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[Mike_L]

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Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca contra dance 2006
Saturday 26 August, 8:00-11:00 pm 2006
2006 CSMA (Community School of Music and Arts), Third Floor, 328 E. State St., Ithaca, NY $6 HFDI members; $8 general admission

Here's a hot way to groove on out of summer in air-conditioned comfort! Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca is delighted to offer one of the best contra dance combinations of all time: Kathy Anderson calling energetic contras and exciting squares to the bold, inventive music of the Groovemongers on Saturday, August 26, 8 to 11 p.m., Third Floor of CSMA, the Community School of Music and Arts (328 East State Street, Ithaca).

Kathy Anderson's reputation as a consummately clear caller and instructor is well-earned. Since 1982 she has wowed dancers across the U.S., Canada, and Europe with a mix of silky smooth and quirky contras and fast-paced squares.

The Groovemongers played for the first Hands Four dance in 2003, and are welcomed enthusiastically every year. They've honed their skills as a tight, creative ensemble since 1997, and they have the chops to meld disparate styles into a spirited sound distinctly their own. C.W. Abbott, a maestro of mandolin, guitar, and more, contributes the southern old-timey roots, but is also fond of wild French Canadian reels and Irish jigs. Jane Knoeck (piano and accordion) and Rebecca McCallum (fiddle) are classically trained musicians who have embraced the northern dance traditions, including English and Scottish country dance. Rebecca is now exploring her Greek musical heritage as well. Dancers across the country and abroad find the mix delectable.

The Groovemongers have a new CD, Smooth Sailing, produced by Pete Sutherland, that will be available at the dance. There will also be Dance Duds Boutique: dresses, T-shirts, and other dance clothes with plenty of life left in them, at irresistible prices!

Newcomers are welcome (all dances are taught and the steps are simple); there is no need to bring a partner. But please bring clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the excellent Marley floor! Admission is $6 for HFDI members, $8 for nonmembers. Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca (HFDI) is a member-run not-for-profit organization. Annual membership is $10, with discounts for each dance. For more information, visit www.hands4dancers.org or call 607/273-0249. Upcoming HFDI dance: Swallowtail and George Marshall (30 September, Beverly J. Martin School).
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Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Get out your dancing shoes! Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca is thrilled to welcome in the fall with SWALLOWTAIL, veteran contra dance band from the Pioneer Valley, back in Ithaca for their second engagement on September 30, 2006, from 8:00 to 11:00 (with a newcomers’ workshop at 7:30) at Beverly Martin School (302 West Buffalo Street). Those of you who attended their premier Ithaca dance in 2004 will remember what a high-energy performance they deliver, playing a wide range of traditional tunes from the exciting to the sublime. The band is headed up by caller and concertina player George Marshall and features David Cantieni (of Wild Asparagus) on wind instruments, Timm Triplett on keyboards, and Tim Van Egmond on hammer dulcimer. As a special treat, Lydia Ievins—daughter of HFDI members Paul and Janet Ievins and a fresh face in the New England contra and English dance music scene—will be playing fiddle!



For more information, visit http://hands4dancers.org or call 273-7076.

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Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Who: Swallowtail Contra Dance
What: Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca BIG dance
When: Saturday, 30 September, 7:30-11:00 pm
Where: Beverly Martin School, 302 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca
How much: $8 members/$10 nonmembers, at door

Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca is thrilled to welcome in the fall with Swallowtail, a renowned traditional New England band that has delighted dancers for more than 25 years. Several of the musicians are also members of Wild Asparagus, but Swallowtail is even more venerable. Caller George Marshall on concertina and bodhran, David Cantieni on a dazzling array of wind instruments (bombard to saxophone and everything in between) and feet, Tim Van Egmond on hammer dulcimer and spoons, Timm Triplett on keyboards, and Lydia Ievins on fiddle, provide high-energy, sublime music to well-crafted, flowing dances. This Pioneer Valley band had their Ithaca premiere in 2004 and a good time was had by all. The Beverly Martin School has an excellent wood floor and room for several hundred dancers, who will be arriving from a multi-state region. New dancers are encouraged; there will be a newcomer's workshop at 7:30 pm, and each dance is taught. There is no need to come with a partner, but bring clean, soft-soled shoes. A bake sale will provide calories for fast-flying dancers. Admission at the door: $8 for members; $10 for nonmembers (you can join HFDI, a member-run not-for-profit organization, at the dance).

