Sacramento Area Contradances
and English Country Dances

Dances sponsored by the
Sacramento Country Dance Society (SCDS)
Sacramento, California

Updated March 15, 2010


Winter 2010 Schedule

| March | April | May | June |


  • A contra dance primer
  • What is contra dancing?
  • What is English Country Dancing?

  • "The proper allemande grip," Carrie explained to 'Joe the Arm', "is just like shooting a handgun. Keep your wrist straight, hold your partner's hand firmly but not too tight, and don't tilt your hand to the right or the left. With a handgun, of course, that throws your shot off. In the allemande it twists your partner's wrist, which hurts. Both are uncool." from Guns at the Dance and Issues of Etiquette


    Special Announcement

    All first Friday Sacramento dances
    are now at Coloma Community Center,
    and not at Clunie Clubhouse.

    Echo Summit Dance Camp

    Photos from 2009 Echo Summit Dance Camp
    Photos from 2008 Echo Summit Dance Camp
    Thanks Deborah King and all who contributed photos!

       
          Special Dances, Workshops, and Announcements
          General SCDS Dance Information
          Other Dances Near Sacramento
          Dance Organization Links
          SCDS Dance Schedule

    Special Dances, Workshops, and Announcements


    • March 13 - Susan Petrick will teach an Intermediate Waltz Workshop 5:00 – 6:30 pm. Donation $5. Followed by a potluck dinner at 6:30 pm before the evening dance. Please bring a food item with serving utensils to share. We will provide plates, napkins, and utensils. Bring your own beverage.
    • April 11 – The English Country dance in April is on the second Sunday.
    • April 24 – Please join us for our 24th anniversary celebration, featuring calling by Joyce Miller and the Crabapples, a great band from Monterey! Donation $12. Potluck dinner at 6:30 pm before the dance. Please bring a food item with serving utensils to share. We will provide plates, napkins, utensils and cake! Bring your own beverage.
    • June 6 – The English Country dance in June is at a different location, the Odd Fellows Hall, 467 Main St., Placerville, CA.

    General SCDS Dance Information

    All dances are taught and prompted.
    Beginners are welcome.
    You don't need a partner,
    and there is always live music!

    To receive the schedule by email:
    email SactoCDS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

    Subscribe to our Facebook group at:
    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47452074600


    First Friday Contra Dances 8 to 11 p.m, beginner's workshop 7:30, in the in the Coloma Community Ctr, 4623 T. St, Sacramento, CA. $10 donation ($5 students, $25 maximum for families). Beginners attending workshop get a half-off coupon for next dance. For dance info call John or Laura at 916-739-6014 or email SactoCDS@yahoo.com
    (Usually) First Sunday English Country Dances
    (day of month varies—check schedule!)
    2:00 - 5:00 pm in the air conditioned Roseville Masonic Temple, 235 Vernon Street, downtown Roseville. $10 donation ($5 students, $25 maximum for families). Call Susan or David at 916-739-8906 or email <SusanJones533 AT gmail.com>.
    Second and Fourth  Saturday Contra Dances 8 to 11 p.m., beginner's workshop 7:30, in the Coloma Community Ctr, 4623 T. St, Sacramento, CA. $10 donation ($5 students, $25 maximum for families). Beginners attending workshop get a half-off coupon for next dance. 8 to 11 p.m., beginner's workshop 7:30. For dance info call John or Laura at 916-739-6014 or email SactoCDS@yahoo.com
    (Usually) Third Friday Contra Dances 8 to 11 p.m., beginner's workshop 7:30, in Davis High School, Dance Room, 315 W. 14th St., Davis, CA. $10 donation ($5 students, $25 maximum for families). Beginners attending workshop get a half-off coupon for next dance. For dance info call John or Laura at 916-739-6014 or email SactoCDS@yahoo.com. Note: The Davis dance will be on break June through August, 2009.

    Bands and Callers:
    Want to include Sacramento in your tour?
    email sumari AT sbcglobal.net

    Other Dances Near Sacramento

    ordered by day of month


    Nevada City Contra: First Saturdays, 8-11 pm, Nevada City Odd Fellows Hall, 212 Spring Street. Call Phyllis or Barry at 530-477-8103 or email foothilldancers@aol.com. NOTE: Dance location might sometimes change to an alternate hall: Seaman's Lodge, Pioneer Park, 425 Nimrod St., Nevada City. Be sure to check the schedule before traveling to the dance!

    Chico Contra: Dances are held September through May, (usually) second Saturday of the month. Dance 7-10 pm, 6:30 pm finger food social and informal introduction. Admission $8, students $5, teens half adult price, children accompanied by adult are free. Chico Grange, 2775 Nord Ave. at Rodeo Ave., near Henshaw.
    Directions: The grange is NOT on Hwy 32! Nord is off East Ave., near the RR tracks. From south of Chico, take Hwy 99 north to the East Ave exit and turn west. Nord will be on the right, just before the RR tracks. Click here for map. Contact: Grace or Mark 530-877-2930. To receive email announcements of dances, contact Joy <mebejoyous@prodigy.net>. NOTE: There might be some changes to time, day, or location of dances, so be sure to check before traveling long distances.


    Sonora Contra, Ceilidh, and English: Third Saturdays, potluck dinner at 6:30 pm, dance starts at 7:30 pm. Aronos Women's Club, 37 E. Elkin St (at Stewart St.) in downtown Sonora, CA. $6 admission. Contact: contradancesonora@yahoo.com.

