Wear your SPOOKY costume to the Sautee Contra Dance. On Saturday, October 26, SNCA will have a contra dance with music by the band Whistlin’ Rufus and calling by Doug Singleton. Whistlin’ Rufus comes to us from the Atlanta area and Dahlonega, and consists of Ann Whitley on fiddle, Doug Olsen on mandolin, Cindy Olsen on bass and John Day, sitting in for Peter Jenkins, on guitar.

On Saturday, September 28, SNCA will have a contra dance with music by the band Contraplicity and calling by Tavi Merrill. Contraplicity will be familiar to Sautee contra dancers under the band’s former name, Free Association. This dance will be preceded by a potluck dinner, to which all are invited—just bring a dish to share.

Get ready to dance to an exuberant mix of northern and southern contra dance music and a number of original tunes played by the three talented musicians of Contraplicity.  Their repertoire and style draw from New England, Quebecois, Celtic, contemporary, and old-time tunes, and other influences that make their way “into our music by a process of free association.”

The band members are Bob Kirkman on fiddle, Bill Porter on flutes and whistles, and Stven Carlberg on piano.  These three each have played contra dance music for many years but first played together in 2008 as a pick-up band for the mid-week contra dance in Atlanta, Georgia.  Since putting their act on the road, Contraplicity has enlivened contra dances in five states and a dozen cities across the Southeast.

Tavi Merrill will be calling in Sautee for the first time. Tavi was introduced to contradance in the grange halls of rural Maine shortly after taking up fiddle in his late teens. After co-founding a successful dance series near Bangor, and energized by open mic opportunities at the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend, he began calling in 2007.

With a move to Boston in 2011, he redoubled his efforts to grow as a dance leader, and has since called in ten states from New England to Florida. He is grateful for the camaraderie and encouragement of "calleagues" like Chris Ricciotti, Nils Fredland, Lisa Greenleaf, George Marshall, and of developing-caller peers around Boston.

With a warm, reassuring stage presence and rhythmic, lyrical delivery, Tavi strives to both welcome newcomers and stimulate experienced dancers. He takes seriously the opportunity to steward and interpret our tradition - from stately to stomptastic, with all its uncommon courtesy and kinematic vorticity - but he has also loads of fun with it.

Come join the friendly dancers of Sautee. If you have contra danced you know how much fun it can be. If not, come on out to try it. If you can walk you can contra dance. The caller will tell you the moves, so learning the dance is not necessary.

No experience is needed. It is not necessary to bring a partner. Bringing snacks to share is welcomed. Bring a dinner dish to share if you come for the potluck, which starts at 6:30 pm. There is a free contra dance lesson at 7:30 pm., followed by dancing at 8:00 pm. This fun event is held at the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center historic gym, at 283 Highway 255 N., ¼ mile off Highway 17 in Sautee, Georgia, (706) 878-3300. Admission: Students & Teens $6,  SNCA members $8,and non-members $10.  Visit www.Sauteecontra.com or www.snca.org for more information.

On Saturday, August 24, we welcome the PB&J Stringband to the SNCA contra dance stage. PB&J (Pan, Brett, and Jenny) have each played for dances across the country, but are a new band from western North Carolina. Pan is the rhythm-meister on an old Gibson guitar. Her favorite pastime is sharing a beat with dancers. Brett plays banjo and ukulele with the same intensity that he drives a tractor: reckless abandon! Jenny is a powerhouse fiddler who rejuvenates traditional old time tunes with her artful bowing style. Like their namesake, PB&J Stringband is musically delicious and will leave you wanting more!

The caller that night is Angela Schneider from Memphis, a very knowledgeable and experienced caller and musician whose background in math, engineering, and textile design informs her leading of contra dances.

If you have contra danced you know how much fun it can be. If not, come on out to try it. If you can walk you can contra dance. The caller will tell you the moves, so learning the dance is not necessary.

No experience is needed. It is not necessary to bring a partner. Bringing snacks to share is welcomed. Dancing, preceded by a free lesson at 7:30 p.m., is held at the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center historic gym, at 283 Highway 255 N., ¼ mile off Highway 17 in Sautee, Georgia, (706) 878-3300. Visit www.Sauteecontra.com or www.snca.org for more information.

On Saturday, July 27, we welcome the band, Boom Chuck, to the SNCA contra dance stage. Boom Chuck from Asheville features Laurie Fisher on fiddle, along with Nic Coker on guitar and Geraud Barallon on bass.

The band is a high-energy contra band that plays exquisitely danceable fiddle tunes, always giving a good ride thru southern, northern, Celtic and French Canadian styles, with a great swingy back rhythm. Boom Chuck has become a regional favorite for years, bringing their tried-and-true brand of joyful contra music to dances and dance weekends across the land. The caller that night will be David Winston. David has been dancing for 13 years and calling for 10 of those years.
 
If you have contra danced you know how much fun it can be. If not, come on out to try it. If you can walk you can contra dance. The caller will tell you the moves, so learning the dance is not necessary.
 
