We’re hosting two dances this weekend: a contra dance on Saturday, October 22nd and an English country dance on Sunday, October 23rd. Details for both dances are below.
Contra Dance
Talent: Mike Fynan calling to the music of Magic Reelism
Date: Saturday, October 22, 2022
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)
Hailing from Santa Rosa, Mike Fynan is a flashy and innovative caller. Magic Reelism plays old-time and Celtic dance music, with David Wright on fiddle and mandolins, Sue Jones on concertina and recorders, Chetani Cheryl McKinney on piano, and Del Eckels on percussion.
A newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:30 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.
English Country Dance
Talent: Gary Sandler calling to the music of Quite Carried Away
Date: Sunday, October 23, 2022
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Young Ladies Institute, 1400 27th St., Sacramento
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)
Gary Sandler believes in helping dancers get more fun out of their dances, whether through safe and comfortable hand-holds or clear direct instructions. He likes to vary the dance structures, shifting from lines to circles and squares. The music will be provided by Quite Carried Away, our house band: Dick Holdstock on octave mandolin and banjo, Susan Jones on concertina, Arlene Jamar on piano, Jane Kostka on whistle, Martin Lodahl on viola da gamba, and David Wright on fiddle and mandolin.
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. Both 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.
We’re hosting two dances on the second weekend in October: a contra dance on Saturday, October 8th and an English country dance on Sunday, October 9th. Details for both dances are below.
Contra Dance
Talent: Talib Huff calling to the music of Star Thistle
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
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)
Talib Huff has been calling dances for over 20 years. He currently calls primarily in the Sacramento region and has led dances for local groups, schools, weddings, festivals and dance communities. Star Thistle plays contra dances featuring Celtic, old-time, and other music. The band is Lonna Whipple (fiddle), David Wright (fiddle and mandolin), and Cheryl McKinney (keyboard).
A newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:30 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.
English Country Dance
Talent: Bruce Herbold calling to the music of Quite Carried Away
Date: Sunday, October 9, 2022
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Polish American Hall, 327 Main St, Roseville
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: Dick Holdstock on octave mandolin and banjo, Susan Jones on concertina, Arlene Jamar on piano, Jane Kostka on whistle, Martin Lodahl on viola da gamba, and David Wright on fiddle and mandolin.
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. Both 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.
We’re hosting two dances this weekend: a contra dance on Saturday, September 24th and an English country dance on Sunday, September 25th. Details for both dances are below.
Contra Dance
Talent: Eric Black calling to the music of Persons in Black
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2022
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)
Eric Black has been calling for four decades, and has called dances in all 50 states and several other countries. One of his specialties has been introducing thousands of first-timers to the joys of contra dancing. Local favorite Persons in Black is Sue Jones on concertina and recorders, David Wright on fiddle and mandolin, Clark Smith on guitar, and Del Eckels on percussion.
A newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:30 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.
English Country Dance
Talent: Alan Winston calling to the music of Quite Carried Away
Date: Sunday, September 25, 2022
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Young Ladies Institute, 1400 27th St., Sacramento, CA
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)
Alan Winston has called for balls, camps, and special events from Southern California to the Bay Area to Oregon, Washington, and Victoria BC. His clear, cheerful, and witty instruction serve dancers well, and it is Alan’s great joy to share the joy of community through country dance. The music will be provided by Quite Carried Away, our house band: Dick Holdstock on octave mandolin and banjo, Susan Jones on concertina, Arlene Jamar on piano, Jane Kostka on whistle, Martin Lodahl on viola da gamba, and David Wright on fiddle and mandolin.
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. Both 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.
Talent: Yvonne Couvillion and Gary Sandler calling to the music of Quite Carried Away
Date: Sunday, September 11, 2022
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: Polish American Hall, 327 Main St, Roseville
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)
Gary Sandler believes in helping dancers get more fun out of their dances, whether through safe and comfortable hand-holds or clear direct instructions. He likes to vary the dance structures, shifting from lines to circles and squares. Yvonne Couvillion 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 attend, teach and host a variety of dance events, including English country dance. The music will be provided by Quite Carried Away, our house band: Dick Holdstock on octave mandolin and banjo, Susan Jones on concertina, Arlene Jamar on piano, Jane Kostka on whistle, Martin Lodahl on viola da gamba, and David Wright on fiddle and mandolin.
