---
events:
  - name: "Mystic Contra Dance: The Pie Dance"
    details: "Time: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm [Intro session 7:15 pm]\nAll are welcome! We dance to the fiddle tunes of Ireland, Scotland, England, France, and Appalachia and we often switch partners after every dance so there is no need to bring a partner, and no experience is needed to have a fantastic time!\nCaller: Will Mentor from Vermont. Will is perhaps the foremost contra dance caller in the United States. For the last 20 years his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence have been delighting new and old dancers alike.\nMusic: Starling, who are: Mo Brachfeld on fiddle, Jared Kirkpatrick on piano, mandolin, and feet (but not at the same time)!\nAdmission: $10 adults, $7 students. & Donations gratefully accepted!\nHomemade Pie Slices! This month we offer Pumpkin Pie and other kinds of fall pies! These delicious pie slices are offered at the break for $3/slice to help support the band and caller.\nRole terms are: “Ladies & Gents” (or Women & Men) but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role their heart desires.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual, layers are best for this invigorating exercise. Please wear non-street shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber soled sneaker are discouraged but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nParking: Plenty of parking in the large parking area next to the building!"
    links:
      - "https://cdss.org/event/mystic-contra-dance-the-pie-dance/"
    start: "2023-10-28T19:30:00-04:00"
    end: "2023-10-28T22:30:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Groton
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: false
    social: true
    bands:
      - Starling
    callers:
      - Will Mentor
    price: $7-$10
    organisation: Mystic Contra Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss_2023.yaml
  - name: "After Thanksgiving Mystic Contra Dance \"The Pie Dance\""
    details: "Time: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm [Intro session 7:15 pm]\nThis is so wicked fun!! We dance to the fiddle tunes of Ireland, Scotland, England, France, and Appalachia and we often switch partners after every dance so there is no need to bring a partner, and no need to know how in order to have a fantastic time!\nLive music by Chimney Swift. They are a groovy, eclectic folk band known for their unusual instrumentation and innovative musical choices. With inspiration ranging from traditional fiddle tunes to pop and various international styles, they transport their audience with their exciting, unique sound! They are: A.Z. Madonna – accordion, vocals; Cecile Leroy – cello, jaw harp, vocals; Daniel Raine – cittern, guitar, ukulele, banjo, vocals; Yaron Shragai – whistles, recorders, hand percussion, vocals.\nCaller: Don Veino from Massachusetts. Don says he loves to create opportunities for dancers to have fun, no matter the group size.\nHomemade pie slices! This month we offer a medley of all kinds of fall pies! These delicious pie slices are offered at the break for $3/slice to help support the band and caller.\nRole terms: “Ladies & Gents” (or Women & Men) but dancers are welcome to choose whatever works best for each dancer.\nClothing & footwear: Clothing is casual; layers are best for this invigorating exercise. Please wear non-street shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneakers are discouraged, but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder)."
    links:
      - "https://cdss.org/event/after-thanksgiving-mystic-contra-dance-the-pie-dance/"
    start: "2023-11-25T19:15:00-05:00"
    end: "2023-11-25T22:30:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Groton
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Chimney Swift
    callers:
      - Don Veino
    price: $10
    organisation: Mystic Contra Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss_2023.yaml
  - name: "Mystic Contra Dance \"The Pie Dance\""
    details: "Time: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm [short basics session @ 7:15 pm]\nThis is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! We dance to the fiddle tunes of Ireland, Scotland, England, France, and Appalachia and we often switch partners after every dance so there is no need to bring a partner, and no experience is needed to have a fantastic time!\nCaller: Tod Whittemore from Connecticut, Tod has been calling dances for forty years, having been lucky enough to begin his career at the time when famous callers Ralph Page and Duke Miller were still active in the Monadnock Region. Tod has called dances all over the world, and is known for his humor, energy, and infectious love of dancing!\nLive Music by Dogtown, featuring Becky Miller (fiddle), Norb Spencer (accordion), and Avi Randall (keyboards). They play a mix of New England, French Canadian, Scottish, and Quebecois dance tunes, as well as old time southern dance tunes and sung calls. They are a highly desired band to play at contra dances!\nAdmission: $10 adults, $7 students. Donations gratefully accepted!\nHomemade pie slices! This month we offer pumpkin pie and other kinds of fall pies! These delicious pie slices are offered at the break for $3/slice to help support the band and caller.\nRole Terms are “Ladies & Gents” (or Women & Men), but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role their heart desires.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual; layers are best for this invigorating exercise. Please wear non-street shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneakers are discouraged, but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nParking: Plenty of parking in the large parking area next to the building!"
    links:
      - "https://patch.com/connecticut/groton/calendar/event/20240127/66f769ed-4c6e-4339-abb1-53f062387147/mystic-contra-dance-the-pie-dance-sat-01-27-2024"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/mystic-contra-dance-the-pie-dance/"
    start: "2024-01-27T19:15:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-01-27T22:30:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Groton
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Dogtown
    callers:
      - Tod Whittemore
    price: $7-$10
    organisation: Mystic Contra Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Mystic Pie Dance
    details: "Yes, we have a new name! The Mystic Pie Dance!\nTime: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm [short basics session @ 7:15 pm]\nThis is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! We dance to live music—the fiddle tunes of Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Appalachia, and America. We often switch partners after every dance, so there is no need to bring a partner, and no experience is needed to have a fantastic time!\nLive Music by The Dead Sea Squirrels. Don’t be fooled by the unlikely name—you’re gonna love dancing to Cathy Mason on fiddle; Craig Edwards on fiddle, banjo, and mandolin (but not all at the same time!); and Henry Yoshimura on guitar. They play widely for contra dances and are known for their danceable tunes arranged in medleys designed to closely match and enhance the movements of the particular contra dance being taught/called. They tend to push the boundaries of the southern style with fiddle and fiddle/guitar harmonies!\nCaller: Paul Wilde from RI. Paul was a schoolteacher for 16 years and said that his classroom experience helped him to develop his calling skills on the dance floor.\nAdmission: $10 adults, $7 students. Donations gratefully accepted!\nHomemade Pie Slices! This month we offer pumpkin pie and other kinds of fall pies! These delicious pie slices are offered at the break for $3/slice to help support the band and caller.\nRole Terms are: “Ladies & Gents” (or Women & Men) but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role their heart desires.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual, layers are best for this invigorating exercise. Please wear non-street shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneaker are discouraged but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nParking: Plenty of parking in the large parking area next to the building!"
