Granby Family Contra Dance
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Since 1994, Granby Family Dance has called French-Canadian circle dances, English country dances, square dances, Virginia Reels and contra dances.
What is contra dancing? click here
South Church Parish Hall,
242 Salmon Brook Rd. (Rt. 10)
(.2 mi south from Rt. 10-Rt 20 jct.)
Granby, CT
Children under 6 need an adult partner. Come and join the fun.
Under 3 free
$5 for children 3-12
$8 for 13+
Granby Family Dance Series is on leave until a new sponsor is found. |
Dear Friends and Heart's Ease band members,The 2011-2012 Granby Family Dance Series has been cancelled. The Granby Family Dance Series is in need of new organizational energy and a few people who are willing and able to re-structure the way in which the series is supported with grants from the outside. Unless there is a group of people who want to take this on, the series will be in abeyance for another year, at least. I had hoped to apply for another grant from the Greater Hartford Arts Council this year, which we have had as our funding source for many years running, but I was not able to do that because the board of the organization which has served as the fiscal agent and insurance umbrella for the Granby Family Dance for the past ten years, the Holcomb Farm Learning Center in Granby, CT, voted against continuing to serve in that capacity for the series. I am grateful for all the years in which we did have the support of Holcomb Farm and all the great dances we were able to hold with the support of the Greater Hartford Arts Council Arts and Neighborhood grants. I am also grateful for the dedication of the members of the house band, Heart's Ease, and the many faithful volunteers who have sat at the admission table, brought refreshments and helped with publicity for the series. I personally am not in a position to take the time to investigate alternative ways of getting non-profit status and insurance for the series. I did enroll Granby Family Dance as a group member of the Country Dance and Song Society again this year and both of those are available through them. If anyone wants to work toward continuing the dances, investigating those things and getting them in place will be the first step. I would still be willing to direct the band and be there to play music for the dances, if someone else gets the series up and running again. If any of you are thinking you want to put some time and energy into continuing the series, the Country Dance and Song Society is sponsoring a workshop for dance organizers this Fall. That might be a good place to start. Thanks for all your time and all of our lively evenings together over the years. Laura Mazza-Dixon Mazdxn@aol.com |
The Granby Family Dance series is for for folks of all ages to enjoy the traditional dances and music geared to beginners and children. Everyone from the very young to grandparents is welcome to our series of community contra dances.
Come find out what old-fashioned New Englanders did to drive the cold winter away!
Live music is by Heart's Ease playing popular tunes of colonial America and the British Isles. The band is comprised of musicians from central and northwestern Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts.
Dances are called by Jim Gregory, who is particularly adept at assessing the level of ability of the crowd on any given night and designing dances to suit the occasion. Dances are made up of simple steps and the he makes learning steps very easy. Average attendance is 50 to 75 adults and children a night.
Director Laura Mazza-Dixon. For more information call (860) 653-6146.
Sponsored by
Holcomb Farm Learning Center, South Church. Granby, CT
Greater Hartford Arts Council Neighborhood Arts & Heritage Grant
Lasted edited: 09/02/2011