Country Dance * New York, Inc.

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Callers and Choreographers
Musicians and Bands
Country Dance Groups
Events and Camps
Ritual Dance Groups
Scottish Dance Groups
Great Dance Web Sites
Newsletters and Articles
Miscellaneous
Supporters and Friends of CD*NY

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Callers and Choreographers

List of links to Contra Dance callers
General links to contra dance callers.
Robert Cromartie
Long time caller, began in 1991 in Winston-Salem, N.C. His site has notes for contra callers and a glossary of contra dance terms.
Mary Devlin
Mary Devlin's infectious spirit of joy and fun makes her one of the Northwest's favorite callers for both contras and English country dance. And, she's a favorite around the country!
Beverly Francis
Beverly teaches at English and American events from Philadelphia to Boston, has been the MC at five of New York's Playford Balls, and is frequently on the dance staff at Pinewoods.
Yonina Gordon
CD*NY dancers know Yonina in many guises: as caller of contras and English dances, co-MC at our Playford Ball '99, and as a morris and sword dancer.
Sharon Green
While she now lives in California, Sharon was a staple of Country Dance New York for many years, and she occasionally comes back to call at special events.
Eric Hollman
His motto, "If you can walk, you can dance," is the basis for clear instruction and personal success. CD*NY is lucky to have Eric call and teach contra and waltz workshops on Saturdays nights.
Colin Hume
A well-known and unique dance caller, composer and musician.
Carol Martinez
Carol calls at CDW and CD*NY and the Fried-for-all evening parties.
Gene Murrow
Gene is a man of many faces-English country dancer and dance leader, teacher of dance workshops throughout the US, musician, former president of the American Recorder Society, co-MC at our Playford Ball in 1999 and 2002.
Tony Parkes
One of the most active square and contradance callers. He started calling in 1964, possibly the first of the "baby boom" generation to do so.
Judi Rivkin
English country dance leader, a founding board member of Country Dance New York. See her animated English country dance terms.
Gary Roodman
Gary discovered English and American dancing in 1976 when his family and he went to Pinewoods Camp for the first time. Now he writes "Calculated Figures" for English dancing.
Paul Ross
Paul began teaching in Westchester in fall of '93, and is now one of the regulars for CDW and CD*NY. He has also taught and called dances for the Princeton and the Lambertville Country Dancers, the Saratoga Springs Dance Flurry(1999), and at Woodstock, New York.

