Giant Robot Dance w/David Kaynor

Saturday September 20 2008

When:
Band: Giant Robot Dance
Caller: David Kaynor
Location:
Admission:
Workshop:

Magic Foot w/Nils Fredland

Saturday May 31 2008

Date: May 31
Potluck and Annual Meeting: 6:00 in the BJM Cafeteria
Workshop: For newcomers at 7:30
Dancing: 8:00-11:30 PM
Band: Magic Foot
Caller: Nils Fredland
Venue: Beverly J Martin School
Admission: $8 for HFDI members, $10 for General Admission
Flyer: In preparation

If you haven’t heard of Magic Foot, then you will be in for a real treat. Fast on the heels of their Southern Tour (Glen Echo, Asheville, Atlanta, River Falls), the exuberant New England band Magic Foot will make its first Ithaca appearance, along with inventive, wildly popular caller (and trombonist) Nils Fredland. Colin Lindsay on fiddle and concertina, Chris Stevens on button accordion, Brendan Taaffe on guitar, feet, and vocals, and Stefan Amidon on percussion and vocals have a decidedly Celtic bent, but are sure to toss in some surprises.

Caller Nils Fredland wowed the crowd at last year's Fiddlehead Frolic with fun, interwoven dances never before seen in Ithaca, taught clearly and with high spirit. Colin, who fiddles in the sweet Irish style, is on staff at Pinewoods, was a top student of Brian Conway, and has played with the Greenfield Dance Band and members of Wild Asparagus. Chris handles the accordion with tremendous drive and good taste, is prominent in Boston sessions, performs regularly with Wild Asparagus, and teaches for CCE Boston. Brendan, rock-solid and imaginative on guitar, got a Master's in Irish music at the University of Limerick, where he played with All-Ireland champion Danny O'Mahony and fiddler Colin Farrell. He's toured Europe with Northern Harmony and Turtle Dove, and played for contra dances throughout the Northeast with top players including George Wilson, and Pete Sutherland. From a tender age, Stefan has provided percussion for contras, most famously with Popcorn Behavior/Assembly, Lift Ticket, and Lissa Schneckenburger. He's on staff at Pinewoods, did a recent turn on Prairie Home Companion, and has toured Europe with Northern Harmony. Turn out to give these lads a fine welcome!

We are looking for a few Hands4 members who would like to be more involved in putting together our dances by being a part of the board. Please contact Jennifer or call 607-273-7076 for more details. You can also nominate people from the floor but please don’t surprise them!

Tags: nils fredland, magic foot

Fiddlehead Frolic II

Saturday April 05 2008

The second annual Fiddlehead Frolic!
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2008
Time: Noon to Midnight (see schedule for more details)
Music by: The Clayfoot Strutters, Too Much Fun, Long John & the Tights, and Kathy Selby
Callers: Beth Molaro, David Kaynor, David Smukler, Nancy Spero, and Katy Heine
Venue: Ithaca High School

Admission: Less than $30 (see brochure for details)
Flyer: ff08 flyer
Brochure: ff08 brochure v2 (includes printable pre-registration form. Register early to save $5 off the all-day ticket price!)
Workshops: New Dancers' Workshop at 6:30pm
Potlucks: There will be a break for dinner at 6:00

Featuring...

The Vermont-based CLAYFOOT STRUTTERS--Pete Sutherland, Jeremiah McLane, Lee Blackwell, Peter Davis, and Harry Aceto--fuse traditional American immigrant music, pop, jazz, and hot dance-floor rhythms from the swing, Latin, Cajun, and zydeco worlds. They are in great demand at camps, dances, and festivals across the country.

Beth Molaro, one of the country's most popular callers, has a clear calling style and contagious enthusiasm that infuses her dances with energy and excitement. Beth makes her home in Asheville, North Caroline, but is known and loved by dancers from coast to coast.

TOO MUCH FUN combines the talents of fiddle impresario David Kaynor from Greenfield, Massachusetts, with hometown favorites Jennifer Dotson, Gail Blake, and Nancy Spero. Providing the foundation for David's eclectic and playful style is a deep respect for tradition and strong desire to build community through dance. Jennifer and Gail, a.ak.a. Kitchen Chair, contribute exquisitely interpreted traditional tunes and inspired originals, while Nancy Spero provides solid support on bass.

