Peterborough, NH First Saturday Contra Dance on Saturday, August 2. Tod Whittemore will be calling with music from the Sugar River band.
This yearly legacy dance will use the older role terms of “ladies and gents” instead of “larks and robins.”
Contra dance is a fun, relaxed style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s.
Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors.
Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends, but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.
Tod Whittemore has been calling dances for forty years, having been lucky enough to begin his career at the time when famous callers Ralph Page and Duke Miller were still active in the Monadnock Region. He helped start the Peterborough first Saturday and NEFFA Thursday night dances. Tod has called dances all over the world, and is known for his humor, energy, and infectious love of dancing. He is known for his singing squares, and sometimes yodeling squares.
Joining Tod on stage is the Sugar River Band. The Sugar River Band is a family band (all now adults) led by fiddler Jane Orzechowski. Sarah Bauhan will join the band on flute and whistle.
The dancing begins at 8:00 PM.
Workshop for new dancers and all interested at 7:30 PM.
Admission is sliding scale $12-20, $30 family, or pay what you can.
The Monadnock Folklore Society presents this dance in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street.
For more information call 603.547.5831.
The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.