More info: 607-273-0249, 607-273-7076, or http://hands4dancers.org. Check out www.swallowtail.com.



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SATURDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER

Special contra dance with SWALLOWTAIL, venerable New England band: George Marshall on concertina, bodhran, and calling, David Cantieni on diverse winds, Tim Van Egmond on hammer dulcimer, Timm Triplett on keyboards, Lydia Ievins on fiddle. 7:30 -11:00 pm, Beverly Martin School, 302 West Buffalo St., Ithaca, NY. New dancers welcome: beginner's workshop 7:30 pm; all dances are taught. No partner needed. Clean, soft-soled shoes. Sponsored by Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca: $8 for members, $10 for nonmembers. Info: 607-273-0249 or http://hands4dancers.org



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Swallowtail is a renowned traditional New England band that has delighted dancers for more than 25 years. Several of the musicians are also members of Wild Asparagus, but Swallowtail is even more venerable. Caller George Marshall on concertina and bodhran, David Cantieni on a dazzling array of wind instruments (bombard to saxophone and everything in between) and feet, Tim Van Egmond on hammer dulcimer and spoons, Timm Triplett on keyboards, and Lydia Ievins on fiddle, provide high-energy, sublime music to well-crafted, flowing dances. This Pioneer Valley band had their Ithaca premiere in 2004 and a good time was had by all. The Beverly Martin School has an excellent wood floor and room for several hundred dancers, who will be arriving from a multi-state region. New dancers are encouraged; there will be a newcomer's workshop at 7:30 pm, and each dance is taught. There is no need to come with a partner, but bring clean, soft-soled shoes.


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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Contra x2 - Friday: Blue Hounds w/ Nancy Spero calling
http://tedcrane.com/DanceDB/DisplayDance.com?key=US_NY_ITH_TCCD

Saturday Swallowtail at BJM downtown! George Marshall calling
http://hands4dancers.org/

Never been contra dancing??? I recently came across some articles that explain the whole process to beginners.
http://www.hwcn.org/link/jig/contraculture.htm

Even more important are the articles I found for seasoned contra veterans explaining how to make the experience more friendly for the newcomers -- this is very important! I have talked to many one time contra dancers who do not want to come back, that is sad news indeed: take a look here and learn how to stop this horrible circumstance! https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/jsivier/www/contra/tips.html

Think about it, just because you are an awesome dancer does not mean you are an awesome teacher Here is another article to help good contra dancers become better dancers. https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/jsivier/www/contra/good_dancers.html

Also there is a dance workshop Saturday night Sept 30 at 7:30 -- come early and learn from one of the top new England callers, George Marshall http://hands4dancers.org/

More dancing stuff -- ok I know you'll delete this email and loose those links, so I stashed them on the "Dancing" page on our main music website! tons more dance links there ... email me if you don't know where that is ...

-m

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca is a member run organization dedicated to bringing great dance and music to the Ithaca, New York, area. We are a nonprofit affiliate of the Country Dance and Song Society. Anyone can come to our dance and music events! Membership gives you discounted admission to events, a voice at board meetings, and a vote at our annual meeting. Membership costs only $10/year


Other Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca contra dances to put on your calendar (locations TBA):

JANUARY 27 2007 -- THE CONTRADICTIONS with VIKKI ARMSTRONG CALLING, 7:30-10:30, followed by dessert potluck & couples dancing. Women's Community Building.

MAY 19 2007 -- "MEGADANCE" (just a working title--it'll get a better name between now and then!): Dance-all-day event featuring NIGHTINGALE and caller NILS FREDLAND. Ithaca High School.
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Come experience contras with a Quebecois twist when LE VENT DU NORD plays ITHACA on SATURDAY, MARCH 3! Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca, with support from the International Folk Dancers at Cornell and the Cornell Folk Song Society, is proud to present an evening of contras and traditional dances from Quebec with the amazing Le Vent du Nord (“The North Wind”) on March 3 from 7:30 to 11:00 at the Beverly Martin School Gym, 302 West Buffalo Street, Ithaca. The four rambunctious, energetic, handsome, and oh-so-talented gentilhommes who comprise LVDN combine fiddle, piano, guitars, accordions, mandolin, jaw harp, bones, foot percussion, and even a hurdy gurdy in glorious reinterpretations of traditional tunes for dancing and listening pleasure. Don’t miss this remarkable event! For more information, call 607-273-7076 or visit www.hands4dancers.org

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Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Mark next Saturday evening, March 3, on your calendar for a rare
opportunity in Upstate New York to enjoy traditional Quebec and Breton
music and dance presented by Canada's premier traditional music group Le
Vent du Nord - www.leventdunord.com.

