{"events":[{"name":"Haddam & Higganum Contra Dance","details":"All are welcome! We often switch partners after every dance so there is no need to bring a partner, and no experience is needed to have a fantastic time! Dance is especially tailored for beginners! So come enjoy the friendly camaraderie, dance to live music and see everyone’s smiling faces!\nCaller: Don Heinold. Don has been calling around 14 years and is known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nLive Music: Mickey Koth on fiddle/violin & John Kalinowski, on accordion. Since 1998 they’ve been the band that “will change your O’Doul’s to Guinness.” You’re gonna love contra dancing to this terrific threesome.\nAdmission: $15.00 per person. Donations are greatly appreciated and encouraged!\nFree Parking: There is plenty of free parking on the right side of the church.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual, layers are best for this invigorating exercise. Please wear non-street shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber soled sneaker are discouraged).\nRole Terms: “Women & Men” but all dancers are welcome to dance whichever role their heart desires.\nFood: Refreshments will be served but also bring water to keep hydrated!","links":["https://cdss.org/event/haddam-higganum-contra-dance/"],"start":"2023-10-27T19:45:00-04:00","end":"2023-10-27T22:00:00-04:00","country":"USA","state":"RI","city":"Haddam","styles":["contra"],"workshop":false,"social":true,"bands":["Mickey Koth & John Kalinowski"],"callers":["Don Heinold"],"price":"$15","organisation":"United Congregational Church of Haddam & Higganum","source":"events/usa/cdss_2023.yaml"},{"name":"Worcester Contra Dance","details":"Time: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm [Intro session 7:15 pm]\nThis is so wicked fun! We dance to the fiddle tunes of Ireland, Scotland, England, France, and Appalachia and we often switch partners after every dance so there is no need to bring a partner, and no experience is needed to have a fantastic time!!\nCaller: Don Heinold. Don has been calling dances for over 14 years. Don is sought for weddings, parties & regular dances! He is known for teaching waltz and still does waltz lessons.\nLive music by Old Bel Air, who are Jenn Wheeler, piano; Steve Hunker, accordion; Dave Fox. fiddle; Jo-Anne Lund, fiddle; Dave Blodgett, guitar; Bill Fisher, mandolin; Joyce Isen, percussion; and Jerry Bellows, recorder. They make a terrific sound you will love to dance to!\nAdmission: (your choice) $10 – $12 p.p., $6 – $8 students, families $25. Donations are gratefully appreciated!\nParking: There is plenty of parking behind the church by driving up State Street or up Gertrude Street.\nFood! Donations of snacks for the break are wanted and gleefully appreciated!\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual. Please wear non-street shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneakers are discouraged, but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nRole Terms are “Women & Men,” but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that works for them, with no worries.","links":["https://www.worcesterdance.org/","https://cdss.org/event/worcester-contra-dance/"],"start":"2023-12-09T19:15:00-05:00","end":"2023-12-09T22:30:00-05:00","country":"USA","state":"MA","city":"Worcester","styles":["contra"],"workshop":true,"social":true,"callers":["Don Heinold"],"price":"$6-$12","organisation":"CDSS","source":"events/usa/cdss_2023.yaml"},{"name":"New Year's Eve Contra Dance Extravaganza","details":"Time: 8:00 pm – 12:15 am (Waltz lesson, then contra basics session: 7:30 – 8:00 pm)\nWe’ll be doing contras, squares, mixers dances and other dances!\nJust come alone or with friends, enjoy the camaraderie and dance and see everyone’s smiling faces and greet the New Year 2024!\nCallers: Don Heinold, Jen Jasenski, and others.\nLive Music: Liz Raymond and Mickey Koth, fiddles, and Aaron Bittel, keyboard.\nAdmission: Suggested donation – $20 p.p., $15 students, $50 families.\nParking: Parking is in behind the church accessible via Court Street and Broad Street. On-street parking is also available.\nDress: Dress is casual and/or festive. Please bring clean non-street shoes in order to prevent damaging the floor and that move easily. Wear comfortable clothing!\nFood: Please bring finger food to share!\nThis is an alcohol-free event.","links":["http://www.hcdance.org/contra-dance/","https://cdss.org/event/new-years-eve-contra-dance-extravaganza/"],"start":"2023-12-31T19:30:00-05:00","end":"2024-01-01T00:15:00-05:00","country":"USA","state":"CT","city":"Middletown","styles":["contra"],"workshop":true,"social":true,"bands":["Wee Merry Banshees"],"callers":["Don Heinold","Jen Jasenski"],"price":"$15-$20","organisation":"Hartford Community Dance","source":"events/usa/cdss_2023.yaml"},{"name":"Grange Hall Contra Dance","details":"Community Shindig: In the tradition of New England’s earliest settlers, Vineyard Preservation Trust and Circuit Arts invite you to a contra dance to celebrate the traditions of the Grange Hall as part of the fundraising campaign launch to restore/rejuvenate the historic Hall. No experience necessary!\nThis is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!\nLive Music by The Flying Elbows, Martha’s Vineyard’s favorite string band: a community tradition! They are: Nancy Jephcote, fiddle, Bob Hammond, fiddle and banjo, Paul Thurlow, bass, Brian Weiland, percussion and mandolin, Tom Hodgson guitar.\nCaller: Don Heinold. Hailing from Rhode Island, Don has been calling at dances, weddings, and parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nAdmission is free, but donations are gratefully appreciated and accepted!