English Country Dance in Sacramento!

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The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Bruce Hamilton
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: Sue Jones and David Wright
Date: Sunday, September 21st (3rd Sunday, in Sacramento)
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm
Location: Young Ladies Institute (YLI), 1400 27th St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check)

Bruce Hamilton is a well-respected, thoughtful, and energetic teacher of English and Scottish dancing with 45 years’ experience. He has launched dance classes, trained teachers, coached performing groups, and adjudicated festivals.

A retired research scientist, Bruce is always looking for new ways to understand and present ideas for the dancer. Whenever he presents workshops, he weaves many conceptual threads besides dance technique and choreography into his lessons. Musicality, sociability, and physiology are his current favorites. People often say they come away with a different way to experience and think about dance. Occasionally he holds a weekend teachers’ class that also draws high praise. He continues to run a bi-weekly English dance class in the Bay Area. In the recent past, he was the president of the Country Dance and Song Society. With invitations to teach at many festivals and dance camps each year, he has taught workshops all around the United States and in the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and Australia.

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.

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. While events at the Masonic Lodge are fully handicapped-accessible, 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.

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.

English Country Dance in Sacramento!

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The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Yvonne Couvillion
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: Sue Jones and David Wright
Date: Sunday, September 7th, 2025
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm
Location: The Young Ladies’ Institute (YLI), 1400 27th St., Sacramento
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check)

Alan Winston

Yvonne began dancing (waltz, twist, and swing) at age 9 with her mother. She first performed dance in junior high school, and continued dancing in high school and college. She took a class in teaching International Folk Dance in graduate school, and began calling 30 years ago. She met her husband Andre at a contra dance in Bastrop, Texas 26 years ago. They now live in Sacramento where they regularly attend, teach and host a variety of dance events including English Country Dance.

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.

Normally we dance in Roseville on first Sundays, but it’s likely to be hot and the YLI has better air conditioning.

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.

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.

No Dances This weekend

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Next weekend, though, will kick off the complex September schedule with an English Country Dance at the YLI in Sacramento on Sunday, September 7th, called by Yvonne Couvillion to the music of Quite Carried Away. First Sunday dances are normally in Roseville, but the YLI has better air conditioning.

Next, beginning on Friday September 12th, there’s the annual Echo Summit Dance Camp. For more information on that or to register, see https://registration.sactocds.org/.

Because that event will go all weekend, the usual Contra on September 13th is Canceled.

Next up will be the English Country Dance on September 21st at Sacramento’s YLI, called by Bruce Hamilton, to the music of Quite Carried Away.

Rounding out the month will be the Fourth Saturday Contra Dance on the 27th, called by Dane Wallinga to the music of the Sactown Revellers. Enjoy!

No Contra this week!

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But next month you’ll get to choose between the Echo Summit Dance Camp on the weekend of September 12-14 (http://registration.sactocds.org) and the September 27th dance, where Dane Wallinga calls to the music of the Sactown Revellers (Kathrine Gardner, Cynthia Llano, and Allen Barnes). Or better yet, do both!

And beginning in September, college student admission (with student ID card) will rise to $10, and the admissions cap for families will rise to $30.

English Country Dance in Sacramento!

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The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Bonnie Richardson
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: Sue Jones and David Wright
Date: Sunday, August 17th (3rd Sunday, in Sacramento)
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm
Location: Young Ladies Institute (YLI), 1400 27th St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Cost: $15 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

Bonnie Richardson has been an avid English country dancer for over 20 years. She also enjoys contra, ballroom and is passionate about waltzing. She and Rebecca King founded the Napa English Country Dance in 2015. She has been teaching, calling and managing English dances 2-3 time a month in this small, but vibrant dance community ever since. After retiring as a Family Physican from Kaiser Permanente in 2018, Bonnie was able to attend far flung dances and camps and lend her organizational skills to promoting ECD. She currently serves on the Board of the North Bay Country Dance Society, the Fall Frolick Committee and the Mad Robin Ball Committee.

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.

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. While events at the Masonic Lodge are fully handicapped-accessible, 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.

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.

Contra Dance, Second Saturday

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The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Erik Hoffman
Music: The Community Band (Directed by Claudia Kirkpatrick. To play in it, contact her at kirkmusic@hotmail.com)
Sound: Clark Smith
Date: Saturday, August 9th, 2025 (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: $15 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.