Musicians and Bands

Bare Necessities
A Boston-based quartet known nationwide for its unique presentation of English country dance music. Composed of Earl Gaddis and Mary Lea (both violin and viola), Peter Barnes (flute and whistles), and Jacqueline Schwab (piano), and playing weekly country dances since 1978.
Contrapolitans
CD*NY's own community band. Do you play? Contact CD*NY info.
Contrazz
Joe DePaolo on drums, Sam Zygmuntowicz (Brooklyn Swing Ensemble) on fiddle, Marnen Laibow-Koser on piano and viola & Bob Jones vocal and on bass.
George Davis
A violinist who plays country dance music; his repertory also includes chamber music and small orchestral works. He leads the English country dance band, Hudson Crossing, is a member of the English country dance band, Garden Variety, and was the fiddler for the Chelsea English Country Dancers. Plays regularly for dances in New York City, Westchester, and Stockport, NY.
Dixie Butterhounds
The Dixie Butterhounds are an old-time string band whose members include: Paul Boyd - fiddle, banjo; George Touchstone - fiddle, banjo mandolin, slide guitar; Jon Gersh - banjo, guitar; Mark Wholley - guitar, fiddle, mandolin. Kathy Fletcher often joins us, playing fiddle and guitar, and contributing lead and harmony vocals. Before Mark joined us full time, we had several people play guitar with us, including Bob Aumueller and Larry Unger. Alan Bradbury, Larry Unger and Dave Stryker have played bass with us.
Earthly Delights
Earthly Delights is both the name of a band and the banner under which a cluster of related passions are exercised. As a band Earthly Delights might be anything from a trio of wandering musicians to a full-on on-stage five-piece ensemble, and might be caught playing anything from pavans to tangos and leading anything from a simple 17th century country dance to a snazzy 19th century couples dance.
The Fiddleheads
The band is Jim Sirch (banjo, whistles, and bodhran), Willow Sirch (fiddle), Gary Wikfors (mandolin and mando-ephemera) and Norman Plankey (guitar) with appearances by Colin Healy (fiddle/mandolin) and other local musicians. House band for the New Haven Country Dancers and play for visiting callers like Pat Rust, Dan Pearl, Steve Holland, and Al Brozek.
Footloose
A high energy and oft-times zany dance band. Performing for New England style contra dances, it is a highly respected and sought-after band, playing at numerous dance weekends and week-long dance camps. Band members include Andrea Hoag on fiddle, David DiGiuseppe on accordion, mandolin and washboard, Dean Herington on clarinet, guitar and piano, and Pete Campbell on piano and bass.
Grand Picnic
A high-energy Brooklyn-based band that mixes the rhythmic drive of southern old-time tunes with French-Canadian and New England fiddle music.
Lazy Aces
Bill Christophersen, Dave Howard and David Gates Pat Plankey (bass) and Norman Plankey (guitar & drums). Contra Band.
Nightingale
A Vermont-based trio consisting of Becky Tracy (fiddle), Keith Murphy (piano, guitar, foot percussion, vocals), and Jeremiah McLane (piano, accordion).
Cynthia Shaw
Cynthia Shaw plays piano for some of the Tuesday English dances for CD*NY, and has been the musical director for the Christmas Revels.
Orrin Star
Orrin Star is a nationally recognized folk & bluegrass performer and teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. Winner of the 1976 National Flatpicking Championship (the largest bluegrass guitar contest in the country), he plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, sings, and performs both solo and with his trio Orrin Star & the Sultans of String.
Wild Asparagus
is a five-person band from western Mass. Drawing upon music from New England, the British Isles, and Canada, as well as classical sources, the band takes an original approach to traditional dance music; using their unique blend of instruments, creativity, and skills, they offer a sensitive and powerful performance.

