Welcome to the
Spokane Folklore Society Contra Dancing in April
The Spokane Folklore Society is welcoming in the spring with four fun contra dances this month. Our first Wednesday dance April 2 at the Woman’s Club Hall features the Jam Band, a community style group of musicians with experienced callers. Newcomer session begins at 7:15PM, followed by the dance starting at 7:30PM and ending at 9:30PM. Our second Saturday dance, April 12 at
the East Spokane Grange features Reel Friends and Nancy Staub calling
easy to learn dances. It’s national Polka Dot Day so wear your favorite
polka dots. The dance starts at 7PM with a half hour polka
dance workshop taught by Cathy Dark followed by a contra dance starting
at 7:30PM and ending at 10PM. Our third Wednesday dance on April 16 at the Woman’s Club Hall features the band Dog Paw and caller Nora Scott. A newcomer session begins at 7:15PM followed by the contra dance at 7:30PM and ending at 9:30PM. A special fifth Wednesday dance on April 30 at
the Woman’s Club Hall features the old time band River City Ramblers
and Karen Wilson-Bell calling easy to learn contras. It
is national Tie Dye Day so wear your favorite tie dye and win a prize! A
newcomer session begins at 715PM followed by the contra dance at 7:30PM
and ending at 9:30PM. New Second Saturday Admission Rates
For
the past two years, admission rates for the second Saturday dances have
been the same as our Wednesday ones even though they are an hour
longer. Because our bands and callers have been paid about the
same for either Wednesday or Saturday dances during this time, the SFS
board has decided to the SFS board decided to increase the guarantee
for callers and musicians in order to align more fairly with three
hours of dancing. In order to cover these additional costs, the
board has increased admission rates by $2 per person. New rates
are $12 for general admission; $9 for SFS members. We want to
thank you in advance for supporting this change. Our musicians
and callers deserve this increase in their stipends. Admission
rates for our two hour Wednesday dances remain the same, $10 for
general admission and $7 for SFS members.
As
a result of a recent poll of SFS members, there will be no Covid
protocols in place until further notice. Good health is
required. Masking is respected.
2024 Fall Folk Festival photos and video samplers are at this link...
Membership Information:
It is time to renew your SFS membership. If
you are joining for the first time, your membership will help to fund
the operations of the SFS. In addition, you will receive $3 discounts
at our Wednesday dances. Also, you will receive our monthly newsletter
as well as any updates and announcements. You can join by accessing the
membership form through the following link. Link for a full year membership Fill it out and mail it
in with a check.
Newsletters Archived on SFS Website
Older editions of the
Spokane Folklore Society Newsletter can be found on the SFS website
starting from September 2020 (link at left). There are some great
articles to read.
Starting in September we added several feature columns to the
newsletters. Please enjoy our Callers Corner featuring articles by all
our regular callers.
Forty Years Ago showcases some of the people and events that were
highlights of the early years and got the SFS started on its path to
success. Penn Pals is a column where Penn Fix interviews people that
have been instrumental in starting and keeping folk traditions alive in
the Spokane region.
Current Newsletter
And now some of our older newsletters are available as well
We can help you get in touch with
other people in the
Spokane, Washington, area who are interested in music, dance, and folk
arts. Find out what's happening
on the calendar
Our major project of the year is
the
Fall Folk Festival.
One of our main
activities with SFS is Contra
Dancing. Contra dancing is a type of traditional
dance from
New England. Dancers face each other in "contra" lines and move up and
down the formation as couples in figures directed by a caller. The
Virginia
Reel is a dance in this style. You don't have to be experienced - the
caller
teaches all the moves. Special clothes are not necessary. No partner is
needed - Singles and couples are invited. Check the calendar
for the contra dance schedule. Click
here more details and some pictures and links to video of a
typical local Contra dance.
If you are interested
in having the Folklore Society help
sponsor your event, please download this .pdf
form
here. (Acrobat reader required)
If this is your first
visit to our site, please read
more about the Spokane Folklore Society: its organization and
mission.
We hope that you will join
us,
and subscribe to our monthly newsletter. 
|