June 1st Contradance
The June dance will be on Friday June 1st at the Presbyterian Church (corner of Pioneer St and Church St). Bob Nicholson will be calling and the band will be O'Shanigans.
O'Shanigans is a 3-piece band from Ithaca, made up of Phil Robinson, Tim Ball, and Mike Ludgate. Each of them has deep musical backgrounds, they all play several instruments and are members of several different bands. But with O'Shanigans, Phil plays guitar, Mike is on mandolin and Tim provides the fiddling. Their music represents styles and sounds of Celtic traditions, as well as various areas of America and throughout the world. Check their website http://www.canaaninstitute,org/oshanigans.html to find out more about this great group.
Bob Nicholson is a familiar face, calling contradances since 1990 throughout New York, Pennsylvania and beyond. His relaxed style and patience make him especially successful with beginner dances and he has a knack for selecting the right dance for the skill level of the crowd. If you are new at contradancing, or have been thinking of trying it, this would be a great time to come.
The June dance is the last one before we break for the summer, so try to get there.
May 4th Contradance
Friday May 4th will be the next contradance at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown and the entertainment will be provided by the Walker Family Band.
A real-life family, parents Kathy on fiddle and Jeff on guitar started playing contradances around NY and New England. Then as their family grew, so did the band! With the kids adding a wide variety of instruments, the Walker family plays a lively mix of Irish, Scottish, French-Canadian, Scandinavian and American fiddle music. And Dad Jeff also does the calling!
At our dance, Kathy and Jeff will be joined by five of their children ... Peter playing pennywhistle and accordion, Mary Claire on bass, Patrick playing flute and guitar, Forrest, percussion and Laurel on fiddle and mandolin.
This delightful combination of adults, children and teens, brings an energy and excitement which is unique and sure to provide another wonderful dance experience!
A real-life family, parents Kathy on fiddle and Jeff on guitar started playing contradances around NY and New England. Then as their family grew, so did the band! With the kids adding a wide variety of instruments, the Walker family plays a lively mix of Irish, Scottish, French-Canadian, Scandinavian and American fiddle music. And Dad Jeff also does the calling!
At our dance, Kathy and Jeff will be joined by five of their children ... Peter playing pennywhistle and accordion, Mary Claire on bass, Patrick playing flute and guitar, Forrest, percussion and Laurel on fiddle and mandolin.
This delightful combination of adults, children and teens, brings an energy and excitement which is unique and sure to provide another wonderful dance experience!
April 6th Contradance
Our next contradance will be on Friday April 6th at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown. The featured band will be the Flying Garbanzos with caller Hannah Otten.
Flying Garbanzos is a four-piece contra dance band based in North Adams, Mass. Band members are Eric Buddington on fiddle, Tony Pisano, playing guitar and piano accordion, Josh Pisano, percussion and Dale Ott on bass. They play original, contemporary and traditional instrumental tunes, generally of Irish, French-Canadian and Appalachian origin. Their range of styles is diverse, from straight ahead danceable jigs and reels, with occasional touches of Latin, Cajun or swing inflection, to waltzes and airs.
You can hear their music on youtube. Try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fahP6bPd2Xw or check out their website (http://flyinggarbanzos.com ) for links to other videos and MP3 files.
Hannah is a dancer and caller from eastern NYS and has been calling there and in western Massachusetts. Skilled with beginners as well as experienced dancers, she brings fun and an infectious joy to the evening.
With the band's lively music and Hannah enthusiasm, it's sure to be a evening of great music and lots of fun!
Flying Garbanzos is a four-piece contra dance band based in North Adams, Mass. Band members are Eric Buddington on fiddle, Tony Pisano, playing guitar and piano accordion, Josh Pisano, percussion and Dale Ott on bass. They play original, contemporary and traditional instrumental tunes, generally of Irish, French-Canadian and Appalachian origin. Their range of styles is diverse, from straight ahead danceable jigs and reels, with occasional touches of Latin, Cajun or swing inflection, to waltzes and airs.
You can hear their music on youtube. Try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fahP6bPd2Xw or check out their website (http://flyinggarbanzos.com ) for links to other videos and MP3 files.
Hannah is a dancer and caller from eastern NYS and has been calling there and in western Massachusetts. Skilled with beginners as well as experienced dancers, she brings fun and an infectious joy to the evening.
With the band's lively music and Hannah enthusiasm, it's sure to be a evening of great music and lots of fun!
March 2nd Contradance
Otsego Dance Society will hold its monthly first-Friday contradance on March 2nd at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown. Carol Mandigo, Bernd Neuman and Rob Grassi will be providing the music and Garry Aney is the caller.
Playing together as 'Traverse', the band plays a wide variety of Quebecois, Irish, Scottish, Breton, English and American Old-time tunes. Carol plays guitar and does vocals, Bernie is a 15-year veteran on the fiddle, and Rob plays mandolin, guitar, and Irish tenor banjo.
Garry combines his love of historical interpretation with modern influences to call a balance of contemporary and traditional contra dances. Dances range from the Revolutionary War era, through the nineteenth, twentieth and even twenty-first centuries.