This special evening is a bargain at $7 for SNCA members, $10 for other adults, $5 for students, and free for children under 12. No experience is needed. It is not necessary to bring a partner. Bringing snacks to share is welcomed. Dancing, preceded by a free lesson at 7:30 p.m., is held at the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center historic gym, at 283 Highway 255 N., ¼ mile off Highway 17 in Sautee, Georgia, (706) 878-3300. Visit www.Sauteecontra.com or www.snca.org for more information.

On Saturday, July 6, we welcome the band, Lava, to our contra dance stage. Lava includes Karina Wilson (fiddle), George Paul (piano), and Steve Kemble (percussion). Karina Wilson is an extraordinary fiddler from Santa Fe who has performed in Europe and across the U.S. She also plays violin, viola, cello, as well as sings. George Paul is a well-known performer in Sautee who has been playing piano since he was three. Steve Kemble is a percussion master. Called by Atlanta’s Rob Harper, this is a dance you will not want to miss!

If you have contra danced you know how much fun it can be. If not, come on out to try it. If you can walk, you can contra dance. The caller will tell you the moves, so learning the dance is not necessary.

This special evening is a bargain at $7 for SNCA members, $10 for other adults, $5 for students, and free for children under 12. No experience is needed. It is not necessary to bring a partner. Bringing snacks to share is welcomed. Dancing, preceded by a free lesson at 7:30 p.m., is held at the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center historic gym, at 283 Highway 255 N., ¼ mile off Highway 17 in Sautee, Georgia, (706) 878-3300. Visit www.Sauteecontra.com or www.snca.org for more information.

Come contra dancing on Saturday, October 27, with caller Abigail Hobart and the band Whistlin’ Rufus.

This dance party is THE alternative to your boring costume gathering. Wear your finest and scariest costume while dancing to choreographed moves to live music. After dancing until your bones shake loose, enjoy a feast of frightening proportions during the break.

Abigail Hobart is the caller who has been contra dancing since she was eight years old. She began calling while on a four-month backpacking trip through Europe. She states on her website that “Growing up in the local folk community was so important to me; I felt connected and loved, free to express myself, and enthralled.” Come to the dance and experience this connection yourself.

The Whistlin’ Rufus band will be playing hauntingly beautiful music. The band consists of Ann Whitley on fiddle; Doug Olsen, mandolin; Cindy Olsen, bass; and Matt Levine, guitar.

Contra dance is a fun and easy-to-learn way to get great exercise while listening to fine music and making new friends. No experience is needed. It is not necessary to bring a partner. Come by 7:30 p.m. for free lessons, with dancing from at 8 to 11 p.m. Admission is a bargain at $7 for SNCA members, $10 for other adults, $5 for students, and free for children under 12.

Dances are held at the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center historic gym, at 283 Highway 255 N., ¼ mile off Highway 17 in Sautee, Georgia, (706) 878-3300. Visit www.Sauteecontra.com or www.snca.org for more information.

Get ready for another fun evening of contra dancing in Sautee, on Saturday, September 22, with band Cattywampas and caller Susan Davis.  Last month 150 dancers enjoyed the dance. Come find out what drew so many to the Sautee contra dance.

Cattywampas is a four-person band much in demand throughout the Southeast community of contra dancing. The four members have a long, active history as musicians in the region.

Fiddler Tim Cape and guitarist Scott Russell, originators of the band, are both legendary musicians in the Atlanta contra dance community. They have provided an eclectic mix of dance music with a hearty old-time core since the beginnings of the Atlanta community dances in the mid-1970s. Over the years, they have joined their talents with many musician friends to play for contra dances and other community events.
 
Fiddler Jan Smith and acoustic bassist Pete Senkowski have played with Cattywampas for several years. Pete, known for his upbeat and reliable rhythmic playing, backs up the band with strong, acoustic playing and has been the bassist of choice for many other groups as well. Jan is an accomplished old-time fiddler with many contest wins to her credit and has recorded with several different groups, including The Rosin Sisters, with whom she sings and plays both banjo and fiddle.
 
Caller and musician Susan Davis, along with her husband Scott Russell, has been a key player in establishing and nurturing contra dancing in the Atlanta area as part of the traditional Appalachian music scene for over thirty years. Susan has called regularly with the Chattahoochee Country Dancers and as a guest caller at dances throughout the Southeast. Both beginning and experienced dancers love her clear calling and helpful instruction.
 
Contra dance is a fun and easy-to-learn way to get great exercise while listening to fine music and making new friends. No experience is needed. It is not necessary to bring a partner. Come by 7:30 p.m. for free lessons, with dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. Admission is a bargain at $7 for SNCA members, $10 for other adults, $5 for students, and free for children under 12. Dances are held at the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center historic gym, 283 Highway 255 N., ¼ mile off Highway 17 in Sautee, Georgia, (706) 878-3300. Visit www.Sauteecontra.com or www.snca.org for more information.

