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We have a little bit of space at Contra Carnivale 2008! If you would like to register, email carnivale@cccds.org or call 805-682-8248 before Friday, January 18th.
To be placed on the email notification list
for Contra Carnivlae 2009, please click here
January 18-20, 2008 |
San Luis Obispo, California |
Wild Asparagus - Hillbillies From Mars
The Syncopaths
George Marshall - Susan Michaels
Joyce Miller
with Erik Hoffman leading music jams
& Michael Gutin providing music during breaks
Please join us for our 3rd annual
Contra Carnivale, a contra dance event in San Luis Obispo over Martin Luther King weekend.
Since it coincides with the beginning of the season, we’ll decorate in a Mardi Gras theme and
encourage “Mardi Gras festive” attire - especially for the Saturday evening dance! Bring your
sequins and feathers and we’ll supply beads for everybody!
New this year:
# Erik Hoffman will coordinate musical jam sessions in the afternoons,
so bring your instruments and plan to spend some time making music, instead of just dancing to it.
# Michael Gutin will play couples' dance music on his accordion during breaks for those who just can't get enough dancing.
# The Syncopaths will provide a concert during a complimentary Sunday Brunch.
Centrally located near the coast mid way between the San Franciso Bay area and Los
Angeles, San Luis Obispo is a great place to
visit. We’ll fill your afternoons and evenings with high-energy contra dancing, but you’ll
have Saturday and Sunday mornings to sleep in or do a little exploring and adventuring on your
own.
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Friday:
8:00 - 11:30 George Marshall & Wild Asparagus
Saturday:
12:00 - 2:30 George Marshall & Wild Asparagus
3:00 - 5:30 Joyce Miller &
The Syncopaths
5:30 - 8:00 dinner on your own
8:00 - 11:30 Susan Michaels & Hillbillies From Mars.
Sunday:
10:00-11:15 - The Syncopaths will serenade us
as we enjoy a complimentary brunch at the hall.
11:30 - 2:00 Susan Michaels & Hillbillies From Mars
2:30 - 5:00 Joyce Miller
& The Syncopaths
5:00 - 7:00 dinner on your own
7:00 - 10:30 George Marshall & Wild Asparagus
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Wild Asparagus, Ann Percival
(piano, guitar, vocals), David Cantieni (flutes, tin-whistle, oboe, saxophone, bombard), George
Marshall (English concertina, bodhran, bones), Stuart Kenney (bass), and Becky Tracy (fiddle)
is a five-person band from Western Massachusetts. Drawing upon music from New England, the
British Isles, and Canada, as well as classical sources, Wild Asparagus takes an original
approach to the traditional dance music of our folk heritage. Using their unique blend of
instruments, creativity, and skills, they offer a sensitive and powerful performance. Since
1984, Wild Asparagus has been highly successful in bringing their music to dances and concerts
throughout the United States. We're thrilled to have them play for us at Contra Carnivale again this year!
Back for his 3rd Contra Carnivale, George Marshall was introduced to square and contra dancing in the early seventies while
working as a summer trail crew volunteer in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He quickly
became an avid dancer, seeking out dance venues wherever he could find them. While attending
college in Amherst, Mass he founded a contra-dance band, Swallowtail, with some fellow students
and began calling and playing for dances. Now a full-time musician/caller/dance teacher, George
tours nationally throughout the year with Wild Asparagus. George's specialty is teaching and
calling the New England-style contra dances he has collected throughout the country. He is
renown for his knack of matching music to dance and for his smooth, concise teaching and
presentation. Also a talented musician, he plays concertina and bodhran and has recorded on
eight albums. In addition to performing and teaching, George produces music and dance events
including week-long winter dance vacations in the Caribbean, and Hawaii.
The Hillbillies From Mars, Kevin Carr
(fiddle, bagpipes, accordion, banjo, vocals), Ray Bierl (fiddle, guitar, vocals), Paul Kotapish
(mandolin, guitar, percussion), and Daniel Steinberg (keyboards, flute, percussion), have been
rocking the contra dance scene in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1983 and Contra Carnivale for 3 years in a row! They combine their
love and dedication to Celtic and American traditional fiddle music with a healthy dose of
their own "folk roots" of rock 'n' roll, swing, Latin and African beats, forging a new
tradition of dance music.
