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Contra dancing is a traditional American dance form that has become
popular in larger cities and on college campuses across the country.
Snack contributions for the break are welcome at each dance.
Map and directions are available at
http://www.prairienet.org/contra/directions.html.
For more information, call 217-359-8225 or visit
http://www.prairienet.org/contra/.
Schedule:
Sept. 15
Contra dancing sponsored by Urbana Country Dancers at Phillips
Recreation Center, 505 Stoughton in Urbana. Open jam at 6:45 p.m. in
the back room, new dancer orientation by Scott Meyer at 7:30, then
dance from 8 to 11 p.m.
The band is Old Dog New Trick, with caller Deborah Hyland. Come
welcome this new local band to the stage. Drew Phillips, Randy
McCabe, Peter Fagan, Rebecca Grosser and Tom Faux will pull out all
the stops to get you groovin'
$5 pays the band, callers and for the room.
Sept. 30
23rd annual
Illinois All-Night Dance at McLean
Old New England contra dancing sponsored by Urbana Country
Dancers at McLean Town Hall in McLean, just south of Bloomington off
Interstate 55 on U.S. 136.
6:30 p.m. -- Potluck dinner. Bring dish to share and late-night
snacks.
8 p.m.-2 a.m. -- Dancing to the music of the Little Egypt
Pepsteppers, from St. Louis and Chicago, and Chicory, from St. Louis
and Champaign. Two of the best old-time string bands in the country.
Lynn "Chirps" Smith on fiddle and Jim Nelson on guitar. Dot Kent is
the caller.
From U.S. 136 in McLean, take East Street north to the five-way
stop and proceed around the square to the town hall. Directions are
available at
http://www.prairienet.org/contra/mclean.html.
$15 pays the band, callers and for the dance hall. This event is
sponsored in part by the Illinois Arts Council.
Tent space is available on the town square and sleeping bag space
on the dance floor. Super 8, 309-873-2366, and Route 66 Motel,
309-648-2322, also available. For further info, call 217-244-9442;
or call 217-493-4654 that evening.
Oct. 6
Contra dancing sponsored by Urbana Country Dancers from 8 to 11
p.m. at Tom Anderson's Barn, 2206 N. Brownfield Road. (Tom is
retiring; congratulate him!)
Open band, open calling. All musicians and callers welcome. Bring
your own instrument and play the night away. Join us for some pickin'
and grinning.
In northeast Urbana, take Cunningham to Perkins to Brownfield,
about a half-mile north of I-74.
A $5 donation pays the band, callers and for the room.
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 |
 Oct. 20
Crazy hat night. Contra dancing sponsored by Urbana Country
Dancers at Phillips Recreation Center, 505 Stoughton in Urbana, from
7 to 11 p.m.
The Bodacious String Band is led by Robin Kearton, with caller
Gail Heil. From 7 to 8 p.m. kid fiddlers from Champaign-Urbana will
play dances for the young and old alike. Come early and experience
the joy of all-ages dancing, followed with music by Bob Bovee and
Gail Heil, with caller Mark Richardson, from 8 to 11 p.m. Unique duo
Bovee and Heil from Minnesota will lay down some fantastic
harmonica, guitar, fiddle riffs, and you might even hear some
yodeling here and there. Mark Richardson joins us from Bloomington,
Ind. We want to see some fun hats.
$5 pays the band, callers and for the room. Wear a crazy hat and
take $1 off admission.
Nov. 3
Contra dancing sponsored by Urbana Country Dancers at Phillips
Recreation Center, 505 Stoughton in Urbana, from 8 to 11 p.m.
The band is Celticladda from New Hampshire, with caller Scott Meyer
from Champaign-Urbana. East Coast fiddling legend Randy Miller
brings his Celtic-inspired band to east-central Illiana for a
special visit. He is joined by Tom Hodgson from Ithaca, N.Y., on
guitar and Eric Anderson from San Francisco on the piano for a truly
national representation of old-time traditional music.
$5 pays the band, callers and for the room.
Nov. 17
Contra dancing sponsored by Urbana Country Dancers at Phillips
Recreation Center, 505 Stoughton in Urbana.
The band is Banjulele, with caller Paul Watkins from Chicago.
Batten down the hatches as Banjulele, from Champaign and
Bloomington, takes the stage. This fine local band features Laura
Sleade and Martha Tyner on fiddles, Ed Hawkes on guitar, and Dale
Evans on banjo. Fine old-timey fiddlin' and pickin' from
east-central Illinois.
$5 pays the band, callers and for the room. Wear your Halloween
costume and get $1 off admission.
Dec. 1
Contra dancing sponsored by Urbana Country Dancers at Phillips
Recreation Center, 505 Stoughton in Urbana.
Open jam at 6:45 in the back room, then dance from 8 to 11 p.m.
The band is Too Old to be Controlled, from the Bloomington area,
and caller Ruth Reigel-Lamborghini from Charleston. Enjoy the smooth
fiddling of Claudia Kaufman and the sensational sound of Gary
Kaufman on banjo and Dave Kuntz on guitar.
$5 pays the band, callers and for the room.
Dec. 15
Contra dancing sponsored by Urbana Country Dancers at Phillips
Recreation Center, 505 Stoughton in Urbana, from 8-11 p.m.
The band is Farmer's Market String Band and Friends, from
Champaign-Urbana, with caller David Ernst.
A classic driving string band featuring locals Brenda Koenig on
fiddle, Michael Shapiro on guitar and Tom Bassett on banjo, plus
surprise guests to keep you on your toes. Watch out for flying
objects, spare parts and random holiday mischief.
$5 pays the band, callers and for the room.
[Provided by Kevin S. Jessup Sr.] |
