---
events:
  - name: "New Year's Eve Contra Dance Extravaganza"
    details: "Time: 8:00 pm – 12:15 am (Waltz lesson, then contra basics session: 7:30 – 8:00 pm)\nWe’ll be doing contras, squares, mixers dances and other dances!\nJust come alone or with friends, enjoy the camaraderie and dance and see everyone’s smiling faces and greet the New Year 2024!\nCallers: Don Heinold, Jen Jasenski, and others.\nLive Music: Liz Raymond and Mickey Koth, fiddles, and Aaron Bittel, keyboard.\nAdmission: Suggested donation – $20 p.p., $15 students, $50 families.\nParking: Parking is in behind the church accessible via Court Street and Broad Street. On-street parking is also available.\nDress: Dress is casual and/or festive. Please bring clean non-street shoes in order to prevent damaging the floor and that move easily. Wear comfortable clothing!\nFood: Please bring finger food to share!\nThis is an alcohol-free event."
    links:
      - "http://www.hcdance.org/contra-dance/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/new-years-eve-contra-dance-extravaganza/"
    start: "2023-12-31T19:30:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-01-01T00:15:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Middletown
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Wee Merry Banshees
    callers:
      - Don Heinold
      - Jen Jasenski
    price: $15-$20
    organisation: Hartford Community Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss_2023.yaml
  - name: Quiet Corner Contra Dance
    details: "New Time: Dance 7:30-10:30pm [basics 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 experience is needed to have a fantastic time! So come enjoy the friendly camaraderie, dance to live music and see everyone’s smiling faces!!\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).\nFood: Some snacks offered at the break and contributions are welcome and needed!\nCaller: Jim Gregory. Jim of West Hartford, CT, works with bands from CT, MA, and NY. So most of the Northeast is within their accustomed range of travel. The private lessons are available more locally, from Central CT to Springfield, MA. When you contact us we can talk over rates and dates. \nLive Music: Kingfischer! An energetic Boston-based contra dance duo, consisting of Cecilia Vacanti (fiddle) and Jeff Kaufman (piano, mandolin, drums, synths). They fuse New England roots with a modern groove. They promise a versatile mix of supremely danceable tunes!\nAdmission: $12.00 per person OR students (with ID, please) are asked to pay $6. *Donations are greatly appreciated and encouraged!\nFree Parking: There is plenty of free parking right in front of the hall.\nRole Terms: “Ladies & Gents,” but all dancers are welcome to dance whichever role their heart desires."
    links:
      - "http://www.hcdance.org/quiet-corner-contra/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/quiet-corner-contra-dance/"
    start: "2024-01-05T19:15:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-01-05T22:30:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Coventry
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Kingfisher
    price: $6-$12
    organisation: Hartford Community Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Quiet Corner Contra Dance
    details: "New Time: Dance 7:30-10:30pm [basics 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 experience is needed to have a fantastic time! So come enjoy the friendly camaraderie, dance to live music and see everyone’s smiling faces!\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).\nFood: Some snacks offered at the break and contributions are welcome and needed!\nCaller: Billy Fischer. Bill, a well-respected square and contra dance caller, has been calling dances for over thirty years, starting out in New Haven, Connecticut with the contra dance series that has been a fixture of the folk music and dance scene since 1976. In addition to contra dances in and around the northeast, he has called at various dance camps regionally and nationally.\nMuch of his calling activity centers on special occasion “barn” dances including the monthly musical event BMAD at his home in Bethany, CT. Other such events include school dances, private parties, special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries, and dances in extended care facilities where he has done dances for people using wheel-chairs and walkers.\nLive Music: Headwaters is made up of Jim and Willow Sirch and Gary Wikfors playing their Swedish nykelharpas, five-string fiddle, Irish blackwood flute, octave mandola, bodhran and banjo. You no doubt know them as members of the venerable New Haven-based band The Fiddleheads that has been playing for New England contra dances for thirty years.\nAdmission: $13.00 per person OR, Students (with ID, please) pay $6. Donations are greatly appreciated and encouraged!\nFree Parking: There is plenty of free parking right in front of the hall.\nRole Terms: “Ladies & Gents” but all dancers are welcome to dance whichever role their heart desires."
    links:
      - "http://www.hcdance.org/quiet-corner-contra/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/quiet-corner-contra-dance-2/"
    start: "2024-02-02T19:15:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-02-02T22:30:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Coventry
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Headwaters
    callers:
      - Billy Fischer
    price: $6-$13
    organisation: Hartford Community Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Quiet Corner Contra Dance
    details: "Time: Dance 7:30-10:30pm [short basics session 7:15 pm]\nThis is so wicked fun! We dance to the 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! So come enjoy the friendly camaraderie, dance to live music and see everyone’s smiling faces!\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).\nFood: Some snacks offered at the break and contributions are welcome and needed!\nCaller: George Thomson. George is a traditional New England dance leader, calling fun, easy, and family-friendly circles dances, squares, and longways sets for barn and contra dances. He enjoys calling singing squares in the style of the late Ralph Sweet. He also plays the great highland bagpipes!.\nLive Music: 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!\nAdmission: $13.00 per person OR students (with ID, please) pay $6. Donations are greatly appreciated and encouraged!\nFree Parking: There is plenty of free parking right in front of the hall.\nRole Terms: “Ladies & Gents” but all dancers are welcome to dance whichever role their heart desires."