Susan Michaels has been calling contras, squares, and family dances for 16 years and has
toured extensively throughout the western United States and Canada. We love her so much that we've
invited her back for her 3rd Contra Carnivale too. Susan offers
contemporary and traditional dances that are smooth and interesting, always with the
emphasis on flow to complement the music. She is known for her dry, quirky humor which
often borders on the inappropriate, always mindful of the fine line between clever and
stupid. Most importantly, Susan’s goal at every dance is to facilitate the pleasure of
the dancers. In her other life, Susan is an award-winning documentarian whose work can
be seen regularly on The History Channel – which "isn’t really that big of a deal since
most contra dancers don’t get cable".
The Syncopaths,
a vibrant West Coast band offering a fresh, contemporary take on Celtic music
were so well-received at our first Contra Carnivale that we're bringing them back again! The music of The Syncopaths
"...stretches the boundaries melodically and also keeps a steady beat going..."
Fiddler Ryan McKasson, pianist Jeffrey Spero, bodhran player and vocalist Christa Burch and multi-instrumentalist
Bill Flores make up this energetic and inventive quartet.
Joyce Miller began contra dancing in the early 1990s in Sacramento and
the Bay Area. After her calling debut in 2000, it didn’t take long for
Joyce to become one of the most sought-after callers in Northern
California. For the past six years, her session of contras and squares
has been a highlight of the Fall Has Sprung 12-hour dance festival in
her hometown of Grass Valley. Joyce has called throughout the western
states and into Canada, spreading the gospel of dances selected for
maximum enjoyment and taught with clarity and wit. As a caller, her
goals are to match the program to the dancers, showcase the musicians,
and avoid gimmicks. On the other hand, when the spirit moves her, Joyce
has been known to call a singing square.
Erik Hoffman is an accomplished musician
who plays fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bodhran, and just about anything else he gets his hands
on. Erik loves the spirit and joy that is passed along with traditional music and dance and
loves to share his enthusiasm. Bring your instruments and plan to participate in musical jam sessions with Erik each afternoon. Erik also calls contra dances and currently helps organize the Wednesday dance series in Berkeley.
The accordion music of Michael Gutin can best be described as “eccentric eclectic.” This year, he will play
couple-dance tunes during the breaks between bands for those of you who just can't get enough dancing.
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As of Septmeber 14, both the Travelodge (805-543-5110) and the Villa (805-543-8071) Motels are completely booked,
but there may be cancellations, especially as the event gets closer, so check back with them. We've just booked additional
rooms at the Los Padres Motel, 1575 Monterey Street, at $69/1 bed or $79/2beds. To get this rate, be sure to mention
that you are attending Contra Carnivale. Their number is 805-543-5090.
Also relatively inexpensive and within a 5-minute walk of the hall:
Super 8 1951 Monterey Street: 805-544-6888
There are several other motels nearby too. Here's a comprehensive listing.
A somewhat less expensive alternative is Hostel Obispo, which is about a mile from the hall. The proprietor is a local contra dancer and she would love to fill the hostel with Carnivale attendees that weekend!
Camping is available at several
County parks and State parks
in the area. Reservations are required.
The Syncopaths will serenade us during a complimentary Sunday Brunch at the hall where you'll have an opportunity to socialize with other Carnivale attendees while you prepare for
another day of fabulous contra dancing.
No other meals are included as part of Contra Carnivale, but there are a great many good restaurants
in the area. We will have information about them available at the event. Beverages and snacks
will be provided throughout the weekend.
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Click here to download a pdf application.
Pre-registration is required and applications will be accepted in the order they are received
with consideration given to gender balance. Acceptances (or waiting list notifications) will be
sent shortly after receipt of your application. After 12/15/2007, refunds for cancellations
will be contingent on the filling of vacancies. We will charge a $15 administrative fee on all
cancellations. Registrations are not transferable.
To register, send application and $110 per registrant (check payable to CCCDS) to our registrar,
Cynthia Boche at the address below. If you are unable to open the pdf registration form, just
send your (clearly printed) name, gender, address, email address, and phone number and indicate whether we can
print your contact information on the event roster.
CCCDS - Contra Carnivale
1716 Robbins Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Please contact Cynthia at carnivale@cccds.org or 805-682-8248 if you have questions.
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CCCDS's Contra Carnivale will be held at the San Luis Obispo Veterans' Memorial Building at 801 Grand Avenue.
From the South: Take the Grand Avenue (Cal Poly) exit from Highway 101. Turn right onto
Grand Avenue and look for the Vets' Hall on the right between Mill & Palm Streets.
From the North: Take the Monterey Street (Cal Poly) exit from Highway 101. Turn left
across the freeway, then turn right onto Monterey Street. Turn right on Grand Avenue at the
first light, then almost immediately left into the Vets' Hall parking lot.
Map of 801 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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