Note: The first dance of the new year will be English Country Dance on January 15 (third Sunday). There will be no English Country Dance on January 1 (first Sunday), nor contra dance on January 14 (second Saturday).
Caller: Dane Wallinga
Music: Syncopaths
Sound: Amanda Schmidt
Date: Saturday, December 31, 2022
Time: 8:00–12:00 midnight, with newcomer’s orientation at 7:40pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Special NYE pricing: $18 for adults; $12 for college students with ID; $8 for dancers under 18; $40 maximum for families (cash or check)
Join us for four hours of contra dance on New Year’s Eve, 8:00PM to midnight, at Coloma Community Center. This is one of our biggest and most joyful events of the year, along with our Anniversary Dance in April, so you’ll want to be there. It’s a chance to see old friends and make new friends. Even if you can’t come for the entire evening, please come.
The Syncopaths, a Sacramento favorite, will play, with Dane Wallinga calling. Syncopaths are Jeff Spero, Ryan McKasson, Christa Burch, and Joe Craven stepping in for Ashley Hoyer (Broder). From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths bring a fresh, contemporary spin to tunes and songs rooted in the Scottish, Irish, and American folk traditions. Evolving through their contradance origins, they are creating a “chamber folk” sound, characterized by the compelling rhythmic interplay of fiddle and mandolin, rich vocals, and unexpected colors and rhythms of the piano and bodhrån. The exuberant joy they derive from the music and each other is palpable and contagious. Joe Craven is not just an entertaining musician with a penchant for the mischievous, he is a teacher and student all at once and he will draw you into his performance by including you as though you’re part of the show itself. His gift of gab is unprecedented and his musical knowledge impressive. Joe’s openness and expression of gratitude for the gifts he’s acquired make it all the more fun for him to share them with his audience. Syncopaths homepage Joe Craven homepage
Dane Wallinga has quickly become a Bay Area go-to caller, giving dancers a thoughtful program of interesting, fun dances, called with a relaxed style.
We will have a New Year toast with sparking cider at midnight, outside (grab your coats), and a final waltz to bring in the New Year.
We do have higher pricing for the New Year’s Eve Contra Dance. If cost is the only thing preventing you being being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.
A newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, 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. Events are accessible to people with disabilities.
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.
COVID Safety Information
The SCDS Covid safety policy requires full vaccination, including boosters. Masks must be worn at all times while inside the building. We recommend N95, KN95, or KF94 masks and do not allow masks with exhaust valves (because they don’t protect others), cloth masks, or surgical masks. Please bring your own water and snacks, and plan to step outside to eat or drink. Windows and doors will be open to ensure good ventilation, so please dress accordingly. Most importantly, if you’re not feeling well, stay home and join us next time.
If you haven’t been to a dance yet, please email a photo of your vaccination card to Laura Leonelli at lauraleo524@gmail.com before the dance. Please also print a copy of our waiver form, sign it, and bring your paper copy to the dance. You only need to do this once; we will record that you have provided this information, so that it will be valid for future dances.
Cedar grew up playing both classical violin and traditional fiddle music, and studied violin performance at the Crane School of Music. For the past ten years he has played for contra dances across North America with bands including Nor’easter, Cardinal Direction, Maivish, and Cloud Ten. His spirited, rhythmic playing and clear tone keep dancers on their feet. In between gigs, Cedar can be found at home in Brattleboro, Vermont, growing vegetables, baking bread, and birdwatching. He also repairs violins, violas, and cellos. (Photo credit: David Frantz)
Donal grew up surrounded by traditional music and dance and played jazz bass and classical cello from a very young age. He has spent many years playing American and Irish music on cello and a variety of other instruments. The resonant chords and percussive rhythms of his cello create an indescribably vibrant soundscape drawing from many different traditions. He has taught and performed at music and dance festivals throughout the United States and is a member of Gallimaufry.
Topher Gayle (OpporTunists, Rosin Doctors, Swingin’ Chickens, Mercury Rising, Chaos Wranglers, et al.) has been happily busy playing contra dance music for nearly twenty years. But he’s been writing funny songs and pretty tunes since he was a teenager (shortly after the Fillmore administration). If you’ve seen him playing at a dance, you’ve perhaps noticed he’s usually surrounded by a music store’s worth of stringed, percussive, and unusual instruments. Many instruments, many styles, many grooves! Topher has several CDs and instructional books available at his web site, 
Special Program: This special English XTRA workshop is a fast-paced afternoon for experienced English country dancers, which will NOT include an introductory lesson before the dance. Caller David Newitt, the Dancing Master for the upcoming Bay Area Country Dance Society 