Country Dance Groups

Country Dance * New York
CD*NY has dances from September to early June: Saturday night American contra and Tuesday night English country dances. Both are at The Church of the Village, West 13th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York City. There is always a live band and a caller.
Country Dance and Song Society
An association of people and groups with a common interest in English and Anglo-American folk dance, music and song. Members are recreational dancers, musicians, singers, teachers, callers, dance historians and people just having fun. The activities of affiliated groups include dances, concerts, song gatherings, festivals and residential camps. Country Dance * New York, Inc. is a center of the Country Dance and Song Society. The CDSS site has links to centers all over the world. CDSS members who live more than 50 miles from NYC may come to CD*NY dances at members' prices.
Country Dancers of Westchester
CD*NY's neighbor, in White Plains, NY. English country dances most Thursdays, 7:30-10pm. Live music, beginners welcome. Monthly Friday parties. Church in the Highlands, Bryant Avenue, White Plains. For information: Leah Barkan, 914-693-5577 or Susan Murrow, 914-762-8619.
English Folk Dance & Song Society
Official web site of EFDSS, which aims to encourage, document and develop folk music, dance and song traditions within England. A membership-based organisation with an arts-centre headquarters building in London housing the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. Venue for concerts, dances, workshops and otherevents. Publishes CDs, books, English Dance & Song magazine, the Folk Music Journal, Root Source, etc.
Gender Free Contra Dances in New York City
Come dance in air-conditioned comfort with CDNY's neighbors across the street from The Church of the Village. Please be open to same-gender dancing, opposite-gender dancing and reversed role dancing. Refreshment contributions or a jug of water are appreciated! The LGBT Center, 208 West 13th Street, Room 301. For more information, call Brooks at 347-275-7983 or Carol Geisler at 212-966-0958, email Carol at carol.geisler@nyu.edu.
Germantown Country Dancers
Philadelphia, PA.
Lambertville Country Dancers
(Formerly Lambertville Contra Dances, held in Yardley.) The English Dances now held on the first Friday of the month at the Titusville Methodist Church in Titusville, NJ, and the Contradances are held on the second and fourth Fridays of the month at the Yardley Community Center in Yardley, PA.
Lavender Country and Folk Dancers
Information on gender-free dances.
LITMA
LONG ISLAND TRADITIONAL MUSIC ASSOCIATION. Setauket, NY. LITMA has been giving Long Islanders "that old song and dance" for nearly 25 years. We run close to two hundred events a year - contra, English country, clogging, concerts, and various sings at various sites on the Island. Check our web page for further descriptions, directions, and a current calendar.
New Haven Country Dancers
Come Dance With Us Twice A Month.
New Haven English Country Dancing
Neighborhood Music School 100 Audubon St., New Haven Friday Nights, 8:00 - 10:30 pm.
New York City Barn Dances
Every second Thursday of the Month, 8-11 pm.   The Hungarian House, 213 E. 82nd Street, Manhattan.
New York City Folk Dances
The Hungarian House, 213 E. 82nd Street, Manhattan.
North Jersey English Country Dancers
We dance at the Ridgewood Unitarian Society twice a month on Sundays, 2-5. For information call: 201-652-4014; 201-768-9542.
Princeton Country Dances
Wednesdays 7:40-10:30 Contra and occasional English. Traditional dances of America and England are taught weekly, with live music by various bands. Traditional dances of America and England taught weekly, with live music by various bands. Beginners welcome: no experience necessary and you don't need a partner.
Round Hill Country Dances
English and contra dances in a beautiful setting in Greenwich, CT.
Santa Barbara Friends of English Dance
Some Tuesdays 7:30 to 9:30 pm Westside Community Center 423 W. Victoria, Santa Barbara, exit US 101 at Carrillo.
Swingin' Tern Dances
Swingin' Tern presents Contra and Square Dancing to live music in East Hanover the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. Beginners are welcome at the dance and are encouraged to come to the beginner's workshop preceding the dance proper. No experience is necessary and one may come alone or with a partner.

Events and Camps

Ashokan Fiddle and Dance
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason's music and dance camps in the Catskill Mountains. Study music or dancing with our carefully chosen staff of exceptional teachers. Offerings include three week-long summer programs and a 3-5 day winter weekend at New Year's. Programs feature classes, workshops, dances, jam sessions, song swaps, and great food! Jay & Molly host each event and teach some of the classes.
Champlain Valley Folk Festival
University of Vermont, Redstone Campus, Burlington, Vermont - early August.
Christmas Revels
The New York Revels, 328 Flatbush Avenue, P.M.B. Box 270, Brooklyn, NY 11238.
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
A three-day community of folk music and dance at the foot of the Berkshires in east-central New York State — mid-July.
Hudson-Mohawk Traditional Dances
Dance Flurry — a three-day festival of music and dance held in February (Presidents' Day weekend) in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Lark Camp
end July/beginning August
Music and Dance from the World Over
Music, Song & Dance Workshops * Cabins * Dances * Parties * Sessions * Great Food * Dance Hall * Dining Hall * Camping * Fire Circles * Mendocino Woodlands Redwoods
Full Camp 8 Days or Half Camp 4 Days
Mendocino Folklore Camp
Each summer since 1962, folk dancers from across the United States and beyond have gathered at the beautiful Mendocino Woodlands to share a unique celebration of ethnic dance, music, and culture. Folklore Camp, pioneered by Madelynne Greene, was the first folk dance camp to use the Woodlands, and today we carry on the tradition and spirit of this ever popular event.
New England Folk Festival Association - NEFFA
A nonprofit educational and cultural organization, sponsoring and preserving high standards of performance of the folk arts and traditions in New England, etc.
New York Baroque Dance Company
18th Century Dance Classes every first Saturday of the month from 3:30-5:00 pm. Mark Morris Dance Center at 3 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, NY (corner of Flatbush Ave). Only $12 per class!
Pinewoods Camp
A traditional dance and music camp providing weekend and weeklong sessions, mostly for adults, with some family sessions. Located between two ponds near Plymouth, Mass.
Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp
Set in the beautiful Colorado Rockies outside of Denver, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp is staffed with musicians who are highly-regarded for their superb playing as well as excellent teaching.
Strafford Ball, Strafford, VT (1st Sat. in Oct.)
With condensed instructions for English country dances and balls

