​The UChicago Folk Arts Community

Three days and nights of great dancing with live music from Great Bear composed of Andrew VanNorstrand (fiddle, electric guitar), Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, mandolin, feet, didgeridoo), Kim Yerton (piano), as well as Chris (sax) and Dana (drums), and calling by Sarah VanNorstrand all from New York!

 

Saturday night we will be adding a live Techno Contradance to the mix with Buddy System (Noah and Julie Valimont)!

 

There is no registration for the dance weekend. All you have to do is show up!

 

LOCATION

The University of Chicago Ida Noyes Cloister Club, East Lounge, and West Lounge. Get directions and maps.

 

SCHEDULE

Friday April 3

8-11:30 PM  Contra dance with Great Bear and Sarah in Cloister Club

Saturday April 4

12-1pm Waltzing in the Cloister Club

1-1:50pm Choice of 2-3 workshops in the Cloister Club, East Lounge, and West Lounge

2-2:50pm Choice of 2 workshops in the East and West Lounges

3:00-5:00 PM  Contra dance with Great Bear and Sarah in Cloister Club

5:00-7:00 PM  Potluck in the Cloister Club: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/973121332764099/

7:00-9:00 PM  Contra dance with Great Bear and Sarah 

9:30 PM -12:00 AM  Techno Contra dance with Buddy System and Maggie Jo Saylor

Sunday April 5

2:30pm-5:30pm Contra dance with Great Bear and Sarah in the Cloister Club

 

Workshops on Saturday:

1-2:30 Sarah VanNorstrand in the Cloister Club: Unlocking the Secrets of Timing! Want to take your dancing to the next level? No matter how impressive your flourishes, or how many spins you can fit in a petronella, without an accurate and ingrained sense of timing, you'll be missing out on some of the joys of Contra dancing. Timing is a conduit connecting the band with the dancers and it's what brings a hall full of diverse people together in synchronization. So come ready to think about 4, 8 and 16 beat phrases and discover how working on your sense of timing can transform and enlighten your dance experience.

OR

1-1:50 Lauren Peckman in the East Lounge: Shenanigans! A dance has many moving parts. Find the opportunities! Goof off. Be smooth. Have fun.

2-2:50 Dennis Wise in the East Lounge: Blues dance for contra dancers. An introduction to blues dancing, including open and closed embrace and undulation. Half of the room will be dedicated to helping beginners learn the feel and the joy of blues dancing. The other half of the room will be available for those of you who would simply love a chance to dance to some of my favorite blues. The class will wind up with some inspirations for incorporating blues into your techno contra repertoire.

 

 

PRICES