August 9th concert with Topher Gayle & Louisa Knabe

On Sunday, August 9th, at 4 pm Pacific time, Sacramento Country Dance Society will host an online concert with Topher Gayle and Louisa Knabe. Please join us for an afternoon of fun!

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, www.tophergayle.com

Louisa Knabe (Santa Rosa groups Home Made Jam, The Charms, New Math Trio) plays bass and sings. She was involved in the Bay Area bluegrass scene and — of course! — in playing Topher’s songs and tunes. After moving to Santa Rosa, she added some swing and Americana with a couple of bands. She’s delighted to be able to join Topher for this pleasant event.

Together, this duo will entertain you with a mix of pretty songs, rollicking mandolin tunes, humorous original songs, and a waltz or two. There will be a break in the middle of the concert for everyone to chat and more time for catching up after the music is done.

Please share this information with anyone you know who might be interested. You can join the concert at https://contradance.link/SCDS. Tips are appreciated by PayPal to music@tophergayle.com.

To receive email announcements of SCDS events, sign up at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS.

Upcoming online events

We hope everyone enjoyed listening to the Syncopaths on July 12th. Our plan is to host an online concert every month, on the second Sunday at 4 pm Pacific, so watch this space or join our email list at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS for future announcements.

In the meantime, you can find lots of online concerts and dance events on the website of our parent organization, the Country Dance and Song Society: https://www.cdss.org/community/covid19/online-events

 

July 12th Syncopaths online concert

Please join us at 4 pm Pacific time on Sunday, July 12th, for our first online concert, featuring the Syncopaths! From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths bring a fresh, contemporary spin to music and songs rooted in the Scottish, Irish, and American folk traditions. At the heart of the band’s sound are the twin engines of Ryan McKasson’s dynamic, Scottish-based fiddling and the amazing picking of mandolinist Ashley Hoyer (formerly Broder). Jeff Spero provides inventive piano accompaniment, anchored by the driving power of Christa Burch’s bodhrán. Christa also lends her singular voice — warm, supple, expressive, and intimate — to the band’s songs. Together, they create a “chamber folk” sound, characterized by compelling, rhythmic mandolin, rich vocals, and unexpected colors and rhythms from the piano and bodhrán. The exuberant joy they derive from the music and each other is palpable and contagious.

Please share this information with anyone you know who might be interested. You can join the concert at https://contradance.link/SCDS. Tips are appreciated and will be split among the band and sound technicians:

PayPal: PayPal.me/JeffreySpero
Venmo: @Jeffrey-Spero-2
Checks to: Jeffrey Spero
4101 Charles Avenue
Culver City, CA 90232

To receive email announcements of SCDS events, sign up at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS.

Keeping our community in touch

Thanks so much to everyone who donated to SCDS for the Big Day of Giving! We appreciate your dedication to country dance and your fellow dancers.

During these months when we are unable to dance, we are planning some online activities to keep the community connected. To start, we will host a group discussion on Zoom at 2 pm on Sunday, May 24th, where we can keep in touch with each other and talk about what types of online music and dance activities you find appealing. Please save the date and look for a Zoom link in our email newsletter next week. If you are not yet receiving our email announcements, you can sign up at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS.

You can check out some online events being organized by other groups at https://www.cdss.org/community/covid19/online-events.

If you’d like to support freelance callers and musicians during this difficult time, CDSS (our parent organization) has put together a list of ways to help here: https://www.cdss.org/covid19/send-love-to-freelancers.

Closer to home, you can also support our musicians and dancers:
Topher Gayle
Celia Ramsay
Ryan McKasson
The Syncopaths
Nancy Thym

We look forward to seeing you virtually on May 24th and in person as soon as it is safe!

Big Day of Giving is May 7th

Thinking of all those who may need help at this time, we encourage you to give where your heart is and as you are able on the Big Day of Giving. If you have money to spare, please support organizations in our community between now and May 7th.

If you want to help SCDS put on special events and workshops, train callers and musicians, and buy big-ticket items like sound equipment, our donation page is open. Thanks to the careful stewardship of previous Board members, Sacramento Country Dance Society remains in solid financial shape. When it is safe to dance, we will be back and overjoyed to see you all again!

Board election & Big Day of Giving

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are asking our dancers to vote (yes or no) on the Sacramento Country Dance Society Board nominee slate (below) by sending an email to info@sactocds.org. We wish we could see you in person at our Anniversary Dance instead!

The Big Day of Giving is coming up on May 7th. Thinking of all those who may need help at this time, we encourage you to give where your heart is and as you are able. If you want to help SCDS put on special events and workshops, train callers and musicians, and buy big-ticket items like sound equipment, our donation page is open now through May 7th.

Please share this information with anyone you know who might be interested. If you are not receiving our email announcements, you can sign up at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS.

Thanks to the careful stewardship of previous Board members, Sacramento Country Dance Society remains in solid financial shape. When it is safe to dance, we will be back and overjoyed to see all of you again!

2020-2021 SCDS Board of Directors nominations:
Sandra Aamodt
Susan Jones
Laura Leonelli
Karen Leyse
Martin Lodahl
Virgil Schmidt
Douglas Schwilk
Susan Stratton
Pam Wade
Bobbie Watson

SCDS dances CANCELED through June 30th & Board nominations

Covid-19, the new coronavirus, is spreading through California, and we need to work together to stop its transmission by staying home for a while. Protecting our community is a key value of SCDS, so we have reluctantly chosen to cancel our dances through June 30th. At that time, we will re-evaluate the situation and decide what to do going forward. We’re very sorry to miss dancing with all of you and hope to be able to see you again soon!