Ritual Dance Groups

Greenwich Morris Men
They have performed in the streets of NY, before the nation's capitol, in the Cotswold region of England, whence comes their tradition, and been featured in The Christmas Revels.
Half Moon Sword
Half Moon Sword is the oldest women’s long sword and rapper sword team in New York City.
Morris and Sword Dance Side Contact Information
This page is the morris section of The World-Wide Web Virtual Library: Dance.
Morris Ring's Argonet Website
A revival of Morris Dancing in England started around 1900, and in 1934 the Cambridge Morris Men invited five other teams to join them to form a national organisation. The six clubs - Cambridge, Letchworth, Thaxted, Oxford, East Surrey and Greensleeves - met at Thaxted in Essex that year to inaugurate The Morris Ring.
Ring O'Bells
The first women's morris dance team in the United States.

Scottish Dance Group

Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, New York Branch
The New York Branch meets Thursdays at Holy Cross School, 332 W. 43rd Street (between 8th and 9th Aves.), NYC, at 7:30. We dance throughout the summer. All are welcome!
The Cameron Scottish Dancers
Fridays at The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, 7 W. 55th St., NYC, at 7:00.
Scotia Dancers of New York
Scottish classes are held Monday evenings at the Madison Avenue Baptist Church, 30 East 31st Street, New York, NY.

Great Dance Web Sites

New York Historical Dance Company
We give historical dance workshops and other events in NYC & the tri-state area.
Dance Figures
English Country Dance Terms with Sound and Animation. Compiled by our own former CD*NY member Judy Rivkin.
Shall We Dance
Swing, Ballroom, Latin &am; Country Western - in Tribeca: offering classes, lessons, workshops.
New York South Folk Dance
A list of southern New York folk dance groups holding folk dances such as Balkan, Cajun, clog, contradance, English country, international, Irish, Israeli, Morris, ritual, Scottish, country, swing, tap, traditional square, vintage, western square, Zydeco, and all other forms of traditional and ethnic dance. Also with links to sites giving information about folk dancing here.
Australian Folk Dances
Australian folk dances of all types: contra, square, ritual, international.
Ted Crane's National Day-of-the-Month Country Dance List
A comprehensive grid: where you can dance any day of the year, plus such things as a mathematical approach to the contradance, etc. — Based in Ithaca, NY.
Connecticut Contradance Links Page
We are your one stop link to all Connecticut Contra Dance Dances, Callers and Bands.
Connecticut Folk Dance
An extensive list of folk dance groups.
Contra SENE
SouthEastern New England Contradance Page. Email Gary Wachs if you want to be on his email list of Contra news.
Kiran's Contrapage
Kiran Wagle's web site stuffed with goodies for contradancers.
Sapphire Swan Dance Directory
A comprehensive guide to dance resources available on the web.
Charlie Seelig's Contra Links
An attempt at a large set of links to contradancing pages and email information. Additions, deletions and corrections welcome.
The Dancing Master, 1651-1728
An Illustrated Compendium by Robert M. Keller

