Next Community Contra Dance Saturday,
January 28th, 2012
in the
Historic Gym
Music by Ed and Elsie with caller John Combs
“Dancing with the feet is one thing,
but dancing with the heart is another.”
~Anonymous
Sautee Nacoochee Community Contra Dance
Part of a Universal Trend
By Julianne Wilson
Happy New Year! All around the globe folks
celebrate the end of one spin around the sun and
the beginning of a new one, the earth twirling on
its axis all the while. This spinning and twirling
of the earth is a lot like contra dancing. In fact,
one might say that the earth is one of many
celestial bodies participating in a vast cosmic
contra dance!
Imagine being part of a universal dance-right
here in our own SNCA historic gym each month!
The steps are simple, the crowd is always full of
smiles and laughter and the music is, well, “out
of this world!” Experienced dancers welcome
newcomers with joy and help them fit right in, so
no experience is necessary. And dancers switch
partners throughout the evening, so whether you
come alone, with a date, or with a group, you’ll
have plenty of folks with whom to dance the
night away.
The first dances of 2012 are on Saturday,
January 28 and Saturday, February 25. “Ed and
Elsie” will perform in January, with John Combs
calling. And in February, the “Georgia Mudcats”
will get the dancers moving to the calls of our
very own Walter Daves. Also at 4:00 p.m. to 6:00
p.m. on the afternoon of February 25 we will have
the first “For the Kids” contra dance of 2012.
For
all dances, potluck dinner is at 6:30 p.m., the
welcome lesson is at 7:30 p.m. and the dance
is from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Please bring a
dish to share if you come to the potluck. Dance
tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for SNCA members, and $4 for students.
Children ages 7 years and younger are free.
On the first and third Tuesdays of each month,
the Contra Learn and Dance series continues
with live music by local musicians and instructive
calling by Walter Daves. These dances are in the
SNCA Community Hall from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30
p.m. at $3/person. Dates are January 3 and 17
and February 7 and 21.
On January 31, there will
be a Waltz Workshop presented by Jennie Inglis
and Mark Baker-also from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30
p.m., with a $5/person admission fee.
As the earth begins another dance around the
sun, our hope for 2012 is that many more SNCA
members will experience the joy and delight of
the contra dances here in Sautee Nacoochee. It is somewhat
of a “contra conundrum” that these dances,
which generally draw 125 to 175 people of all ages
each month, continue to be unexplored territory
for most SNCA members. This totally volunteerrun
program of SNCA brings in money each
month to support the Center-and it’s great fun!
If you haven’t been to a contra dance yet,
swing
into the New Year with joy at our next dance!
2012 Contra Dance Dates
Tuesday, January 3 - Learn and Dance
Tuesday, January 17 - Learn and Dance
Saturday, January 28 - Dance
Ed and Elsie, with John Combs calling
Tuesday, January 31
Waltz Workshop
with Jennie Inglis and Mark Baker
Tuesday, February 7 - Learn and Dance
Tuesday, February 21 - Learn and Dance
Saturday, February 25
“For the Kids”Dance 4-6 pm and
Dance - Georgia Mudcats with
Walter Daves calling
Welcome S.N.I.C.K. (Sautee Nacoochee Incredible Contra Kids)
Welcome S.N.I.C.K.!! The Sautee Nacoochee
Incredible Contra Kids is a new group at SNCA.
Currently mentored by Julianne Wilson, these
young people began meeting this spring to
promote youth contra dancing at SNCA. Youth
dance caller Anne Forrest Prim’s guidance with
this group is essential and much appreciated, as
well. In addition to assisting with public relations
efforts and coming up with ideas to improve
the kids’ dances—and increase attendance—
S.N.I.C.K. members serve as hosts of our “For
the Kids” dances. In this capacity, they welcome
dancers, help them learn the steps and make sure
that everyone is having fun and has a partner.
The group is also learning leadership and
collaboration skills that will serve them well
beyond the dance floor. AND they’re having
fun doing it! This summer’s S.N.I.C.K. activities
will include having a sewing day to make
fanciful skirts for committee members to wear
at the dances and taking on a support project
with the Women’s Build Habitat for Humanity
house being constructed in nearby Bean Creek.
While boys would be welcome as members of
S.N.I.C.K., at present (and not surprisingly given
the age range of 10-14 years), the members are all
girls. Thus, keep posted for “S.N.I.C.K. Chicks”
activities and “For the Kids” dance dates this
summer and fall.
“Dance first. Think later. It’s
the natural order.” —Samuel Beckett
TUESDAY NIGHT
CONTRA LEARN & DANCE
From 7:30 to 9:30 pm
Live music! Relaxed Fun! For newcomers and dancers of ALL skill levels!!
Walter Daves, Learn and Dance Series caller and instructor
and member of the bands, Sweetwater Jam and Cage Free String Band.
$3 per person, 12 and under Free
The Center is located in a vintage, red
brick schoolhouse on Highway 255, two tenths of a mile from Highway
17. The Community Hall is across the driveway from the schoolhouse.
Information: Call SNCA at 706-878-3300 or Walter
Daves at 706-754-3254.
