend on Guitar
| 12-Jan
|
Rob
Craighurst
|
|
Floorplay
Paul
Rosen (mandolin, fiddle, accordion), Mary Prendergast (piano),
Aaron Lamb (drums)
|
| 09-Feb
|
Denise
Lair
|
Parks,
Driver & Knicely
guitarist
Bob Driver, mandolin/tenor guitar player Steve Parks, Neil Knicely
bass
| 08-Mar
|
Jim Morrison
|
|
Highlander
String Band Jim
Gaskins on fiddle and viola, Phyllis Gaskins on Appalachian
dulcimer, Allen Kennedy on mandolin, Suzanne Kennedy on upright
bass and fiddle and Gene Bowlen playing clawhammer banjo, mandolin
and octave mandolin.
|
| 12-Apr
| Paul Rosen
|
Jane's
Gang
a
contra/square dance band, features the driving fiddling of Jane
Rothfield with Allan Carr (Guitar), Paul Sidlick (banjo/mandolin) and
Geoff Harden (bass) and is based in NY State.
| 10-May
| Bill Wellington
|
|
Naked Creek
from Charlottesville -
Marc
Perdue
on banjo, Aaron Olwell on fiddle, and Lorie Licihtenwalner on
guitar.
|
|
We
will shut down for the summer months - you can find us at the fiddler's
conventions most any weekend. We will start up again on September
8.
Help us to
care for our floor; please wear soft-soled shoes. No heels unless
they are dance shoes! We don’t want you hurt! Thanks!
The
dance begins with a beginners workshop from 7:15-8:00 PM. The
dance runs from 8:00-11:00 PM. The dances will shut down for the
summer and restart on Saturday
08-September-2007 at the Dayton Learning Center. The Learning
Center
is located in the middle of Dayton at 290 Mill St. - Map Directions
Driving Directions from Interstate 81
-
Take Exit #240 Bridgewater/Mt. Crawford from I-81 and go West
-
Continue on this road to the intersection with Rt. 42 in Bridgewater
-
Turn right on Rt. 42 (MAIN STREET) and travel North to the town of
Dayton
-
Turn Left on MASON ST
-
Turn Right on SUMMIT ST and go up the hill
-
Turn Right on MILL ST and the Dayton
Learning Center is an old school on your left. Parking is at the rear of the building.
|