Le Vent du Nord melds four rich voices, hurdy gurdy, accordions, fiddle,
piano, guitars, bodhran, mandolin, jaw harp, bones, and foot percussion
with passion, precision, and playful charm. Benoit Bourque, master
stepdancer and teacher, will call and teach a variety of dances.

Le Vent du Nord has been on a dazzling ascension since the group was
founded in 2002. Its first CD, Maudite moisson! , released in Summer 2003
won the 2004 JUNO award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year/group,
was nominated at ADISQ 2004 for Traditional Album of the Year award and
also was one of the nominees for an OPUS 2004 award for show of the year in
the category Jazz and World Music. All of its members have a most
impressive background, bringing together diverse experiences to give the
group the distinctive colour so praised by the audience.

Le Vent du Nord takes from the ancient repertoire and often enriches it
with new sonorities; its musicians refine arrangements that marry subtly
modern and traditional. Le Vent du Nord also interprets original pieces
composed by one or the other member of the group, songs or instrumentals in
line with their times but often referring to the past. And when those happy
characters sing a capella, they can certainly be very moving. The group is
composed of Benoit Bourque, Nicolas Boulerice, Olivier Demers, and Simon
Beaudry

The evening will include called Contras to high energy Quebec music, as
well as dancing with instruction in Quebec and Bretan dance styles.

Please join us Saturday, March 3 from 7:30 to 11:00 PM at the Beverly J.
Martin School, 302 West Buffalo St., Ithaca, NY. Admission $12 for the
general public, $8 for students with ID and Hands Four members.

Beginners welcome, no partner necessary. Please bring clean, soft-soled shoes.

Information at www.hands4dancers.org or call 607 273-7076.

Presented by Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca with support from International
Folk Dance at Cornell and the Cornell Folk Song Society


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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Just a reminder that the amazing Quebecois band LE VENT DU NORD (“The North Wind”) is coming to town this weekend for a great Hands Four dance on Saturday, March 3, from 7:30 to 11:00, at the Beverly Martin School Gym, 302 West Buffalo Street, Ithaca. Get ready for an evening that will ignite your passion for the music and dance traditions north of the border! The four rambunctious, energetic, handsome, and oh-so-talented gentilhommes who comprise LVDN combine fiddle, piano, guitars, accordions, mandolin, jaw harp, bones, foot percussion, and even a hurdy gurdy in glorious reinterpretations of traditional tunes for dancing and listening pleasure. Benoit Bourque, master stepdancer and teacher, will call a variety of dances, from contras to Quebecoise social dances. You won’t want to miss it!

For more information about the band, visit the LVDN website at http://www.leventdunord.com/ .

General admission is $12; HFDI members and students pay only $8! Members who would like to know about volunteer opportunities should contact Jim Blake at jblake@twcny.rr.com.

This event is sponsored by Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca with support from the International Folk Dancers at Cornell and the Cornell Folk Song Society. For more information, call 607-273-7076 or visit www.hands4dancers.org.



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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

FIRST ANNUAL FIDDLEHEAD FROLIC: 12 Hours of Glorious Dancing
Saturday, May 19, at Ithaca High School, Ithaca, New York

Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca (HFDI) is delighted to present the First Annual Fiddlehead Frolic, a noon-to-midnight spring extravaganza of contras, squares, swing, waltzes, Scandinavian, and Cajun dances on Saturday, May 19, at Ithaca High School, Ithaca, New York (1404 N. Cayuga St., just off Route 13, near Stewart Park). The event will feature outstanding New England performers: Nightingale http://www.nightingalevt.org/ a sublime wedding of tradition and innovation (Jeremiah McLane on piano and accordion; Keith Murphy on guitar, mandolin, foot percussion, and vocals; and Becky Tracy on soulful fiddle)--and renowned caller Nils Fredland http://www.nilsfredland.com/ welcome coast-to-coast and from North Carolina to Maine for his clarity, joy, and choice repertoire of dances. With imagination, precision, and love, Nightingale fuses "Northern" music (Celtic, French, Scandinavian), original tunes, and hot Latin grooves. This team of band and caller is unrivaled at pacing, from lilting suspense to full-throttle energy that drives dancers wild. They'll do challenging contras 4 to 5:50 pm, and the big contra dance 9 to midnight, plus workshops.