\nParking: on-site.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual. Please wear shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneakers are discouraged, but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nRole Terms are “Women & Men,” but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that works for them. with no worries.","links":["https://vineyardtrust.org/event/contra-dance-feb-10/","https://cdss.org/event/grange-hall-contra-dance/"],"start":"2024-02-10T18:30:00-05:00","end":"2024-02-10T20:30:00-05:00","country":"USA","state":"MA","city":"West Tisbury","styles":["contra"],"workshop":false,"social":true,"bands":["The Flying Elbows"],"callers":["Don Heinold"],"organisation":"Martha's Vineyard  Preservation Trust","source":"events/usa/cdss.yaml"},{"name":"Groton Grange #7 Contra Dance","details":"Community Shindig: In the tradition of New England’s earliest settlers, The Groton Grange and Contra Banditos invite you to a New England Contra Dance to celebrate the traditions of the Grange Hall. No partner or experience necessary!\nThis is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!\nLive Music by: The Contra Banditos. The Banditos were formed in the late 1980s when original band member Dan Fassett and two of his students decided to practice their craft at a contra dance in the First Parish Church in Groton, MA. Those practice sessions evolved into the formation of the band. From a handful of fiddle members, we have grown into a band with typically eight members who play fiddle, banjo, guitar, piano, mandolin, whistle, bass and percussion.\nCaller: Don Heinold. Hailing from Rhode Island, Don has been calling at dances, weddings, and parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nAdmission: $5 suggested donation per person. Contributions are greatly appreciated!\nParking: on-street. Please be careful.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual. Please wear shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneakers are discouraged, but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nRole Terms are: “Women & Men,” but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that works for them. with no worries.","links":["https://grotongrange.org/contra-dance/","https://contrabanditos.com/show/contra-dance-groton-grange-3/","https://cdss.org/event/groton-grange-7-contra-dance/"],"start":"2024-03-23T19:30:00-04:00","end":"2024-03-23T22:00:00-04:00","country":"USA","state":"MA","city":"Groton","styles":["contra"],"workshop":false,"social":true,"bands":["Contra Banditos"],"callers":["Don Heinold"],"price":"$5","organisation":"Groton Grange #7","source":"events/usa/cdss.yaml"},{"name":"Barn Dance","details":"Sponsored by Four Corners Art Center \nFour Corners Art Center invites you to the historic village of Tiverton Four Corners to celebrate the coming of spring and the daffodil bloom in the tradition of New England’s earliest settlers. Friends and neighbors, please join us for an early evening of contra dancing! This is still wicked fun today! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Bring your friends or come alone! There are others that come alone! You do not need to know how in order to have a fantastic time! \n\nCaller: Don Heinold. Hailing from Rhode Island, Don has been calling at dances, weddings, and parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also well known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nLive Music: The Westside Warblers, who are: Camilla Streeter, keyboards; David Horne, bass, mandolin or banjo; and Chris Warren, fiddle or cello. They are skilled musicians that radiate energy and joy through their music. They are not to be missed!\nAdmission: $15.00 cash suggested donation per person. BYE (bring your own everything). Proceeds to support Four Corners Art Center!\nParking: plenty of free parking on-site.\nClothing: Clothing is casual with layers recommended as dancing is invigorating and energetic.\nRole Terms are traditional: “Ladies & Gents” or “Women & Men,” BUT anyone dancing is welcome to choose whatever role that works for them with no worries, as they are roles only.","links":["https://www.fourcornersarts.org/concerts-events/","https://cdss.org/event/barn-dance/"],"start":"2024-03-30T16:00:00-04:00","end":"2024-03-30T18:00:00-04:00","country":"USA","state":"RI","city":"Tiverton","styles":["contra"],"workshop":false,"social":true,"bands":["Westside Warblers"],"callers":["Don Heinold"],"price":"$15","organisation":"Four Corners Arts Center","source":"events/usa/cdss.yaml"},{"name":"Hartford Community Dance Contra","details":"Time: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm (short basics session 7:15 pm)\nContra Dance is a form of folk dancing made up of long lines of couples. It has mixed origins from historic English country dance, Scottish country dance, and French dance styles. It originated in New England! Not needed to bring a partner or know how to do it in order to have a great time!\nThis is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Come and give it a try!\nLive Music: The Boom Chicks are Julie Sorcek on flute and saxophone, Mickey Koth on fiddle, and Kasha Breau on keyboard. They bring years of experience playing for contra dances, with each other (Julie and Mickey in Wry Bred and Kasha and Mickey in Wild Notes) as well as in other concert and contra dance bands.! They will amaze you and set your feet moving!\nCaller: Don Heinold. Hailing from Rhode Island, Don has been calling at dances, weddings, and parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nAdmission: $13 ($5 for students, $30 max for families).