GRAND PICNIC Performs for Tonight's NYC Contra Dance

Country Dance*New York will present a lively contra dance tonight, May 11th, from 8:00 pm to 10:45 pm at the Church of the Village (201 West 13th Street, Manhattan). No previous experience is required and it is not necessary to come with a partner. From 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm there is a beginners' workshop, and the caller walks everyone through the patterns of each dance. Dynamic and spirited music will be performed by the popular New York-based dance band, Grand Picnic.

Grand Picnic plays high energy contra dance music, combining the rhythmic drive of old-time Southern tunes with French Canadian and New England fiddle music. The band is comprised of Jody Kruskal (Anglo concertina, percussion), Michael Gorin (fiddle), Bill Peek (piano), Marco Brehm (bass), and Sam Zygmuntowicz (fiddle, mandolin). Their enthusiastic music-making reveals deep respect for tradition enlivened by creative improvisation and a bit of playful irreverence. Richard Fisher, a highly regarded contra dance caller, will lead the proceedings.

Contra dancing is having a renaissance around the country, thanks to a thriving youth scene; high energy, acoustic music; and joyful, fast-paced, aerobic dancing. There is plenty of swinging your partner and lots of fun, flirting and eye contact. Contra dancing started in New England in the 1700s, but the modern version is a far cry from the Virginia Reel-type dancing done in schools years ago. The current dancing is done in long lines of dancers facing their partners and moving briskly in patterns to live music, sometimes changing partners.

General Information: Admission is $15 general public, and $12 for full-time students with ID. First timers get a free pass to use to come another time. For more information visit the Country Dance*New York website, www.cdny.org or call The Dancephone at 212.459.4080. Attendees are asked to bring a separate pair of clean, soft-soled shoes for dancing.