    links:
      - "https://www.mysticpiedance.org/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/mystic-pie-dance/"
    start: "2024-02-24T19:15:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-02-24T22:30:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Groton
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: false
    social: true
    bands:
      - Dead Sea Squirrels
    callers:
      - Paul Wilde
    price: $7-$10
    organisation: Mystic Pie Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: "Groton Grange #7 Contra Dance"
    details: "Community Shindig: In the tradition of New England’s earliest settlers, The Groton Grange and Contra Banditos invite you to a New England Contra Dance to celebrate the traditions of the Grange Hall. No partner or experience necessary!\nThis is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!\nLive Music by: The Contra Banditos. The Banditos were formed in the late 1980s when original band member Dan Fassett and two of his students decided to practice their craft at a contra dance in the First Parish Church in Groton, MA. Those practice sessions evolved into the formation of the band. From a handful of fiddle members, we have grown into a band with typically eight members who play fiddle, banjo, guitar, piano, mandolin, whistle, bass and percussion.\nCaller: Don Heinold. Hailing from Rhode Island, Don has been calling at dances, weddings, and parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nAdmission: $5 suggested donation per person. Contributions are greatly appreciated!\nParking: on-street. Please be careful.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual. Please wear shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneakers are discouraged, but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nRole Terms are: “Women & Men,” but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that works for them. with no worries."
    links:
      - "https://grotongrange.org/contra-dance/"
      - "https://contrabanditos.com/show/contra-dance-groton-grange-3/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/groton-grange-7-contra-dance/"
    start: "2024-03-23T19:30:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-03-23T22:00:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: MA
    city: Groton
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: false
    social: true
    bands:
      - Contra Banditos
    callers:
      - Don Heinold
    price: $5
    organisation: "Groton Grange #7"
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Mystic Pie Dance
    details: "Time: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm [short basics session @ 7:15 pm]\nWe have air conditioning every monthly dance all summer long!\nThis is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! We dance to live music! It is the fiddle tunes of Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Appalachia and America! We often switch partners after every dance so there is no need to bring a partner, and no experience is needed to have a fantastic time!\nLive music by: The Round Hill Ramblers are Mickey Koth and Liz Raymond on fiddle and John Kalinowski on accordion. We are based at and ramble around Round Hill Road in Middletown, CT. All three of us play in various concert and dance bands, including Wild Notes (John and Mickey) and The Wee Merry Banshees (Liz and Mickey).\nCaller: Don Heinold. Hailing from Rhode Island, but calling frequently in Connecticut, Don has been calling at dances, weddings & parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.\nAdmission: $10 adults, $7 students. Donations gratefully accepted!\nHomemade pie slices! We offer a medley of homemade pie slices! These delicious pie slices are offered at the break for $3/slice to help support the band and caller.\nRole terms are: “Ladies & Gents” (or Women & Men) but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role their heart desires.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual, layers are best for this invigorating exercise. Please wear non-street shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber soled sneaker are discouraged but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nParking: Plenty of free parking in the large parking area next to the building!"
    links:
      - "https://www.mysticpiedance.org/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/mystic-pie-dance/"
    start: "2024-06-22T19:15:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-06-22T22:30:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Groton
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Round Hill Ramblers
    callers:
      - Don Heinold
    price: $7-$10
    organisation: Mystic Contra Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Mystic Pie Dance
    details: "When: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm [short basics session @ 7:15 pm]\nWhere: Groton Center @ 102 Newtown Road, Groton, CT\nThis is so wicked fun! Dancing to live music, to the live fiddle tunes of Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Appalachia & America! We often switch partners after every dance so there is no need to bring a partner, and no experience is needed to have a fantastic time!\nLive Music: Spintuition. Spintuition is an exciting and award winning New England based folk band that blends creativity and tradition into tight harmony and joyous rhythms. Silas Hamilton (Guitar, Piano, Fiddle, Vocals, Feet), Willy Clemetson (Fiddle, Vocals, Feet), and Samuel Foucher (Accordion, Piano, Vocals) play primarily contra dance style music but they have also crafted sweet arrangements of traditional songs into their repertoire for concerts! YouTube video\nCaller: Jen Jasenski. A Connecticut native, Jen has been on the organizational team of the Hartford Community Dance and has been calling in Southern New England and the Middle Atlantic states.\nAdmission: $10 adults, $7 students. Donations gratefully accepted!\nHomemade pie slices! We offer a medley of homemade pie slices! These delicious pie slices are offered at the break for $3/slice to help support the band and caller.\nRole terms are: “Ladies & Gents” (or Women & Men) but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that they are comfortable with!\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual, layers are best for this invigorating exercise. Please wear non-street shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber-soled sneakers are discouraged, but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nParking: Plenty of free parking in the large parking area in front of the building!"
    links:
      - "https://www.mysticpiedance.org/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/mystic-pie-dance/"
    start: "2024-10-26T19:15:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-10-26T22:30:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Groton
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Spintuition
    callers:
      - Jen Jasenski
    price: $7-$10
    organisation: Mystic Pie Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml