Scroll down to read about the English dance!
The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:
Caller: Tanya Merchant
Music: Star Thistle (Lonna Whipple, David Wright, and Cheryl McKinney)
Sound: Ken Britten
Date: Saturday, December 14th, 2024 (Second Saturday)
Time: 7:00–10:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 6:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $12 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.
Tanya Merchant learned to call dances while sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been calling contra and barn dances since venues re-opened in 2021. Dancers praise her clear, warm, and energetic calling style.
Star Thistle plays contra dances featuring Celtic, old-time, and other music. The band (left to right, as pictured) is Lonna Whipple (fiddle), David Wright (fiddle and mandolin), and Cheryl McKinney (keyboard).
Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.
The SCDS Board has voted to modify Covid requirements. The new policy is as follows:
Latest update: June 2024
The policies below are intended to balance our desire to dance with the safety of our community, including both our dancers and the wider public. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and join us at another event when you’re feeling well.
Vaccination
COVID vaccination and up-to-date boosters are highly recommended but not required.
Masks
Based on current immunity levels and transmission rates in our community, good quality, well-fitting masks are recommended but not required on the dance floor and in other indoor spaces at all our dance locations.
Food and Drink
Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.
Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.
Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.
Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics.
And now, for the English Country Dance:
The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:
Caller: Lise Dyckman
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: Sue Jones and David Wright
Date: Sunday, December 15th (Holiday Tea in Roseville)
Time: 2:00-6:00 pm
Location: Masonic Lodge, 235 Vernon St., Roseville, CA
Cost: $12 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)
Lise M. Dyckman has been teaching and calling English Country Dance (and Contra Dance) for decades, in Philadelphia, New York City, California’s Bay Area region and beyond, and is known for her clear and concise calling, musicality, humor, interest in dance history and attention to welcoming community.
Six musicians and friends under the direction of David Wright and Sue Jones. Just give them English Country Dance music to play, and they’re Quite Carried Away!
The members of QCA are (clockwise from upper right): Martin Lodahl (viola da gamba), Susan Jones (English concertina), Jane Kostka (whistle), David Wright (violin and mandolin), Arlene Jamar (piano), and Dick Holdstock (octave mandolin and tenor banjo).
Quite Carried Away is the home band for the English Country Dances.
This is our annual Holiday Tea, where we take an unusually long break for tea and whatever goodies the dancers have brought to share, to chat with old friends and to make new ones. The dance is scheduled for an extra hour, for that to happen!
As usual, beginners are welcome. If you are bringing, or know of any, first-timers, please urge them to come at 1:30 for the introductory workshop that precedes the dance. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events at the Masonic Lodge are handicapped-accessible, through the elevator right inside the front door. Events at the YLI are somewhat accessible to people with disabilities, but not perfectly. Ask for help within.
It’s always nice when folks bring snacks to share–please bring items that don’t require plates or utensils. Please bring your own water bottles.
For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email info@sactocds.org. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.
COVID Safety Information:
Latest update: June 2024
The policies below are intended to balance our desire to dance with the safety of our community, including both our dancers and the wider public. If you are feeling ill, please stay home and join us at another event when you’re feeling well.
Vaccination
COVID vaccination and up-to-date boosters are highly recommended but not required.
Masks
Based on current immunity levels and transmission rates in our community, good quality, well-fitting masks are recommended but not required on the dance floor and in other indoor spaces at all our dance locations.
Food and Drink
Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.
Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.