Newsletters and Articles

Dance Gypsy
The Dance Gypsy is a monthly (10 months per year) calendar/newsletter about activities relevant to the New England dance community. We attempt to provide a complete directory to all regularly scheduled dances within our region (which may roughly be defined as "rural New England," or perhaps "Western New England." We do include events in parts of New York that are adjacent to New England (e.g., Albany or Saratoga Springs) but do not even attempt a thorough coverage of events in the Boston or New York City areas. We also attempt to cover as many special events (less frequent than "monthly") as possible. Special events outside of the basic region are covered as space and interest permit. Typically we list approximately 300 dances.
The Dance Niche
Roger W. Broseus's wonderful compilation of English country dance information.
Dance Quotes
Historic quotes with links
Description of Contra Dancing
From Fort Collins, CO
English Country Dance Mailing List
ecd-request@playford.slac.stanford.edu. Put a period in the subject line; in the message body, type SUBSCRIBE. Must use the email address where you want to receive Country Dance email. If you tire of it, email the same place again and, in the body, type SIGNOFF.
English folk and traditional music on the Internet
A guide to Internet resources relating to English folk music.
rec.folk-dancing
Rec.folk-dancing is a news group for those wanting to read or submit postings about folk-dancing.
Folk Dancing
Folk dancing is a page of general folk dance resources.
Palmer's Pocket Playford
UK descriptions of English Country dances.
American Morris Newsletter
Information by, for, and about Morris Dancers.
National Public Radio Archives:
Interview of English country dancing on "All Things Considered" (4/23/97). Lisa Wertheimer of NPR interviewed Gene Murrow and Beverly Francis, shortly after Linda Wolfe's New York Times article appeared.
Interview of contradancing on "All Things Considered" (1/1/01). Noah Adams talks with members of The Sevens, who call themselves a "Celtic groove band." They play for dances and occasional concerts in New England. Members are Sarah Blair, Mark Roberts, Liza Constable, Mark Hellenberg, Stuart Kenney. They traveled to Vermont Public Radio's studio in Colchester for this interview. We hear a bit of contra dance music and complete versions of I Truly Understand, and Miss Otis Regrets.
Wikibooks
Ten Stupid Things Beginners Do to Mess Up Their Contradance Experience

Miscellaneous

Anglo American Dance Shop
We promote Anglo-American Dances in Western Europe, have courses and a large sales division with dance & folk articles.
John C. Campbell Folk School
The Folk School was founded in 1925, a collaboration of two progressive educators and an Appalachian community. Olive Dame Campbell, Marguerite Butler and the people of Brasstown created a unique institution that seeks to bring out the best in people. As in the beginning, the Folk School seeks to bring people toward two kinds of development: inner growth as creative, thoughtful individuals, and social development as tolerant, caring members of a community. Throughout its history, the Folk School has worked toward these goals through performing arts, agriculture and crafts rooted in the traditions of Southern Appalachia and other cultures of the world.
Highland Dance Center
Home of Highland Precision Clogging. North Georgia’s New Competitive Clogging Headquarters. We are a clog dancing studio is the southern appalachian mountains. We love clogging and want to keep it alive!
The Folk Music Society of New York, Inc.
The New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club.
Jane Austen Society of North America
JASNA brings scholars, enthusiasts, amateurs and professionals together to study and celebrate Jane Austen.
Singing Rounds
Resources for singers of rounds.
Theatre Development Fund Costume Rental
The TDF Costume Collection is a rental company serving not-for-profit theatres, opera and dance companies, universities, colleges, schools and other performing arts organizations nationwide.
The Johnson Girls
Their repertoire ranges from driving chanties to ballads and laments, all rendered with rich harmonies in their own inimitable style.
Waltz Workshop
Rich Albanese leads waltz workshops for contra dancers.

Supporters and Friends of CD*NY

WKCR
Columbia University's radio station. They announce our dance sessions and give away free tickets.

Call the Dancephone: 212-459-4080
Write to CD*NY at P.O. Box 878, Village Station, New York, N.Y. 10014
Send us an email to subscribe to our email list, ask questions or make suggestions.

Country Dance * New York, Inc., is an affiliate of the Country Dance and Song Society.