Contra Dance, May 27th!

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Caller: Kelsey Hartman
Music: Lonna Whipple, David Wright, and Ann Meigs
Sound: Sue Jones and David Wright
Date: Saturday, May 27th (4th Saturday)
Time: 7:00-10:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop 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 being being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Caller Kelsey Hartman is a “contraholic,” who can often be found dancing or calling a contra dance. Her inspiration comes from Nils Fredland, whose workshop in 2012 spurred her down the caller’s path. When calling, she considers herself a conduit between the dancers and the band, helping to channel the joy of the music through flowing, interesting dances.

A new combination of established talents! Lonna Whipple and David Wright of “Star Thistle,” and Ann Meigs of “Wild Goose Chase.” You’ve seen them in their other bands, and now see them together!

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.wordpress.com/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, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.wordpress.com/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, May 21st!

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Caller: Gary Thomas
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: Sue Jones and David Wright
Date: Sunday, May 21st (3rd Sunday Sacramento)
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Young Ladies Institute (YLI), 1400 27th St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

Dancing has been a passion of Gary Thomas for as long as he can remember. From a beginning as a square dancer and tap dancer, he added other dance forms to his repertoire, and was able to put this knowledge to good use as a choreographer for musical theater. In 1977, on moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, Scottish Country Dancing became his “new” craze, and English Country Dancing soon followed. After moving to California, he joined the ranks of English Dance callers and, on occasion, played piano for classes. He continues to teach Scottish Country Dance, and will periodically throw in Vintage Dance, which includes Regency, Victorian, and Ragtime era ballroom dancing.

Quite Carried Away is the long-time “house band” for the SCDS English Country Dance program, consisting of David Wright, fiddle and mandolin; Arlene Jamar, piano and keyboard; Jane Kostca, Celtic whistles; Dick Holdstock, octave mandolin and Banjo; Sue Jones, concertina and recorder; and Martin Lodahl, viola da gamba.

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 are accessible to people with disabilities.

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.wordpress.com/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, except when we’re in the “green” (low risk) zone, as we are this week. 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.

English Country Dance, May 7th!

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Caller: Lise Dyckman
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: David Wright and Sue Jones
Date: Sunday, May 7th (1st Sunday Roseville)
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Polish-American Community Hall, 327 Main St., Roseville, CA 95678
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

Lise 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.

Quite Carried Away is the long-time “house band” for the SCDS English Country Dance program, consisting of David Wright, fiddle and mandolin; Arlene Jamar, piano and keyboard; Jane Kostca, Celtic whistles; Dick Holdstock, octave mandolin and Banjo; Sue Jones, concertina and recorder; and Martin Lodahl, viola da gamba.

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 are accessible to people with disabilities.

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.wordpress.com/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

COVID Safety Information:

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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, except when we’re in the “green” (low risk) zone, as we are this week. 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.

Anniversary Contra Dance April 22

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Caller: Susan Petrick
Music: Tartan Suite (Patti Cobb, piano, Caroline McCaskey, fiddle, and Thomas Dewey, cello)
Sound: Sue Jones and David Wright
Date: Saturday, April 22nd, 2023 (fourth 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 being being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Susan Petrick is a regional treasure with national prominence, who tours throughout the country calling for dance weekends and festivals. She is well-known for her clear teaching, efficient guidance, and expert pacing, making even complex dances accessible to all.

Tartan Suite is Caroline McCaskey on fiddle and other instruments, Patti Cobb on piano and other instruments, and Thomas Dewey on cello. Caroline and Patti are two of the three members of the contra band Stringfire.

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.wordpress.com/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.

English Country Dance April 16

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Caller: David Newitt
Music: Humuhumunukunukuapua’a and Strathspey Society Band (Heather MacKay, fiddle; David Newitt, concertina; Bruce Herbold, percussion & clarinet; Patti Cobb, piano; Betsy St.Aubin, flute)
Sound: Mark Heitlinger
Date: Sunday, April 16 (3rd Sunday Sacramento)
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Young Ladies Institute (YLI), 1400 27th St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

David Newitt teaches and plays music for regular Scottish and English dances and calls contras and the occasional square dance by night, while doing research in Magnetic Resonance Imaging at UCSF by day. One of the most accomplished country dance teachers in the Bay Area, David is known for his mastery of dance geography and his ability to make complicated dances seem simple.