One consequence of this decision is that we will not be able to meet in person to elect a new Board of Directors in April. Instead, the slate of nominees is listed below and in our email newsletter, and we will ask you to vote by email at the end of next month. Please share this information with anyone you know who might be interested. (If you are not yet receiving our email announcements, you can sign up at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS.)

If you’d like to support freelance callers and musicians during this difficult time, CDSS (our parent organization) has put together a list of ways to help here: https://www.cdss.org/covid19/send-love-to-freelancers.

Closer to home, you can support our musicians and dancers:
Topher Gayle
Celia Ramsay
Ryan McKasson
The Syncopaths
Nancy Thym

2020-2021 SCDS Board of Directors nominations:
Sandra Aamodt
Susan Jones
Laura Leonelli
Karen Leyse
Martin Lodahl
Virgil Schmidt
Douglas Schwilk
Susan Stratton
Pam Wade
Bobbie Watson

English XTRA: Playford Ball Workshop

Coronavirus update: Please help us to care for the vulnerable members of our community by staying home if you have flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, or difficulty breathing), if you have traveled to an area with sustained local transmission in the past two weeks, or if you have been in close contact with anyone in those two categories. Risky areas include not only China, Korea, Italy, and Iran, but also local hotspots within countries with smaller outbreaks, such as the Seattle area of the U.S., particularly Kirkland, Washington. Infected people without symptoms can still transmit the disease to others.

Talent: David Newitt calling to the music of Rebecca King and Jon Berger
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2020
Time: 2:00–5:00 pm
Location: Camp Pollock, 1501 Northgate Blvd, Sacramento
Cost: $12 for adults; $8 for college students with ID (cash or check)

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 Playford Ball, will review most of the dances in the program.  To experience the lengthy program with extra work on the more challenging dances, the pace of the afternoon will be more lively than usual.  This is not a dance for beginners!  (Please bring your first-timer friends to the next regular dance on March 15th).  Whether or not you intend to go to the Playford Ball, this dance is a wonderful opportunity to learn or review many dances in one afternoon.

Special Music:  We are honored to host Rebecca King and Jon Berger, two of the most prominent English country dance musicians in the country, for this special dance. Rebecca King is a classically trained pianist with strong roots in jazz and folk music.  Her interpretations breathe strong, rhythmical energy and deeply moving grace. Jon Berger is an astonishing fiddler and button accordion player, who has toured with Tempest, recorded with multiple groups, and plays with passion and drive.

Special Price:  Admission to this workshop is $12 for adults.

We will begin dancing promptly at 2:00 pm. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to change shoes and check in so that we can start the program on time. It’s always nice when people bring a snack to share!

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

Upcoming events:
March 14: contra dance
March 15: English country dance
March 28: contra dance

 

February 29th zesty contra, March 1st English country dance, and February 29th Jane Austen Ball

We’re hosting two dances on the same weekend: a zesty contra on Saturday, February 29th and an English country dance on Sunday, March 1st. Plus, our annual English outreach event, the Jane Austen Ball at Liberty Ranch High, will also be held on the evening of Saturday the 29th. Details for all three dances are below.

Our Zesty Contra:
Please note the special time and location for this dance. In this special zesty contra, dances will be taught quickly. Dancers should be familiar with hey for four, Petronella turns, and contra corners. This is an evening for experienced dancers who want to dance with enthusiasm!

Talent: Lynn Ackerson calling to the music of BLAM!
Date: Saturday, February 29, 2020
Time: 6:30–9:30 pm. No newcomer’s orientation.
Location: Camp Pollock, 1501 Northgate Blvd, Sacramento
Cost: $12 for adults; $8 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $25 maximum for families (cash or check)

Lynn Ackerson from Oakland, California, brings a huge and ever-expanding contra dance repertoire. Her gracefully efficient walk-throughs and delightful programs reflect her philosophy: to build the relationship between the band and the dancers and then get out of the way. Hailing from Monterey, BLAM! is Bob Silberstein on piano and doumbek, Elizabeth Todd on flutes, whistle, bodhran, and foot percussion, and Marta Lynch on fiddle.

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.

 

Special English country dance event on February 29th:
Please join us as we introduce Galt High School students to English country dancing! The 4th Jane Austen Ball will be held on February 29th from 6-9 pm. Those of you who came last year know how much fun we had and how much the students appreciated your presence. Lise Dyckman will again be teaching and calling to the music of Quite Carried Away. She is very keen to have experienced dancers participate in our big outreach effort! Tickets can be purchased at the event or online.

 

Our English Country Dance:
Talent: Lise Dyckman calling to the music of Quite Carried Away
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2020
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)

Having taught and called English country dance (and contra dance) for decades, Lise Dyckman is known for her clear and concise calling, musicality, humor, interest in dance history and attention to welcoming community. Our house band, Quite Carried Away, is 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. Ask about their CD!

As usual, beginners are welcome and no partners are necessary.  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.  All dancers are welcome at the workshop, but first-time attendees receive a coupon for half-off admission at their next dance! Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

For more information on any of our dances, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email info@sactocds.org.

Upcoming events:
March 8: Playford Ball Workshop
March 14: contra dance
March 15: English country dance

February 22nd contra dance

Save the date for our zesty contra coming up on February 29th! This dance will be at a special location, Camp Pollock, and a special time, 6:30-9:30, with Lynn Ackerson calling to the music of BLAM!

Talent: Mark Goodwin calling to the music of Wild Goose Chase
Date: Saturday, February 22, 2020
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)

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. 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. 

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.

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

Upcoming events:
February 29: zesty contra at special location (Camp Pollock) and time (6:30-9:30)
March 1: English country dance in Roseville
March 8: Playford Ball Workshop