BELFAST — On Friday, April 3 take a spin on the dance floor and let your shoes fly at the First Friday Community Dance & Contras. The intergenerational program begins at 6 p.m., when the All Comers Band warms up and chooses their tune sets.
The band is open to all ages, instruments and skill levels; a collection of frequently played tunes is posted at belfastflyingshoes.org. Chrissy Fowler calls the easy-to-learn community dance starting at 6:30 p.m. This first hour is great for new dancers, families with kids, singles and longtime enthusiasts who love the joy of simple folk dances to tunes by an exuberant megaband.
This month’s 8 p.m. contra dance features caller Alice Slater whose friendly, clear instructions and timely prompts will get everyone on the dance floor. Live music with Rose, Guillaume and Helen. Fiddler, Rose Jackson, grew up in the rich folk tradition of the Northeast and is honored for her work as a tradition-bearer of New England fiddle music. Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin plays accordion with an expressive and dynamic style, melding the worlds of accompaniment and melody. Helen Kuhar is a guitar accompanist and vocalist who specializes in traditional Irish, English, Québécois and New England styles.
The First Church is at 8 Court St. in Belfast. Admission is $15-25 for the whole evening. For just the first hour’s Community Dance, admission is $1 kids/$2 adults First Friday FAQ, BFS Community Care Policy, and other information at www.belfastflyingshoes.org.
Support for Belfast Flying Shoes comes from the Belfast Community Co-op, 1Mill, SeaStrings, Terra Firma PE, Searsport Shores Ocean Camping, Colburn Shoe Store and the Green Store. Contributors also include grantors, individual donors and other local sponsors. Belfast Flying Shoes builds community and cultivates well-being through the joy of traditional music and dance for people of all backgrounds and identities in Midcoast Maine. Among the nonprofit’s diverse programs are a podcast featuring contra dance musicians.
