|
|
|
||||||||
Pioneer Family Dance
Next Event: July 19 (Saturday) - Darla's 50th Birthday Party, Ceili and Dance
A 'ceili' celebration will include songs, music, dance, and storytelling, with both presentations and participation, and several contra dances. The celebration will include a potluck dinner at 6:00, followed by performances, followed by contra dancing at about 8:30.
Brewery Arts Center Grand Ballroom, 449 W King St
Location and dates: Rental for the Grand Ballroom of the Brewery Arts Center has increased so much that we are unable to use it for our regular dances. The New Years Eve Dance at the end of the year will be at the ballroom. Our regular monthly contra dances will probably be held at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada.
Please make sure that you are on the Pioneer Family Dance email list so that we can inform you of dates and locations in the week preceeding the dance, and check back here as well.
We are looking for good dance floors in Carson City. If you know of one, please email or call Darla.
About the Pioneer Family Dance | Schedule | Location | Music | Contact
music, dance, people of all ages and backgrounds, a beautiful hardwood dance floor...
Download the flier to post on your refrigerator, and to share with friends.
Pioneer Family Dance
A community contra dance for the whole family!
Adults are $8. Kids and teens up to 17 are FREE with a paying adult, $4 without. Special dances have higher prices, as noted in the dance schedule.
Contra Dance is easy and fun, the dance about which it is said, "if you can walk, you can dance." The caller will teach each dance before you do it, and then call the steps throughout the dance or until everyone "has it." The dances are a simple combination of basic moves, and the music guides you. If you have danced or watched square dance, you'll recognize many of the dance steps, but contra is much less formal and a lot more fun than square dance. Expect laughter instead of frilly skirts. We also dance a few other traditional American dances, such as circles, reels and even an occasional square.
If you are new to contra dance, please come at 7:00 for a free lesson on the basics - you can decide whether you want to stay and pay after the free lesson. Experienced dancers are happy to help you learn and welcome you into the dance. The dances become gradually harder throughout the evening, so if you are a new or uncertain dancer, be there on time for the lesson at 7:00 and for the first, easiest dances at 7:15. By the end of the evening, you'll be a regular dancer.
You can come by yourself, with a friend, or with a group! One of the contra dance traditions is that we change partners for the next dance, so you'll have a chance to meet and dance with a wide variety of people from your community, as well as the person or people you came with. Women ask men, men ask women, and same-sex couples are welcome.
Dancers of all ages are welcome. Children and teens up to 17 are half price without an adult, or free with an adult. A fun group of teens attends nearly all the dances. Responsible teen dancers 12 to 15 may attend without an adult if they are dropped off and picked up by their family, and the family is available by phone if they need to leave early. We want families to meet the caller and dance organizers, and have an understanding of the dance atmosphere, before deciding whether their teen will have a positive and successful social experience with us, so plan on staying through at least one dance. Children 11 and younger must be accompanied by their family or responsible adult, whether they dance or not. Non-dancing children are welcome if they are well behaved and stay safely to the edges of the dance floor. Bring something for them to read and/or play with.
We will have water available, and sometimes snacks. The dance is alcohol, smoking, and drug free.
If you have smooth-soled shoes that are not worn outside, you'll have the easiest time dancing, and protect our dance floor as well. The 1864 historic ballroom was restored in 1998 with a new hardwood floor, and dirt brought in from the outside on shoes wears away the finish and grinds down the wood. However, any shoes are welcome and comfort is the most important criteria. You certainly don't need professional dance shoes to enjoy the dance.
Contra dancing, with people of all ages and backgrounds, builds community. Please join your Carson City and western Nevada community for the music, the laughter, the people, the aerobic exercise, and the positive social experience.
To learn more, check What is contra dance? on the Santa Barbara Country Dance Society's web page.
If you'd like to see and hear contra dance, check this YouTube video of the 2006 May Madness contra dance weekend in Prescott, Arizona. And there are plenty more on You Tube - search for "contra dance".
"hands-four"
2008 Schedule
Dances are usually the First Saturday of the month, September through May, 7:00-10:00PM, unless otherwise noted. We also have special dances throughout the year. Dances are sometimes changed depending on hall availability or weather, so please check the schedule before coming to the dance. If you are on our email list, you'll get a reminder before each dance. The free dance lesson is at 7:00, and dancing starts at 7:15.
Jul 5 - no dance
July 19 (Saturday) - Darla's 50th Birthday Party and Dance
A 'ceili' celebration will include songs, music, dance, and storytelling, with both presentations and participation, and several contra dances. The celebration will include a potluck dinner.
Brewery Arts Center Grand Ballroom, 449 W King St
Aug 2 - no dance
Sep 6 - regular contra dance
Oct 4 - regular contra dance
Nov 1 (Saturday) - Mad Hatter Ball special dance for Nevada Day
potluck desserts, hats and costumes encouraged, $10 adults/$5 kids
Dec 6 - regular contra dance
Dec 31 (Wednesday) - New Years Eve special dance
8:00-midnight+, potluck snacks and desserts, champagne/cider included in price, $12 adults/$6 kids
dancers enjoy a swing at the Mad Hatter Ball
We often have dance demonstrations or brief advanced lessons during the mid-dance break.
Please join our friends at the 2nd Saturday contra dance in Reno. For more information about this dance, other contra dances in the region, and other kinds of dancing, please see the regional dance page.
Location
Most of our dances are at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, 813 N Carson St (Hwy 395) in Carson City, between Washington and William.
A few of our dances are held in the 1864 Grand Ballroom of the Brewery Arts Center -- the oldest commercial building in Nevada. The authentic and restored ballroom is one of the most beautiful locations for contra dance in the West. The ballroom is located upstairs at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W King St in Carson City, a few blocks west of the state capitol.
We may occasionally dance at other locations.
caller Darla Bayer, and musicians Chris Bayer and Cory King
Music
At the Pioneer Family Dances, the house band is "The Jig's Up" led by fiddle player Chris Bayer. Tunes include traditional American and Celtic music (Irish, Scottish, American, Canadian). The music is worth listening to even if you aren't dancing, and even better if you are!
Chris also hosts the Fourth Friday Celtic/American Tune Session at Comma Coffee in Carson City. 7 to 9pm. See commacoffee.com for details and session guidelines. The session is an opportunity for people who play the tunes on melody instruments to get together, swap tunes, play and visit. To get on the session list, email Chris at cdadbayer@aol.com.
Celtic/American Tune Session at Comma Coffee
If you'd like to hear contra dance music, go to contracast.com subscribe to the podcast or listen to individual shows. There are mostly national or eastern bands, but the music is very similar.
Other Folks
Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association, or call 775-857-1868
Comma Coffee -- regular alternative music
Contact
Email us at nevadamuse@aol.com, or call 775-830-7939 (mobile) or 775-883-9351 (home) and ask for Darla. Ask to be added to the Pioneer Family Dance email list to get news of each dance and other local dances.