Superb local musicians, callers, and instructors will also be in full bloom day and night. The smooth, witty Contradictions http://web.mac.com/lauriehart/iWeb/Laurie%20Hart,%20traditional%20fiddler/The%20Contradictions.html (Laurie Hart on fiddle, Rick Manning on fiddle and mandolin, Tom Hodgson on guitar, Dave Davies on bass and vocals, and Vikki Armstrong on mandolin), with savvy callers Pamela Goddard, Vikki Armstrong, Nancy Spero, and Katy Heine, will induce contra mania (noon to 1:45 pm, 6:30 to 7 pm workshop for newcomers, and 7 to 8:30 pm). The polished and inventive duo Kitchen Chair http://www.kitchenchairmusic.com/ (Gail Blake on guitar and Jennifer Dotson on fiddle), with Laurie Hart, will sweep couples into irresistible waltzes, tangos, polkas, hambos, schottisches, and more (2:15 to 3:30 pm, waltzes 6:30 to 7 pm). In addition to the big dances in the gym, there will be workshops throughout the day for callers and instrumentalists (with Nils Fredland and Nightingale) and for cross-step waltzing (with Deborah Keil and Rick Lightbody) and Cajun (with Karla Notarianni). This special dance celebration is made possible, in part, with grant support from the Community Arts Partnership and with the hard work of HFDI volunteers.

Advance admission for the entire event is $20 for HFDI members, $25 for non-members;
for noon-6 pm only, $12 members, $15 non-members; for 6 pm to midnight only, $15 members, $18 non-members. A full lasagna dinner (vegetarian or meat) will be available on-site for $10. HFDI membership is $10 per year. Pre-registration by May 12 is encouraged (full-day admission will increase by $5 at the door for those who have not pre-registered). For the full schedule and pdfs of the pre-registration form, go to http://hands4dancers.org/

Beginners are welcome (all dances are taught and the steps are simple; a workshop at 6:30 pm is designed for newcomers). There is no need to bring a partner, but please bring clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floors. For more information, call 607-539-3174. Out-of-towners who need a place to stay should contact Julia O'Connell at twojulia@hotmail.com Ithaca College graduation is the same weekend, so restaurants and accommodations will be heavily booked. There is a plant sale also May 19 at Ithaca High School, 9 am to 1 pm, so parking may be crowded during the one hour overlap, but ample afterward.

It's high time for winter-bound dancers and musicians to uncoil like greening fern fronds! Until now, Ithaca-area dancers have had to travel afar for the euphoria induced by a dance marathon. Join us for this homegrown Frolic.



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Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca
http://hands4dancers.org/

May 19 2007 -- Fiddlehead Frolic -- Dance-all-day event featuring NIGHTINGALE and caller NILS FREDLAND. Ithaca High School. Day-long dance event with Nightingale, Contradictions, caller Nils Fredland, and others, Ithaca High School. Stay tuned for details.

Noon–1:30 pm: Contras
The Contradictions w/Pamela Goddard, and Vikki Armstrong

2:15–3:30 pm: Couples Dances
Laurie Hart and Kitchen Chair

4–5:30 pm: Challenging Contras
Nightingale w/Nils Fredland

5:30–6:30 pm: Dinner Break

7–8:30 pm: Contras
The Contradictions w/Nancy Spero and Katy Heine

9–Midnight: Contras
Nightingale w/Nils Fredland

Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca is a member run organization dedicated to bringing great dance and music to the Ithaca, New York, area. We are a nonprofit affiliate of the Country Dance and Song Society. Anyone can come to our dance and music events! Membership gives you discounted admission to events, a voice at board meetings, and a vote at our annual meeting. Membership costs only $10/year

Aug 04 2007 -- Great Bear Trio at CSMA on August 4, with Katy Heine calling
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Schedule for the day http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/FiddleFrolicSchedule.pdf


Registration form as of 4/26 http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/FiddleFrolicRegistration.pdf

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Hi Musicians, Jammers, Dancers, Music Lovers, and Fiddleheads!

