Category Archives: Family Dance

Family dance and waltz workshops

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Our next three regular dances will be preceded by special events: two waltz workshops and a family dance. All events will be held at Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA, before our regularly scheduled contra dances (2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays, starting at 8 pm).

On Saturday, October 22, from 5:30–7:00 pm, we will offer a beginning waltz workshop. Kelsey Hartman will teach a class for dancers who want to learn the basic waltz moves. Come learn how to do this fun dance and be able to join in at regular contra dances. The cost is $5. 

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Then, on Saturday, October 29th, from 2:00-3:30 pm, we will hold our Halloween family dance, designed for all ages, children through grandparents. Costumes are welcomed but not required. Beginners and children are especially encouraged to attend, as this dance will feature easy, friendly dances to live fiddle music called by Erik Hoffman. The cost is $15 per family (parents and children), $5 per child without dancing parent, and $10 per adult without children. Some contra dances taught in the afternoon will be repeated at our regular dance at 8 pm (separate donation) for all to enjoy.

On Saturday, November 12, from 5:30–7:00 pm, we will offer an intermediate waltz workshop. Susan Petrick will teach a class for experienced dancers who already know the basic moves, but who want to be better dancers and improve their technique and style. This class is not intended for beginners. The cost is $5.

Finally, remember to save New Year’s Eve for contra dancing! Jean Gibson-Gorrindo will be calling to the music of Swing Farm (Ray Bierl, Charlie Hancock, and Markie Sanders), who combine traditional and jazz stylings to weave an evening of fluid beauty and food-stomping excitement.

Special events coming up this fall

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In October and November, we are pleased to present special opportunities to learn about waltzing and to involve the whole family in contra dancing. All special events will be held at Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA, before our regularly scheduled contra dances (2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays, starting at 8 pm).

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On Saturday, October 22, from 5:30–7:00 pm, we will offer a beginning waltz workshop. Kelsey Hartman will teach a class for dancers who want to learn the basic waltz moves. Come learn how to do this fun dance and be able to join in at regular contra dances. The cost is $5. 

Then, on Saturday, October 29th, from 2:00-3:30 pm, we will hold our Halloween family dance, designed for all ages, children through grandparents. Costumes are welcomed but not required. Beginners and children are especially encouraged to attend, as this dance will feature easy, friendly dances to live fiddle music called by Erik Hoffman. The cost is $15 per family (parents and children), $5 per child without dancing parent, and $10 per adult without children. Some contra dances taught in the afternoon will be repeated at our regular dance at 8 pm (separate donation) for all to enjoy.

Finally, on Saturday, November 12, from 5:30–7:00 pm, we will offer an intermediate waltz workshop. Susan Petrick will teach a class for experienced dancers who already know the basic moves, but who want to be better dancers and improve their technique and style. This class is not intended for beginners. The cost is $5.

Feb 13 family dance and contra dance

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Autumn-in-danceFebruary 13 Family Dance: For the Love of Dance!

A family dance (For the Love of Dance) will occur in the afternoon, 2:00 to 4:00PM, at Coloma Community Center, with calling by Erik Hoffman and music by Erik and Clark Smith. The dances will be selected to appeal to family members of all ages, but the dance is open to all dancers whether part of a family or not. Some of the same dances learned during the afternoon will be repeated in the evening. The family dance has special pricing: $15 per family of parents and children, $5 per child without dancing parent, and $10 per adult without children.

February 13 Contra Dance (Second Saturday)

  • Erik Hoffman calling to the music of Soul Weaving
  • February 13, 2016, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
  • Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA 95819
  • $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families

Erik Hoffman brings clear teaching and calling, and a sense of humor. Soul Weaving is the perfect driving force behind Eric’s calling and our feet.

A newcomer’s orientation is offered at 7:30PM, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use some 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. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share. These events are accessible to people with disabilities.

 

For more contra dance information, and contra lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email info@sactocds.org

Feb 13 family dance – save the date

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Danielle & Virgil

Danielle & Virgil

Coming up in February, our first family dance of the year, for all ages, children through grandparents. Beginners and children are encouraged to come. Save the date and time, Saturday, February 13, 2:00-4:00PM. We will have a Valentine’s Day theme, “for the Love of the Dance.”

This event is separate from our evening contra dance, but there will be some dances in common, and we hope that people will attend both. Though anyone is welcome to attend the family dance, with or without family, understand that the dances will be selected to appeal to children and youth, and the dance will be closer to a traditional community barn dance than a contra dance. Please help create a successful dance by sharing the flier and word-of-mouth with your family, friends, and education contacts.

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Amanda Schmidt, parent of two children and spouse of Virgil (you’ve met them dancing and seen them doing sound), wrote an article for Sacramento Parent magazine, which you can read at this link: http://issuu.com/sacramentoparentmag/docs/spweb0116_01/28.

June 13 family dance, potluck, and second Saturday contra dance

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This Saturday we have a full evening of dance events. A family dance at 5:30 welcomes children to the dance floor with fun, energetic and simple dances. Everyone is welcome to dance. At 7:00 we’ll sit down for a potluck dinner. Please bring enough food for twice the number of people you bring. We aren’t organizing the potluck, but keep in mind there is only so much chips and salsa you can eat. Bring serving utensils, your own plate and eating utensils if you wish, and labels with contents are always appreciated. At 7:30 those wanting the newcomer’s orientation will head to the dance floor. And at 8:00, our regular contra dance. Talib Huff will call both dances, while Claudia’s Kitchen plays for the family dance and BLAM! for the regular contra dance.

Family Dance

June 13, 2015 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Caller Talib Huff with band Claudia’s Kitchen

Donation: $25 maximum for families, $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for high school students with ID (your donation for the family dance also covers the regular contra dance)

Potluck Dinner

June 13, 2015 7:00 PM – 7:45 PM

Second Saturday Contra Dance

June 13, 2015 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Headlining are caller Talib Huff and BLAM! (Bob Silberstein, Elizabeth Todd and Marta Lynch).

Donation: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for high school students with ID; $25 maximum for families

A newcomer’s orientation is offered at 7:30PM, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use some 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. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA 95819

These events are accessible to people with disabilities.

Talib Huff: http://www.sactocds.org/wp/contra-dance/talent/talib-huff/

Claudia’s Kitchen: https://claudiaskitchenband.shutterfly.com

BLAM!: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BLAM-A-Contra-Dance-Band/407527389395407

More information?

Echo Summit Dance Camp, September 18-20 at Camp Sacramento, is now open for registration at http://www.sactocds.org/wp/special-events/echo-summit-dance-camp-2015/.