LONG JOHN & THE TIGHTS is a new incarnation of a great old-time Appalachian band, UpSouth. John Hoffman, Stefan Senders, Jim Reidy, and Randi Beckmann crank out built-from-scratch music perfect for hot squares and cool contras.

Tags: david kaynor, beth molaro, the clayfoot strutters, too much fun, nancy spero, katy heine, kitchen chair, long john & the accidentals tights, kathy selby

The Contradictions

Saturday January 26 2008

Date: Saturday, January 26
Time: 7:30-10:30
Band: The Contradictions
Caller: Vikki Armstrong (TBC)
Venue: Women's Community Building (TBC)

Admission: Members: $8 Nonmembers: $10
Flyer:
Workshop? 7:15 Beginner's Workshop
Potluck? Dessert potluck and couples dances 10:30-11:30

Tags: the contradictions, vikki armstrong, women's community building

New Year's Eve dance

Monday December 31 2007

Dance in the New Year!

New Year's Eve Community Dancing

What: Contra, Square, Waltz Dancing; Putluck supper and dessert
When: Monday, December 31, 2007 6pm..until...
Where: Bethel Grove Community Center
1825 Slaterville Road (Rt.79)
about 4 miles east of the Ithaca Commons
How Much: $free, bring potluck to share

Join us for a Community New Year's Eve Pot Luck Dinner, Waltz Jam, and Contra Dance.

It all starts with a massive Pot Luck Dinner at 6pm in the Bethel Grove Community Center. After feasting on the finest food we can make, we'll stagger to the other end of the hall and begin to usher in 2008 with waltzing followed by several hours of contras, squares, English country dances, and couple dances. There will be a break around 9:30pm for a second potluck, this time desserts. We'll sing at mid-night, toast each other with non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider, and continue with contras and waltzing until we send each other off with warm wishes for the New Year.

The evening's dances will be called by a cavalcade of Ithaca callers and non-stop music will be provided by lots of local musicians, including fiddlers Tim Ball, Hope Grietzer, Kathy Selby, and Jennifer Dotson, along with Curt Osgood, Gail Blake, Jim MacWilliams, and many others.

This annual tradition -- since the last century; last Millenium, even -- is a great way to swing into the New Year. We whirl each other out of one year into another. The event is entirely alcohol- and smoke-free, and very beginner friendly.

Whether you come to every weekly dance, the special events through the year, or only dance once in a blue moon, New Year's is the best time and place to smile into our friends' faces and share our best wishes for 2008.

The New Year's Eve dance is jointly presented by Tompkins County Country Dances and Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca. The dance is free, a gift from the dance organizers to you. Besides the potluck, bring an extra treat for the mid-dance festive break.

For information, contact Ted and Pamela, 607.273.8678.

More info about Tompkins County Country Dances
Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca
Folkstuff home page

Tags: bethel grove community center

Wild Asparagus w/George Marshall

Saturday October 13 2007

When: 7:30 PM
Band: Wild Asparagus!
Caller: George Marshall
Location: Beverly Martin School Gym
Address: 302 West Buffalo Street, Ithaca NY
Admission: $9 for HFDI members, $12 for General Admission
Workshop: For newcomers at 7:30

Tags: wild asparagus, george marshall, beverly j. martin school

Kitchen Chair w/Nancy Spero

Saturday September 15 2007

When: 8:00 Saturday September 15th
Band: Kitchen Chair
Caller: Nancy Spero
Location: Womens Comunity Building
Address: 100 W Seneca St. Ithaca.

Flyer: kitchen chair poster
Admission: Members-FREE! Nonmembers-$8 Student with ID-$5
Potluck: Dinner potluck at 6:30
Workshop: Newcomer's workshop at 7:45

Tags: kitchen chair, women's community building, nancy spero

Great Bear Trio w/Katy Heine

Saturday August 04 2007