It promises to be a great night of music and dance, so try to join us.
Playing together as 'Traverse', the band plays a wide variety of Quebecois, Irish, Scottish, Breton, English and American Old-time tunes. Carol plays guitar and does vocals, Bernie is a 15-year veteran on the fiddle, and Rob plays mandolin, guitar, and Irish tenor banjo.
Garry combines his love of historical interpretation with modern influences to call a balance of contemporary and traditional contra dances. Dances range from the Revolutionary War era, through the nineteenth, twentieth and even twenty-first centuries.
It promises to be a great night of music and dance, so try to join us.
February 3rd Contradance
Our next monthly contradance will be held on Friday February 3rd at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown. Hilton Baxter will be calling to music by Peter Blue & Friends.
Hilton began calling contradances in the late 1990's and was the founder of the Contradance in Binghamton.
He has called with many of the great contra musicians, primarily in Eastern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.
Peter has been playing for contradances for many years. His skills include playing a variety of percussion instruments, diatonic accordions and the nyckelharpa and his repertoire spans traditional and contemporary,
with a special love for Quebecois and Swedish music.
Peter plays with many 'Friends', musicians from the local area. For this dance, we are expecting Carol Mandigo on guitar and a surprise fiddler. Whoever he brings, he always provides an exciting evening of music
and fun.
Hilton began calling contradances in the late 1990's and was the founder of the Contradance in Binghamton.
He has called with many of the great contra musicians, primarily in Eastern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.
Peter has been playing for contradances for many years. His skills include playing a variety of percussion instruments, diatonic accordions and the nyckelharpa and his repertoire spans traditional and contemporary,
with a special love for Quebecois and Swedish music.
Peter plays with many 'Friends', musicians from the local area. For this dance, we are expecting Carol Mandigo on guitar and a surprise fiddler. Whoever he brings, he always provides an exciting evening of music
and fun.
January 6th Contradance
Our first contradance in 2012 will be held on Friday January 6th at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown. Peter Blue will be calling and music will be provided by Erik House and Carol Mandigo,
Both Erik and Carol are local performers who have been playing for more that 30 year each. Erik, a familiar face from Springfield Center, has been fiddling most of his life. Carol plays guitar and frequently teams up with other area musicians. Their repertoire is primarily a mix of Irish, French Canadian & American dance tunes.
Peter Blue has been calling contradances throughout the Northeast for years. He has an easygoing calling style and sense of humor that makes the dances enjoyable for everyone at all levels of dance experience.
In addition, he occasionally joins with the band, adding his percussion & instrumental skills.
We're looking forward to another great year ofmusic and dancing...hope to see you Friday!
Both Erik and Carol are local performers who have been playing for more that 30 year each. Erik, a familiar face from Springfield Center, has been fiddling most of his life. Carol plays guitar and frequently teams up with other area musicians. Their repertoire is primarily a mix of Irish, French Canadian & American dance tunes.
Peter Blue has been calling contradances throughout the Northeast for years. He has an easygoing calling style and sense of humor that makes the dances enjoyable for everyone at all levels of dance experience.
In addition, he occasionally joins with the band, adding his percussion & instrumental skills.
We're looking forward to another great year ofmusic and dancing...hope to see you Friday!
December 2nd Contradance
As we head into the holiday season, the ODS December dance will feature Casey Mullaney calling and music performed by August Wheat. The dance will be held Friday December 2nd at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown at 8:00 pm.
August Wheat, one of the featured groups at this year's Phylla Mae Festival, is composed of fiddlers Hope Grietzer and Eileen Nicholson and Tom Hodgson on guitar.
Hope is a recent inductee into the NYS Fiddlers' Hall of Fame and, in addition to performing, is a popular fiddling teacher. (See more about Hope on her website http://happyhollowmusic.com/ ).
Eileen grew up playing both violin and fiddle and adds a smooth sound to the trio.
Tom's innovative guitar embellishment has accompanied many of the great fiddlers, and he plays regularly with Hope and Eileen, as well as for the Contradictions and other bands.
Casey is an up-and-coming young caller from Niskayuna, NY. She is a student at Hartwick College and after becoming involved in the Pine Lake dance series, her love of dancing led her into becoming a caller. Since then, she has been calling at dances throughout Central New York.
August Wheat, one of the featured groups at this year's Phylla Mae Festival, is composed of fiddlers Hope Grietzer and Eileen Nicholson and Tom Hodgson on guitar.
Hope is a recent inductee into the NYS Fiddlers' Hall of Fame and, in addition to performing, is a popular fiddling teacher. (See more about Hope on her website http://happyhollowmusic.com/ ).
Eileen grew up playing both violin and fiddle and adds a smooth sound to the trio.
Tom's innovative guitar embellishment has accompanied many of the great fiddlers, and he plays regularly with Hope and Eileen, as well as for the Contradictions and other bands.
Casey is an up-and-coming young caller from Niskayuna, NY. She is a student at Hartwick College and after becoming involved in the Pine Lake dance series, her love of dancing led her into becoming a caller. Since then, she has been calling at dances throughout Central New York.
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