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CONSTRASHOCK - Two Days Of High Energy Dancing And Music Comes to NYC This Month
By: A.A. Cristi Sep. 17, 2018
On Friday, September 21st and Saturday, September 22nd, Country Dance*New York (CD*NY) and Brooklyn Contra will present Contrashock!, two days of contra dancing and live, high energy music with two of the most in-demand contra dance bands, Elixir and Wake Up Robin, and two nationally renowned callers, Nils Fredland and Will Mentor.
All are welcome. No previous experience in dancing is required, and no partner is necessary. Callers teach the patterns of each dance, making contra dancing fun and easy for all.
Dance schedule and location information:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 with Elixir and caller Nils Fredland
7:30 - 8 pm Contra Dance Lesson for New Dancers
8 -11 pm Contra Dance for All
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 with Wake Up Robin and Elixir with callers Nils Fredland and Will Mentor
2:00 - 5:30 pm Challenging Contras for Advanced Dancers
5:30 - 7:30 pm Brown Bag Dinner
7:00 - 7:30pm Contra Dance Lesson for New Dancers
7:30 - 11 pm Contra Dance for All
Brooklyn Waldorf School
Accessible by subway via the A, C, and B trains. Check http://www.mta.info for mass transit service updates.
Tickets
Tickets are $20 per dance or $55 for all dances in the weekend pass. Tickets and passes are available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com and at the door. CDNY members who attend the full day Saturday will get a $5 discount at the door
Further Contrashock information online at https://www.facebook.com/events/192178098014200/?ti=icl or http://contrashock.org/
Contra Dancing
Contra dancing is enjoying a renaissance around the country, thanks to: a thriving youth scene; lively, uplifting acoustic music; joyful, fast-paced, aerobic dancing; and a welcoming dance community. Opportunities abound for meeting interesting people. Contra dancing started in New England in the 1700s, but the modern version is a far cry from the Virginia Reel-type dancing done in schools years ago. The current dancing is done in lines, with dancers facing their partners and moving briskly along the line in patterns to live music, dancing with their current partner, and also with everyone they meet.
Elixir blends driving fiddle and guitar with the rich texture and rhythmic excitement of a full horn section, defty weaving brassy riffs and daring solors in and out of traditional Irish, French Canadian and New England tunes. Elixir includes the superb musicians: Anna Patton: clarinet, vocals; Ethan Hazzard-Watkins: fiddle; Jesse Readlynn: trumpet, flugelhorn; Owen Morrison: guitar, foot percussion; and Nils Fredland: calling, trombone, vocals (http://www.elixirmusic.com/).
Wake Up Robin is an eclectic quartet from CA, NC, NY, and WA performing a variety of musical styles with joy and raw energy. Featured are four wonderful musicians: Andrew VanNorstrand: guitar, fiddle; Noah VanNorstrand: mandolin, feet; Audrey Knuth: fiddle; and Amy Englesberg: piano, accordion (https://www.wakeuprobin.com/)
Nils Fredland and Will Mentor
Nils Fredland is an internationally known contra and square dance caller, and a classically trained trombonist and singer adept at performing in many different styles. Will Mentor is a beloved contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence.
Country Dance*New York
Country Dance*New York is a vibrant and long-standing intergenerational NYC dance community which involves New Yorkers and others in fun, lively dancing; supports local musicians, callers, and dancers; and hosts weekly English country dances and American contra dances. http://cdny.org
Brooklyn Contra
Brooklyn Contra supports the dynamic cultural evolution of traditional music and dance by hosting a season of fun and accessible dances and exciting special events, as well as engaging educational programs for dancers, musicians, and callers. http://www.brooklyncontra.org/
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