Canyon Contra Dance

CANYON CONTRA DANCE
Welcome Contra Dancers!

Once each month on the first Saturday lovers of contra dancing, skilled and beginner alike, gather at the tiny community
of Canyon, California for 3 hours of joyful dancing in a charming schoolhouse under the redwoods and alongside a
bubbling creek.

Each month a different caller and band entertain the assembled dancers who have escaped to this rustic hideaway
for an evening of fun and exercise. We welcome new dancers, families, children, singles, couples. The tradition is to
change partners for each dance, and no one is left out.

For beginners and older dancers rusty on contra dancing, we offer a simple teaching period at 7:30, a half-hour ahead
of the regular dance start time.

There are two short intermission periods, at 9pm and 10pm. The dance runs 8-11pm. There is also a potluck supper
at 7:00 for anyone who would like to have an evening meal before the dancing begins. In congenial weather, the meal
may be served outdoors under the trees.

This month's schedule:

Once again our 10pm door prize will be awarded to one lucky dancer.

Saturday, February 4, 2012:

Dance Caller: Chuck Clay.
Band: Art Peterson and the Festival Contraband.

Caller Chuck Clay is back after his great recent Canyon debut. Chuck is a skilled square dance caller who has recently extended his craft to guiding contra dancers through wonderful moves.

Art Peterson is well known to the California contra community. He brings his Festival Contraband, which may include a large number of players depending on their availability.

We expect the February dance to be a repeat, and maybe bigger, of the fantastic December occasion. Again, one of the December group, dancer Warren, will celebrate his birthday at this dance. You can expect a large celebratory crowd with torrents of fun, and a big potluck dinner hosted by Warren. The optional, but recommended, dinner, is at 7pm. There will no doubt be birthday cake later.

Time & place: Canyon School, 8-11pm; potluck 7:00, beginner teach
7:45. Suggested donation $7 adult, child free with adult/parent. Student $5 or pay as you can. Admission fees support the performers and the school.

Canyon Community is about halfway between Moraga and the Montclair
District of Oakland, on Pinehurst Road. Watch for the School Crossing signs and park in the spaces near the entrance, alongside the fenced
schoolyard or in a convenient space off the road. You may wish to bring
a flashlight because the road is unlighted. See map here.
Lost and found
Photos from previous dances

(Pinehurst Road follows the route of the former Sacramento Northern Railway. The Sacramento Northern was an electric interurban trolley line from the Bay Area to Sacramento and continuing to Oroville and Chico. Passenger service on this line ended in 1941, while freight service continued until 1956.--Yorkman Lowe.)

Lost and found
Map to Canyon School
The holidays in Canyon
Check current weather in Canyon
Photos from previous dances
Canyon potluck recipes
Description of contra dance figures
Dance manners
World's first dance craze?
Links to other events
Contra Dance Books Browse books on Contra Dance
Home page
Join Sierra Club for $25 and receive a FREE Rucksack.


Free Counter