\nParking: Please park on the street or in the public lot behind Keeney Hall (1/10 mi north on Main St). There’s no parking on the Temple grounds. Please do not even turn into the Temple driveway or the neighbor’s driveway.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual. Please wear shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber soled sneaker are discouraged but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nRole Terms: “Women & Men,” but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that works for them. with no worries.","links":["http://www.hcdance.org/contra-dance/","https://cdss.org/event/hartford-community-dances-2nd-saturday-contra-dance/"],"start":"2024-04-13T19:15:00-04:00","end":"2024-04-13T22:30:00-04:00","country":"USA","state":"CT","city":"Wethersfield","styles":["contra"],"workshop":true,"social":true,"bands":["The Boom Chicks"],"callers":["Don Heinold"],"price":"$5-$13","organisation":"Hartford Community Dance","source":"events/usa/cdss.yaml"},{"name":"K of C Arlington Contra Dance","details":"Community Shindig: In the tradition of New England’s earliest settlers, The Knights of Columbus #109 invite you to a New England Contra Dance to celebrate the traditions of community dancing. Not necessary to bring a partner or any experience necessary!!\nThis is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!\nLive Music by: Kat Wallace & Helen Grace Kuhar! Kat is a fiddle player with a focus in American and Celtic styles, her music-making centers around original and traditional tunes and songs utilizing tenor guitar, fiddle, viola and voice. Helen Kuhar is a rhythm guitarist and vocalist hailing from Cambridge, MA. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Helen fell in love with traditional music through contra dancing, and since then has been immersed in Irish, Scottish, and New England folk traditions of Boston, MA and the greater Northeast! They both together will amaze you!\nCaller: Don Heinold. Hailing from Rhode Island, Don has been calling at dances, weddings, and parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nAdmission: $15 suggested donation per person, or $10 for students per person!\nParking: plenty of well lighted parking next to the KC building. Enter around the corner on Prescott St.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual. Please wear shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber soled sneaker are discouraged but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nRole Terms are: “Ladies & Gents” or “Women & Men” but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that works for them. with no worries.","links":["https://cdss.org/event/k-of-c-arlington-contra-dance/"],"start":"2024-04-14T19:30:00-04:00","end":"2024-04-14T22:30:00-04:00","country":"USA","state":"RI","city":"Arlington","styles":["contra"],"workshop":false,"social":true,"callers":["Don Heinold"],"price":"$10-$15","organisation":"Knights of Columbus #109","source":"events/usa/cdss.yaml"},{"name":"Contra Dance at Arlington K of C","details":"Community Shindig: In the tradition of New England’s earliest settlers, The Knights of Columbus #109 invite you to a New England Contra Dance to celebrate the traditions of community dancing. No need to bring a partner know how to have one hell of a great time!\nIt is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!\nLive Music by: Captain Fiddle and Paul Mangion!\nCaptain Fiddle is Ryan Thomson (on left handed fiddle). Ryan is an award-winning fiddler. Ryan and his son Brennish were the winners of the 2023 New Hampshire Governor’s Arts Award for Folk Heritage. Ryan has been honored by inclusion on both the Traditional and Touring Artist rosters of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. He is a past winner of the Blaine Stubblefield Northeastern USA Regional award at the National Fiddle Contest in Weiser, Idaho. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays fiddle, banjo, wooden flute, piano, accordion, bones, pennywhistle, ukulele, and other instruments. You can watch and listen to his performances on these instruments on his You Tube channel.\nPaul Mangion (on drums): Paul Mangion first heard the music of the southern mountains as a student in 1964. He took up clawhammer banjo in 1973 and, after moving to the Southen Maine area, helped start up The Last Chance String Band. In 1988 he started to play percussion in a zydeco band, The Crawdad Wranglers, as well as at many of the local Irish sessions. He renewed his interest in the banjo and the singing the old time songs.\nCaller: Don Heinold. Hailing from Rhode Island, Don has been calling at dances, weddings & parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nAdmission: $15 suggested donation per person, or $10 for students per person.\nParking: plenty of well lighted parking next to the KC building. Enter around the corner on Prescott St.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual. Please wear shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneakers are discouraged, but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nRole Terms are “Ladies & Gents” or “Women & Men” but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that works for them. with no worries.","links":["https://cdss.org/event/contra-dance-at-arlington-k-of-c/"],"start":"2024-05-12T18:00:00-04:00","end":"2024-05-12T21:00:00-04:00","country":"USA","state":"MA","city":"Arlington","styles":["contra"],"workshop":false,"social":true,"bands":["Captain Fiddle & Paul Mangion"],"callers":["Don Heinold"],"price":"$10-$15","organisation":"Arlington Knights of Columbus #109","source":"events/usa/cdss.yaml"}]}