Mark Goodwin

In 1980, Erik was invited to a contra dance. It was love right out of the starting block. The live traditional fiddle music, the way you danced with lots of people, and the joy of the dance community won his heart. As he participated in his hometown dance, his desire to know more blossomed. There was the teaching, calling of the dance, and there was the music.

Thus, at dance camps, Erik took calling classes, and learned to play the music. In 1985 he started calling at small practice gatherings. As his ability grew, he started calling at the local contra dances.

Over the years Erik has been sought out for calling and playing at various dance camps as well as touring throughout the U.S. and internationally, in England, Denmark, France, and Italy.

Erik’s love of the tradition shows every time he calls, plays, or just joins in the local dance.

The Community Band is an assembly of local musicians under the gifted direction of Claudia Kirkpatrick. They play for one Contra each year.

Want to play in this year’s edition? Contact Claudia at kirkmusic@hotmail.com!

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.

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. 

English Country Dance in Sacramento!

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TEMPORARY LOCATION and TIME! See below!

The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Alan Winston
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: Sue Jones and David Wright
Date: Sunday, August 3rd (1st Sunday, in Sacramento)
Time: 2:30-5:00 pm (we can’t get access early enough for our normal 2 PM start time)
Location: Sierra 2, 2791 24th St., Sacramento, Room 10! Parking lot on 4th Avenue!
Cost: $15 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

Alan Winston

Caller, choreographer, and community leader, Alan Winston started with Regency dance in 1978 and has been dancing contra since 1985. He’s been calling Regency, English, Early American, and Victorian dance since 1985, and started calling contras in 2006. He’s called for balls, camps, and special events from Southern California to the Bay Area to Oregon, Washington, and Victoria BC. He co-founded the Bay Area English Regency Society and has been the house caller since 1985.

His clear, cheerful, and witty instruction have served dancers well at a variety of venues including science fiction and romance writer conventions, Pie Ranch, weddings, a residential Victorian weekend, Playford Balls on both coasts, Williamsburg, VA, the San Francisco Free Folk Festival, the New England Folk Festival (NEFFA), and as a staff member at BACDS Family Week, the Heather and Rose gender-free English/Scottish weekend in Oregon, and the Queer Contra weekend in Aptos. It is Alan’s great joy to share the joy of community through country dance.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.winston

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.

Once again we’re on the move, in search of an affordable venue where we don’t broil. The A/C should be good here, but the “affordable” part, not so much.

As usual, beginners are welcome. If you are bringing, or know of any, first-timers, please urge them to come at 2:00 for the introductory workshop that precedes the dance. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. While events at the Masonic Lodge are fully handicapped-accessible, 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.

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.

No Contra This Weekend!

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Contra will be back on August 9th — Join us then for Erik Hoffman, calling to the music of the Community Band, directed by Claudia Kirkpatrick. If you’re a musician and would like to play for that dance, contact Claudia at kirkmusic@hotmail.com.

English Country Dancers will be dancing on August 3rd, in Room 10 at Sierra 2, 2791 24th Street, Sacramento. Alan Winston will be calling at 2:30 to the music of Quite Carried Away.

English Country Dance in Sacramento!

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The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Gary Sandler and Friends
Music: Recorded music! Rare for SCDS.
Sound: Gary Sandler and Friends
Date: Sunday, July 20th (3rd Sunday, in Sacramento)
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm
Location: Young Ladies Institute (YLI), 1400 27th St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Cost: $15 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

Gary Sandler‘s first exposure to dance was when he learned ballroom style in college. Decades later, his son’s involvement in a youth dance program introduced him to International Folk Dance. Over the years, he’s learned a variety of dance styles and developed a particular love of English Country Dance. Gary likes helping dancers get more fun out of their dancing through safe and comfortable hand-holds, practical demonstrations, and clear direct instruction.  Gary likes to vary the dance format for English Country Dances, shifting from lines to circles to squares. Through his local International Folk Dance group’s weekly dance, Gary calls and teaches Romanian, Israeli, Balkan, and Scottish dances in addition to English Country.

Hmm, no band! What do you suppose they’re up to? Better come to the dance and find out!

Also, the annual Potluck and Pool Party will be held after the dance! Flyers with directions will be available.

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. While events at the Masonic Lodge are fully handicapped-accessible, 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.

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.