BELFAST — On Friday, May 1, celebrate May Day on the dance floor as you do-si-do 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 marks the Flying Shoes debut for caller Annie Kidwell, who is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and now hails from Massachusetts. Kidwell is joined by Flying Shoes favorites Cedar Stanistreet, Benjamin Foss and Amy Englesberg of the band Thunderwing. Together they will offer up traditional and contemporary dances and tunes for all to enjoy.
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 is at www.belfastflyingshoes.org
Support for Belfast Flying Shoes comes from Terra Firma PE, SeaStrings, Searsport Shores Ocean Camping, the Green Store, Colburn Shoe Store, Belfast Community Co-op and 1Mill. 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 monthly podcast featuring contra dance musicians and programs for older adults.