Humuhumunukunukuapua’a and Strathspey Society Band (Heather MacKay, fiddle; David Newitt, concertina; Bruce Herbold, percussion & clarinet; Patti Cobb, piano; Betsy St.Aubin, flute). As far as we know, we are the world’s best Hawaiian-themed Scottish music band! YOU can engage us to lead & play for Ceilidh dancing, English dance, Contra dance, parties & weddings.

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 are accessible to people with disabilities.

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.wordpress.com/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.

English Country Dance April 2

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Caller: Alisa Dodson
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: Sue Jones
Date: Sunday, April 2 (1st Sunday Roseville)
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Polish American Community Hall, 327 Main St, Roseville, CA 95678
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

Alisa Dodson has been English country dancing since 1980 and calling since 1990. She was involved in BACDS dance in the Bay Area for many years before moving away, and she now lives in the old gold mining town of Murphys.

The music will be provided by Quite Carried Away, our house band: QCA is 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).

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 are accessible to people with disabilities.

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.wordpress.com/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.

Contra Dance March 25

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Caller: Mark Goodwin
Music: The Cain Raisers: Erik Hoffman (fiddle), Stefan Curl (banjo), and Craig Johnson (piano)
Sound: Clark Smith
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023 (fourth 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 being being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Mark Goodwin began calling contra dance in Chico in 2001 and has called for local regional dances, including Nevada City and Newcastle. His aim is to call programs that bring everyone along for the ride, with dances that are memorable, have intuitive transitions, and weave familiar and interesting elements into a variety of dancer interactions.

The Cain Raisers are Erik Hoffman (fiddle), Stefan Curl (banjo), and Craig Johnson (piano). Erik Hoffman played fiddle with The Rosin Doctors and The Erik Thor & Hands Four. He loves the spirit and joy that is passed along with traditional music and dance, and loves to share his enthusiasm. Craig Johnson has played piano and accordion for dancers since 1982. He plays with Bangers and Mash at SF’s Dickens Fair, the Dogwatch Nautical Band, and is a regular musician for San Francisco’s longsword team, Ring of Cold Steel.

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.wordpress.com/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, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.wordpress.com/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. 

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.

English Country Dance March 19

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Caller: Bruce Herbold
Music: Quite Carried Away
Sound: Sue Jones
Date: Sunday, March 19 (3rd Sunday Sacramento)
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Young Ladies Institute (YLI), 1400 27th St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

Bruce Herbold started dancing Scottish country dance in 1977 in Berkeley and got seriously into English country dance in the 90s. He teaches two SCD classes each week and calls ECD all around the Bay Area.  His overarching goals as a caller and a teacher are to make the dancing sociable and fun. He believes that every good dance tells a story.

The music will be provided by Quite Carried Away, our house band: QCA is 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).

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 are accessible to people with disabilities.

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.wordpress.com/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.

COVID Safety Update

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The board of SCDS has made a small update to our COVID safety policy. A number of dancers have requested the ability to drink inside, particularly since the dances are thirst-making, and some have asked for eating inside. These policies address that request,

  • Green (low): Only when our counties are in the green zone, allow dancers to remove masks briefly to eat or drink inside, as long as they are six feet away from others. 
  • Yellow (medium) and red (high): Eating and drinking are outside-only activities at these levels We will continue to run dances when our counties are in the yellow or red zone, while strictly enforcing the rules about masking at all times while indoors.

Our counties are Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, and El Dorado. The CDC COVID Community Level data is released weekly, usually on Thursday. Note: the data on this post will not be updated, if you want to know ahead of time what the levels are, you will need to check them yourself.

If the COVID Community Levels change, this will be announced at the dances.

There have also been requests to change our vaccination policy, but it remains unchanged. Dancers must have the normal course of vaccines, and at least one booster. This policy was established on the request of dancers, many of whom said they would not dance if the requirement were removed. We will survey our dance community again this spring, and the vaccination requirement may change based on that survey or other health information.

We encourage testing before the dance, but do not require it. We do not allow dancers to test out of the vaccination requirement, primarily because we don’t have the volunteer capacity to examine test results from multiple people at the door.

Dancers have also questioned the masking requirement, as it does make dancing less comfortable. However, our masking requirement is unchanged. We require N-95 or equivalent masks while inside the dance hall. People are welcome to step outside for fresh air. We continue to ventilate our dance halls as much as is possible. The experience of many dance communities, both ones that require masking and those that make it optional, indicates that masking is the most important safety precaution we can take to reduce COVID transmission at our dances.

If you have danced with us, you will recognize that many in our dance community are over 50 years old, which is one of the risk factors for more serious COVID infection. We also have several people in our community who are immunocompromised and would not dance if we removed the masking requirement at this time.