Laurie Fisher, a dazzling fiddler from Asheville, NC, has assembled two equally dazzling musicians as the band Boom Chuck for the May 19 contra dance at the Sautee Nacoochee Center. Complimenting an evening of high energy dancing will be veteran caller Cis Hinkle from Atlanta.

Laurie Fisher has made several recordings for contra dancing over the years, most notably with the band String Beings. With Boom Chuck, she will play lead fiddle, accompanied by Nic Coker on guitar and Géraud Barralon on fiddle and acoustic bass.

Nic Coker is known to Sautee dancers for his guitar and fiddle playing with the band, The Stuff. Based in Asheville, he plays a wide range of energetic fiddle tunes covering many styles that keep the dancers moving. He plays with other contra dance bands, such as Spinning Wheel and Kudzoo.

Géraud Barralon comes from the Rhône-Alpes region of France. Drawn to the Django Reinhardt style of rhythmic swing guitar, he has performed for swing dances in France and has recorded original and traditional French songs accompanying himself on guitar, fiddle or octave mandolin. As part of the French Appalachian old-time band Ida Red Trio, Geraud has played bass for contra and square dances both in the States and abroad. He currently lives near the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina, where his wife recently served as director of the music and dance program. The couple now joins other traditional musicians in the area to play music events and mentor younger musicians through Geraud’s role as director of the Cherokee County Junior Appalachian Music program.

Cis Hinkle is one of the most sought-after contra dance callers on the circuit. She is much in demand at music and dance festivals from the USA to England and Denmark. Cis has delighted contra and square dancers since 1985 with her skilled teaching, welcoming manner, playful enthusiasm, and masterful selection of dances. When not on the road, Cis teaches t’ai chi classes in her native Atlanta, Georgia. 

Introductory lesson, 7:30 pm; dance, 8-11 pm. No partner or prior experience necessary.  SNCA members, $7; non-members, $10; students, $5; children 12 and under, free. The SNC historic gym is located at 283 Highway 255 North, ¼ mile off Highway 17 in Sautee, Georgia. Contact: (706) 878-3300; www.snca.org or www.sauteecontra.com.

Get on your dancing shoes, or just come to listen, because three phenomenal musicians from three different states will meet in Sautee to play for the April 28, 2018 contra dance. They promise a repertoire of powerful, eclectic, lyrical and highly entertaining music that includes Celtic, Appalachian Old-Time, Jazz, Rock and Roll, and original tunes. Veteran caller Warren Doyle from Tennessee will team up with the threesome.

Ed Howe, a master fiddler from Maine, assembled the band that includes another fiddler, Rob Zisette, from Virginia, and guitarist Roger Gold, from North Carolina. Ed is known for his exquisite talent for improvisation and wide-ranging palette of traditional and original fiddle tunes, from New England, Acadian, and bluegrass to contemporary folk and electronica. He is also a sound technician with a reputation for unique design of systems, especially for contra dancing.

Fiddle player Rob Zisette has played fiddle and various other instruments, including vocals, since childhood.  His sound is lyrical, improvisational and driving. As an avid contra dancer, Rob says he likes to play in a way that gives dancers the best experience possible. His main band has been Toss the Possum, a nationally esteemed group that includes his classically trained pianist mother and two older siblings on bass, saxophone, flute and Irish whistle.  

Roger Gold has brought his talents to Sautee on several occasions with the bands The Elftones, Steamshovel, and others. His playing is legendary, ranging from Celtic and Jazz styles to oozing intricate melodic playing, and he accentuates this playing with foot percussion.

Caller Warren Doyle has been involved in the contra dance scene as a dancer, caller, and dance event organizer for over forty years. An advocate of Appalachian life and culture and director of the Appalachian Trail Institute, Dr. Doyle helped found a folk school near Mountain City, Tennessee, that provides quality contra dancing and music for the local rural community. A life-long educator, Warren has a calling style marked by clarity and patience and is especially helpful with beginner dancers. Of special note, he has walked the Appalachian Trail seventeen times.

Ed Howe’s involvement in traditional music is extensive. Steeped in old-time bluegrass music as a fiddler since an early age, Ed currently plays with at least three other groups: the New England bluegrass band Gather Rounders; JEMS, a four-piece contra dance band; and a two-person band, Barefoot. He co-founded the band Perpetual e-Motion, a widely acclaimed twosome that performed and recorded unique music for contra dancers throughout the country.

Regarding his passion for playing dance music, Ed says: “I exceedingly enjoy weaving in and out of tunes building energy and resolving tension … Music is a feeling not a sound: it should be felt in the soul, from me to you, a gift of which I am honored, humbled and very pleased to offer.”

Introductory lesson, 7:30 pm; dance, 8-11 pm.  No partner or prior experience necessary. SNCA members, $7; non-members, $10; students, $5; children 12 and under, free. The SNC historic gym is located at 283 Highway 255 North, ¼ mile off Highway 17 in Sautee, Georgia. Contact: (706) 878-3300;  www.snca.org or www.sauteecontra.com.