The band Nightingale is coming to Ithaca on May 19 as part of the First
Annual Fiddlehead Frolic at Ithaca High School. This is a 12 hour dance
event . One of the workshops at the event will be a musicians workshop
led by members of Nightingale from 1:30 - 2:45. You can just come for
the afternoon to dance/listen and attend workshops( noon to 5:30), or
the whole event (noon to midnight). You can also stay after the
workshop to jam if you have not gotten your fill of playing at the
workshop. If you can't make it to the afternoon workshop, come in the
evening to hear/dance to this and the other incredible bands (see
below).
Visit the website at www.hands4dancers.org/. For more information,
please call me (Nancy Spero) at 607-273-6603

About the band:
Nightingale was formed in 1993 by Jeremiah McLane (accordion, piano),
Keith Murphy (voice, guitar, mandolin, piano, foot percussion), and
Becky Tracy (fiddle). The nightingale bird is a poetic figure that
appears in traditional songs from many places including parts of
Northern Europe, Canada and the United States. So the nightingale was
an appropriate emblem for a band commited to drawing inspiration from a
wide musical territory that includes Ireland, France, Scandinavia,
Newfoundland and Quebec.

McLane, Murphy and Tracy were all established players in the
traditional New England contra dance scene when they met and
Nightingale quickly became a highly sought after New England dance
band. But from its inception, Nightingale explored music outside the
bounds of New England contra dance and could never be pigeon holed as
simply a dance band. Songs of Quebec and Newfoundland were a staple of
their repertoire and in their concerts they stretched the format of
traditional dance music. Still, their experience as dance musicians
generated an obsession with rhythmic integrity and the sustaining pulse
that is the essence of dance music. The listener could never miss the
underlying drive of much of Nightingale's music.

Nightingale creates distinctive dance medleys that have a specific
theme or shape. The band demonstrates rhythmic and textural techniques
that produce a distinctive mood. This workshop session can also include
a discussion of programming these kinds of arrangements in an evening
of dancing.


Details about the whole event:

"Fiddlehead Frolic," 12 hours of contra dance bliss, At Ithaca High
School in Ithaca, NY on May 19, 2007

In addition to the music workshop and Contra/Square dancing there will
be a Cajun dance workshop, an Intermediate Waltz workshop, a Caller's
workshop, and blissful waltzing and other couple's dancing. Ithaca's
very own CONTRADICTIONS (Laurie Hart, Rick
Manning, Dave Davies, and Tom Hodgson) and KITCHEN CHAIR (Jennifer
Dotson and Gail Blake) will also be providing wonderful music..
Teaching and calling the day's dances will be Nils Fredland, (much in
demand from coast to coast for his clear
teaching and fun repertoire), Pamela Goddard, Vikki Armstrong, Nancy
Spero, and Katy Heine.

The cost of the afternoon is $12 for Hands4 members and $15 for non
members. This includes both the workshops and the afternoon dancing.
The whole event is $20 for members and $25 for non members in advance (
$25 and $30 at the door). You can also sign up for an on-site lasagna
dinner. Beginners are welcome, and no partner is needed. Please bring
clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floors.

You can download the brochure from the HFDI website at
www.hands4dancers.org/. For more information, please call
607-539-3174. (or me, Nancy Spero at 273-6603)
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Schedule for the day http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/FiddleFrolicSchedule.pdf


Registration form as of 4/26 http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/FiddleFrolicRegistration.pdf
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Fiddlehead Frolic as a Facebook event! Invite your friends!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2316659717
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

CONTRA DANCE with GREAT BEAR TRIO

Saturday, August 4 -- 2007
Beginners¹ workshop at 7:30, dance 8:00-11:00 p.m.
Community School of Music and Art, 330 East State Street, Ithaca, NY

Free your mind, loosen your limbs, and strap on your dancing shoes for an
evening of dance bliss--because Great Bear Trio is returning to Ithaca!
Since their earliest teens, brothers Andrew and Noah (now 19 and 17) have
been dazzling crowds with their musical virtuosity and sheer energy at
dances, concerts, and even on NPR¹s ³Prairie Home Companion.² Between them
they play 14 instruments (including fiddle, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin,
bodhran, djembe, and didgeridoo) and have a repertoire of wildly original
tunes as well as traditional tunes ranging from Celtic, French-Canadian,
Scandinavian, Appalachian, and World Beat. Meanwhile, mom Kim provides a
solid foundation on keyboard for the brothers¹ musical inventions. Katy
Heine will teach and call the dances.

And while the music is hot, the venue¹s not! The Community School of Music
and Art¹s third-floor performance space is air conditioned, and the marley
floor is easy on the feet.

For more information, call Jennifer Cook at 607-273-7076.

http://www.hands4dancers.org/



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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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