    Auburn ContraThird Saturdays, 8-11 pm, Masonic Temple, 956 1/2 Lincoln Way, Auburn. Call Isel at 530-878-0399, Lonna at 530-346-0099, or email foothilldancers@aol.com.

    Cool Contra: Typically, fourth Saturdays. Pilot Hill Grange Hall, 1.6 miles west of Cool on Georgetown Road (Highway 193). Family friendly fun for all ages! Live music and free lessons. Come alone or bring a friend. Held October to May, except no dance in December. Beginner lesson 6:30 pm, dance 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Adults - $7, ages 12 to 18 - $5, under 12 - $1 with paid adult. Sponsored by Georgetown Divide Recreation District. Contact info@emistycreek.com.

    Guinda Contra: Fifth Saturdays (sometimes), Grange Hall, Guinda, CA. Half-hour lesson 7:30, dancing 8:00 pm. Admission $6. Call Annie at 530-787-3187.

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    March 2010

    To April

    Date Type of Dance Location Caller Musicians and Information 
    Fri. 5 Contra Coloma Community Ctr. Bob O’Brien Coyote ContraBand (Char Berta, David Wright, Susan Jones, Arlene Jamar, Frank Gallardo, Bill Trainor, and Gary Mulcahy)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Sun. 7 English Roseville
    Masonic
    Temple
    Lise Dyckman & Alan Winston All are welcome--program will focus on dances from the upcoming Playford Ball

    Music by Quite Carried Away ((David Wright, Susan Jones, Arlene Jamar, Sandy Westfall, Martin Lodahl, and Dick Holdstock)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Sat. 13 Waltz Workshop and Potluck Coloma
    Community Ctr
    Susan Petrick 5:00 - 6:30 pm
    Intermediate Waltz Workshop.
    Donation $5.

    6:30 pm – Potluck Dinner in Rescue Room
    Please bring a food item with serving utensils to share. We will provide plates, napkins, and utensils. Bring your own beverage.
    Sat. 13 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    .
    Susan Petrick Ratnip (Caroline McCaskey, Cole Ingraham, Alan Snyder, and Howard Booster)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Fri. 19 Contra Davis High School Dance Room Spider Vetter Caroline McCaskey and Cole Ingraham
    Dance Time and Donation
    Sat. 27 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    .
    Joyce Miller Hot Cider (Rudy Darling, Barry Angell, Ken Nilsson, and Juan Browne)
    Dance Time and Donation

    To March

    April 2010

    To May

    Date Type of Dance Location Caller Musicians and Information 
    Fri. 2 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    .
    Spider Vetter Nine-8ths Irish (Kathy Barwick, Bo Bowen, Christopher Dunlap, and Linda Relph) 
    Dance Time and Donation
    Sat. 10 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    .
    Erik Hoffman Three Fifths of Scotch (Debra Tayleur, Eloise Blanchard, and Michelle Levy)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Sun. 11 English Roseville
    Masonic
    Temple
    Lise Dyckman Quite Carried Away (David Wright, Susan Jones, Arlene Jamar, Sandy Westfall, Martin Lodahl, and Dick Holdstock)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Fri. 16 Contra Davis High School Dance Room Karen Fontana Angell Brothers (Barry Angell and Thomas Angell)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Sat. 24 Contra and Potluck Coloma
    Community Ctr
    Joyce Miller 24th Anniversary Celebration
    6:30 pm - Potluck in Rescue Room
    8:00 pm - Contra Dance, Donation $12

    Crabapples (Norm Cotton, Marta Lynch, Bob Silberstein, and Teresa Fife)

    To April

    May 2010

    To June

    Date Type of Dance Location Caller Musicians and Information 
    Sun. 2 English Roseville
    Masonic
    Temple
    Bob Fraley
    Quite Carried Away (David Wright, Susan Jones, Arlene Jamar, Sandy Westfall, Martin Lodahl, and Dick Holdstock)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Fri. 7 No Contra Coloma not available None Dance cancelled: Coloma Hall not available
    Sat. 8 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    Mavis McGaugh Three O'Clock Shadow (Erik Hoffman, Peter Langston, Chris Grampp, and Adam Cavan)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Fri. 14 Contra Davis High School Dance Room Darrow Hand Star Thistle (Cheryl McKinney, David Wright, Lonna Whipple, and Dave Kistler)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Note: This is the last Davis dance before summer break.
    Sat. 22 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    Lynn Ackerson An Drochaid (Debra Tayleur, Jonathan Goodwin, and Del Eckels)
    Dance Time and Donation

    To May

    June 2010

    To April

    Date Type of Dance Location Caller Musicians and Information 
    Fri. 4 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    .
    Bob O’Brien Coyote ContraBand (Char Berta, David Wright, Susan Jones, Arlene Jamar, Frank Gallardo, and Gary Mulcahy)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Sun. 6 English Odd Fellows Hall, 467 Main St., Placerville Jody McGeen Quite Carried Away (David Wright, Susan Jones, Arlene Jamar, Sandy Westfall, Martin Lodahl, and Dick Holdstock)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Sat. 12 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    .
    Celia Ramsay OpporTunists (Alan Snyder, Erik Hoffman, and Topher Gayle)
    Dance Time and Donation
    Fri. 18 No Contra Davis None Dance cancelled: Davis dance is on summer break.
    Sat. 26 Contra Coloma
    Community Ctr
    .
    Susan Petrick The Raggedy Annes (Anne Goess, Andy Eggleston, and Charlie Hancock)
    Dance Time and Donation


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