$0.00 – $25.00
Sat., March 25, 2023 from 1 – 4 PM
$10 Suggested Donation
(Proceeds shared by the Syracuse Country Dancers and the Erie Canal Museum)
Everyone is welcome to join us for an English country dance, similar to dances from the towpath Canal era!
The Syracuse Country Dancers are a friendly, multi-age group. Their events are both smoke and alcohol free, and dress is casual. People come with or without a partner. If you’re new to this, we suggest coming at the beginning of the dance, since that’s usually when the caller teaches most carefully, with newcomers in mind.
Note: We are unable to offer refunds for event reservations or donations. Please be sure you can attend prior to contributing. All event reservations/ticket sales/donations are final, unless the Museum cancels the event.
Description
The Syracuse Country Dancers and Erie Canal Museum are happy to put on an English country dance, similar to dances from the towpath Canal era, at the museum on March 25 from 1-4PM!
Despite similar sounding names, contra dancing is not the same as country line dancing. Contra dancing is a more closely related to its cousins, square dancing and English country dancing, which have many similar figures and movements. The dances generally start in a “contra line” or “longways set,” rather than, say, a four-couple square formation (although dances in squares or other formations are included at times as well). A contra line is just a set of couples lined up, one behind the other as they face the stage. The dances are designed so that you and your partner will dance with every other couple in your line. A caller teaches each dance sequence, telling you everything you need to know (no classes are necessary). The dances are done with a smooth walking step, and fancy footwork is rarely required.
Everybody is welcome. The Syracuse Country Dancers are a friendly, multi-age group; the regulars include teens, seniors and everything in between. Their events are both smoke and alcohol free, and dress is casual. People come with or without a partner. Even those who arrive with a partner generally dance with many other partners through the evening as well, and this is encouraged. It’s part of the fun!
If you’re new to this, we suggest coming at the beginning of the dance, since that’s usually when the caller teaches most carefully, with newcomers in mind.
The dance will feature live (and lively!) music provided by Henry Jankiewicz (fiddle) & Harvey Nusbaum (guitar). Reels, jigs, waltzes and related tunes from American, Canadian and British Isles traditions predominate, and the fiddle is often a featured instrument. Tunes for English country dance tend to be particularly varied in style and feeling. Many go back to the 1600s.
We hope you can attend and enjoy this slice of the past!