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. Both 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
Caller: Dane Wallinga
Music: Wild Goose Chase
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2022 (first 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)
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. Hailing from Nevada City, classic dance band Wild Goose Chase is Margo Meredith on fiddle, Anne Meigs on piano, Kate Dwyer on banjo, and Dave Earl on mandolin.
Sacramento County is out of the red zone, and we’re hosting two dances this weekend: a contra dance on Saturday, August 27th and an English country dance on Sunday, August 28th. Details for both dances are below. Please note that this English country dance will be held at a new location, The Hastings Annex in Old Sacramento.
Contra Dance
Talent: Celia Ramsay calling to the music of Claudia’s Kitchen
Date: Saturday, August 27, 2022
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)
Celia Ramsay has been calling contra dances since 2002, but has been telling people what to do for much, much longer. She chooses dances that fit the people in the room, uses clarity and brevity in teaching, and has a warm personality that makes the dancers happy. Claudia’s Kitchen is a local Sacramento group that loves old-time, Celtic, and folk music.
A newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:30 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.
English Country Dance
Talent: David Newitt calling to the music of Quite Carried Away
Date: Sunday, August 28, 2022
Time: 2:00-5:00 pm, with newcomer’s workshop at 1:30 pm
Location: 1002 2nd St., Sacramento, CA
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)
The dance location is just south of the corner of J St. and 2nd St. and adjacent to the Old Sacramento Visitor Center. It’s difficult to find free parking unless you like a long walk! Paid options include multi-level garages, and parking at meters on the street. Another option (cheaper than parking) is to take Light Rail to the AMTRAK station. Also, RT buses 30, 38, and 62 come very close to Old Sacramento.
The music will be provided by Quite Carried Away, our house band: Dick Holdstock on octave mandolin and banjo, Susan Jones on concertina, Arlene Jamar on piano, Jane Kostka on whistle, Martin Lodahl on viola da gamba, and David Wright on fiddle and mandolin.
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. Both 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
Because there’s still an awful lot of Covid-19 out there, the contra dance that was scheduled for Saturday, July 23rd, has been canceled.
Don’t forget to check our calendar before heading out to SCDS dances in the near future. The next contra dance is scheduled for August 27th.
We’re sorry to announce that Sacramento and surrounding counties are in the CDC’s red zone again this week, so the English country dance that was scheduled for Sunday, July 3rd, has been canceled.
Don’t forget to check our calendar before heading out to SCDS dances in the near future. We’ll try again to hold an English dance in a couple of weeks on July 17th, depending on what Covid has in store for us.
SCDS is excited to open registration for Echo Summit Dance Camp, September 16-19, 2022. Please use this link to register online: https://registration.sactocds.org. If you have used the online form already, you should still have an account. If not, you’ll have to create an account with a password.
We’re looking forward to having you join us for great contra dancing in a beautiful mountain setting. Our outstanding talent includes Eloise & Company (Becky Tracy, Rachel Bell, Bethany Waickman) and Singularity (Cedar Stanistreet, Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin, Everest Witman, and Ness Smith-Savedoff) and callers Bob Isaacs and Cis Hinkle. Sound by Victor Garza. The registration fee is $330. Registration will be confirmed when Registrar Laura Leonelli receives your check by mail. For more details, see our camp web page.
You may have heard from registered campers that Camp Sacramento’s septic system was damaged in last summer’s fire and has not yet been repaired. Yet SCDS and our bands and callers are excited to go ahead with camp, and we hope you will join us. Hot and cold water will be freely available as always. However, wastewater cannot go down the drain, so we will not be able to use the toilets or showers in the bath houses. Instead, the camp has rented 17 Porta-Potties that will be cleaned before we arrive. We will provide outdoor camp showers (with privacy tents) on site, or you can go to a nearby motel or climbing gym to take a shower.
Current SCDS Covid protocols for in-person dancing require participants to be fully vaccinated and to wear a close-fitting mask. We require everyone to test themselves before arriving at camp and encourage daily testing throughout the weekend. Camp Sacramento staff will be vaccinated and masked, as well. Cabins and the dance hall are well ventilated.
Thank you, and we look forward to dancing with you again!
Sacramento Country Dance Society 