Hello Dancers,
Our contra dances in 2020 will be cancelled until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please check back to this web site for updates on when we will be to resume our dance. With the fluid health crisis it is impossible to know when that will happen. Thank you for your support of our dance and we hope you and yours keep safe during this trying time.
Stuart Whipple
Dance coordinator
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Google Map Upcoming Dances Description of Dances
Join us for our next contra dance on…
*** Please note new dance time: 6:30 – 9:30 PM ***
We have changed the time for our dance due to conform to a new ACC park policy, so please bear with us during this transition to a new time for the dance. The orientataion session will now run from 6:15 – 6:30 PM.
February 15, 2019
Presented by the Athens Folk Music & Dance Society with live music and calling
Orientation session from 6:15 – 6:30 PM: introduction, basic moves, helpful hints for enjoyable dancing– for new & experienced dancers
Dance: 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Band: String Theory
Caller: Stuart Whipple
Memorial Park Administrative Building- 293 Gran Ellen Dr., Athens, GA.
Admission for dance: Adults 18 & over -$8.00; ages 11-17- $4.00;
UNDER 11: no charge and no dancing permitted
Remember…
No partner needed; All dances are taught; Clean, soft-soled, comfortable shoes are recommended
Google Map to Memorial Park
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Upcoming Dances in 2019 – Third Saturday of the Month
Jan 19 Band: String Theory Caller: Robbin Marcus
Feb 16 Band: Hickhoppers Caller: Janet Shepherd
March 16 Band: TBD Caller: Deanna Palumbo
April 20 Band: Mick Kinney & Tim Cape Caller: Stuart Whipple
May 18 Band: Snapfinger Caller: Stuart Whipple
June 15 Band: Joe Willey & the Movin’ Men Caller: Rob Harper
July 20 Band: Driving Wheels Caller: Janet Shepherd
Aug 17 Band: Oatcakes Caller: Charlotte Crittenden
Sept 21 Band: Mike Robinson & Margie McDonald Caller: Stuart Whipple
Oct 19 Band: Joe Willye & the Movin’ Men Caller: Janet Shepherd
Nov 16 Band: Airplay Caller: Doug Singleton
Dec 21 Band: Mike Robinson & Margie McDonald Caller: Charlotte Crittenden
Description of Dances
Our contra dances are participatory social dances. We always have live acoustic music, with most bands from the Athens or Atlanta areas, and a dance caller. The music is usually either old-time Appalachian string band music or Celtic jigs and reels. The main instruments are fiddle, banjo, guitar, and bass; occasionally we’ll also have piano, mandolin, autoharp, or harmonica. The way the dances work is that the caller decides on a set of dances to call for the evening. The types of dances that we do include contra dances, square dances, circle mixers, and progressive circle dances. Most of the dances in an evening are contras and squares; usually only one or two circle dances are included. The moves used in all of these dance types overlap considerably. Moves such as do-si-do, swing, stars, circles, allemandes, and promenades are done in most of the dances. As a result, once new dancers learn a few moves, they can dance most of the dances done that evening. The formation (contra lines, squares of 4 couples, or circle of couples), how many dancers are in each set, and whether you keep the same partner for the entire dance, are the main features that distinguish contra, square, and circle dance types. Each dance is taught in a walk-through before the music starts. Then the caller cues the musicians and the dance begins. The caller prompts the moves until the dancers get the pattern, and sometimes drops out till the end. The caller decides how long the dance will continue (usually about 10-12 minutes), and tells the band when he wants 1 or 2 more times through the music. Then the dancers stop when the music ends. At the half-way break, and at the end of the dance, we have a waltz. We usually conduct a short 20-30 minute orientation session from 7:30 – 8 PM before the dance to give new dancers an introduction to what we’ll be doing, and to have them walk through the basic set of moves that we’ll be using for the dances that evening. The dance usually runs from 8 – 11:00PM. Our dances usually have a mix of ages and folks come from all parts of town. The main reason we dance is that we enjoy dancing. When I call, I always tell the newcomers that the most important thing to do in an evening of dance with our group is to relax and have fun. Newcomers are always welcome, so if you like to dance, I suspect you’d have a good time at one of our dances.