November 1997 Amanda Kay, editor: akay9@aol.com or 883-7453
NACDS home page: http://www.pobox.com/~bwalls/NACDS.html
This Saturday's dance will feature ever-gracious Nashville caller Chrissy Davis-Camp and a wonderful band we haven't heard here in awhile, Birmingham's Flying Jenny. Chrissy's calling is always great fun, and Flying Jenny, consisting of Jim & Joyce Cauthen and Duncan & Marie Blair, recently won high honors in the old-time string band division at the annual Fiddlers' Convention, in Athens! So come to Faith Presbyterian at 7:30 (7:00 for the beginners' lesson) for what is sure to be a delightful dance.
I received the following e-mail from Carol Mebane, NACDS & Faith Presbyterian member: "CASA (a care organization for the aging and homebound) is sponsoring a weatherproofing day on the morning of Nov. 1. This project provides volunteers to put plastic over windows, caulk around doors and perhaps install a storm door or two. I think that Faith currently has two houses assigned. If any NACDS newsletter readers want to participate with the Faith volunteers, please give me a call (883-7016) and I can give you details, where to meet, what to bring. This is a great opportunity to build our own community by caring for our larger community. It's also great fun!"
We have been thoroughly enjoying the delicious goodies provided mainly by Carol Mebane and Kimberly Hart, during our breaks, and encourage other members to contribute to this valuable service! Carol writes of refreshment at the dances, "[It] promotes conversation, revives the spirit and nourishes the body...Munchies could be almost anything, from cookies, to cake. They could also include things that are actually good for us, such as small apples, bananas, or grapes, and that in-between group of such things as bread, chips, and snack crackers. Then there is always chocolate!! Snacks should be finger foods, that is, foods that don't require a plate or fork and are relatively dripless." In the past, we've given admission discounts to people who brought snacks; please inquire at the door about this.
Our Nov. 15th dance will bring us a special caller from a special place: Linda Allen, from the mountains of Western North Carolina. I've heard good things about Linda as a caller, and we had the privilege of dancing with her again this past weekend, at the Campbell Folk School's wonderful Fall Dance Weekend, in Brasstown. She's looking forward to coming here and calling for us. Music will be provided by our own fine house band, Anon (Chuck Weber, Katrina Coupland, & Steve Nix), who were (surprise!) unmasked as the "mystery band" at our Oct. 4th dance.
Our special fifth-Saturday open-mike dance will be the day after Thanksgiving: a great chance to work off some calories, and perhaps shake off some cabin fever! As always, we welcome aspiring callers and musicians; call Harry (772-0820) if you'd like to call a dance or two (or more!), and Chuck (536-1397) if you'd like to play. An up-&-coming young band with Huntsville & Birmingham connections, headed by Alan Peterson (Elsie's son), Vulcan's Britches will provide our mainstay music. These "Blue Moon" dances have been proving to be a lot of fun, so join us on the 29th!
Those of us who were fortunate enough to be at our most recent dance, on Oct. 18th, were reminded of how fantastic Something Fishy is. This wonderful old-time band, supplemented by members of the venerable Red Mountain White Trash, is always pure dancing pleasure: I dare you to sit still! They will be complemented by congenial Knoxville caller Donna McAllister, whose excellent calling has fueled more than one of our holiday dances. Make your plans now to attend!
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We generally dance the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of each month, in the pleasant and spacious gym (the "family activities building") of Faith Presbyterian Church, located at the southeast corner of Whitesburg Drive and Airport Road, in southeast Huntsville. Each evening begins with a short work- shop at 7:00 p.m. for newcomers and anyone wishing to brush up skills; the actual dance commences at 7:30 and ends around 10:30. A donation is requested, to help pay rent, bands, & callers, but it's quite a bargain for an evening of good clean fun: $5; or $4 if you're an NACDS member (or related to one), or a member of any out-of-town contra-dance group &/or CDSS, the Country Dance & Song Society; or only $3 if you're 12-18 years of age; kids under 12 are admitted free. Please bring a drinking cup; soft-soled, non-marking shoes which are clean and grit-free for dancing; and a name button, if you have one! |
Bryan Walls, our fine treasurer and newsletter editor emeritus, is putting together a new NACDS directory for us. Please check your newsletter label, and notify him (837-0656) of any corrections, or if you do not wish your name, address, or phone number to be included.
ALSO: You can contra-dance every weekend, in Nashville, and not miss any of our own dances! The Nashville Country Dancers usually have special 4th-Saturday dances at Carter Lawrence School (1110 12th Ave. S. at Edgehill), and 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-, & 5th-Friday dances at Woodbine Community Center (222 Oriel St., south of I-440/ Nolensville).
You can also dance English & early American every Monday night in Nashville, at the Cohn Adult Learning Center Library (4805 Park Ave.) Be sure to call newsletter editor Ken Winter at (615) 383-0082 to confirm, or for more details.
Be sure to check the array of fliers at our dances for information, especially on events further afield. Also, please let me know about anything you'd like to see in this newsletter, be it an event, personal news, a correction or addition, or what-have-you. Thanks!
On Oct. 20th & 22nd, members of NACDS managed the phones during the 5-7 p.m. shift of public radio staton WLRH (89.3 FM)'s fundraiser, which was a rousing success. The following members helped out: Daniel Schenker, Bryan Walls, Marcy Robinson, Chuck Weber, Jill McCutcheon, Cher Piette, Natasha Kunin, and I. Thanks to everyone; it was fun!
Belated congratulations & best wishes to our resident caller Harry Delugach and his beloved, Elizabeth Larsen, who were wed on September 7th. A goodly number of NACDS members attended the lovely reception at the Botanical Garden, where we enjoyed a scrumptious repast of elegant hors d'oeuvres & champagne, and danced circle dances and waltzes to the music of Anon..
During the past two months, the following people have joined or renewed their memberships in NACDS: Jim Anthony & Judy Eckert, Glen Adams, Nancy Hollima, Frances Wang, Tina Brown, Les Myrick, Clint Moore, Fred Kolchin, Sherrie Misfeldt, Carole Anne Wilkes, Robin Brown, Anne Yates, and Andrea Frauenberger. We're glad to have you all with us!
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You, too, can join us -- or renew your membership (check your mailing label's date) -- by sending $8 (payable to me, please!) to the address below. You'll receive this monthly newsletter, and you and each of your family members will receive a dollar discount on admission to each of our regular dances. |