    links:
      - "http://www.hcdance.org/quiet-corner-contra/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/quiet-corner-contra-dance/"
    start: "2024-03-01T19:15:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-03-01T22:30:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Coventry
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Dead Sea Squirrels
    callers:
      - George Thompson
    price: $6-$13
    organisation: Hartford Community Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Hartford Community Dance Contra
    details: "Time: Dance 7:30-10:30 pm (short basics session 7:15 pm)\nContra Dance is a form of folk dancing made up of long lines of couples. It has mixed origins from historic English country dance, Scottish country dance, and French dance styles. It originated in New England! Not needed to bring a partner or know how to do it in order to have a great time!\nThis is so wicked fun! It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Come and give it a try!\nLive Music: The Boom Chicks are Julie Sorcek on flute and saxophone, Mickey Koth on fiddle, and Kasha Breau on keyboard. They bring years of experience playing for contra dances, with each other (Julie and Mickey in Wry Bred and Kasha and Mickey in Wild Notes) as well as in other concert and contra dance bands.! They will amaze you and set your feet moving!\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: $13 ($5 for students, $30 max for families).\nParking: Please park on the street or in the public lot behind Keeney Hall (1/10 mi north on Main St). There’s no parking on the Temple grounds. Please do not even turn into the Temple driveway or the neighbor’s driveway.\nClothing & Footwear: Clothing is casual. Please wear shoes that move easily on the floor (rubber soled sneaker are discouraged but some do wear them even though it makes dancing harder).\nRole Terms: “Women & Men,” but dancers are welcome to choose whatever role that works for them. with no worries."
    links:
      - "http://www.hcdance.org/contra-dance/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/hartford-community-dances-2nd-saturday-contra-dance/"
    start: "2024-04-13T19:15:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-04-13T22:30:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Wethersfield
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - The Boom Chicks
    callers:
      - Don Heinold
    price: $5-$13
    organisation: Hartford Community Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Quiet Corner Contra Dance
    details: "First Fridays September to June! \n\nTime: Dance 7:30-10:30pm [introduction 7:15 – 7:30 pm]\nBring your family, friends or just bring yourself to our traditional public contra dance! No fancy footwork needed to attend, just come, enjoy the friendly camaraderie, dance to live fiddle music and see everyone’s smiling faces!\nLive Music: by Mickey Koth & John Kalinowski! Mickey Koth on fiddle and various wind instruments and John Kalinowski on accordion, concertina, and fife are an energetic and exuberant traditional acoustic duo with roots in Irish, Scottish, French-Canadian, jazz, and classical music, Mickey and John’s playing have been described as “St. Patrick at a hoedown.” As one fan put it, “they will change your O’Doul’s to Guinness!”\nCaller: Don Heinold. Don has been calling dances for over 14 years all over New England. He was the organizer of Mostly Waltz RI and frequently is asked to do private waltz lessons!\nAdmission: $13.00 per person or students (with ID, please) are $6. And any donations are greatly appreciated and encouraged!\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).\nFood: Some snacks offered at the break.\nParking: There is plenty of free parking right in front of the hall.\nRoles: Are traditional: Ladies & Gents"
    links:
      - "http://www.hcdance.org/quiet-corner-contra/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/quiet-corner-contra-dance/"
    start: "2024-10-04T19:15:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-10-04T22:30:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Coventry
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Mickey Koth & John Kalinowski
    callers:
      - Don Heinold
    price: $6-$13
    organisation: Hartford Community Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Quiet Corner Contra Dance
    details: "First Fridays September to June! \n\nWhen: Dance 7:30-10:30pm [introduction 7:15 – 7:30 pm]\nCommunity shindig: Bring your family, friends or just bring yourself to our traditional public contra dance! No fancy footwork needed to attend, just come, enjoy the friendly camaraderie, dance to live fiddle music and see everyone’s smiling faces!\nLive music: Cecelia Vacanti (playing the fiddle) and Sam Zakon-Anderson (playing the keyboards). Enjoy one of their tunes from their album “Earth’s Dark Shore” here.\nCaller: Dereck Kalish has been dancing regularly in New England since 2005, and in 2011 became both a caller and sound engineer, with a focus on providing the best service possible to make for a fun and successful dance. He has provided great sound for weekly dances and larger events. Dereck can be seen calling English and contra dances throughout New England.\nAdmission: $13.00 per person. Students (with ID, please) are $6. And any donations are greatly appreciated and encouraged!\nClothing & Footwear: Just bring clean shoes to dance in to preserve the floor (no high heels please). Dress is comfortable and as you like.\nFood: Some snacks offered at the break.\nParking: There is plenty of free parking right in front of the hall.\nRoles are traditional: Ladies & Gents but are just roles and you are welcome and encouraged to choose whichever role that works for you."
    links:
      - "http://www.hcdance.org/quiet-corner-contra/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/quiet-corner-contra-dance/"
    start: "2024-12-06T19:15:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-12-06T22:30:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: CT
    city: Coventry
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: false
    social: true
    callers:
      - Dereck Kalish
    price: $6-$13
    organisation: Hartford Community Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml