CONTRASHOCK Invites You to Two Days of Dancing and Live Music in New York City

On Friday, September 30th and Saturday, October 1st, Country Dance*New York (CD*NY) and Brooklyn Contra present Contrashock!, two days of contra dancing and live, high-energy music with two of the most in-demand contra dance bands,The Mean Lids and Barefoot, and two nationally renowned callers, Will Mentor and Gaye Fifer.

Contra dancing is enjoying a renaissance around the country, thanks to a thriving youth scene, lively music and joyful, fast-paced dancing. A social dance form that is open and accessible to all, Contra dancing is a great way to meet interesting people. To the instructions from a Dance Caller, dancers move down long lines and through patterns, dancing with their current partner and also with everyone they meet. While rooted in older folk traditions, modern contra dancing is a far cry from the Virginia Reels done in schools years ago. ALL ARE WELCOME. For dancers, no previous experience required, and no partner necessary. Callers teach the patterns of each dance, making contra dancing fun and easy for all.

Virtuosic fiddler Ed Howe and wunderkind Jamie Oshima burst onto the scene and immediately began playing dance weekends all over the country as BAREFOOT. Jamie's guitar, drums, feet percussion, piano, and vocals paired with Howe's sensational bluegrass, contra fiddling, and improvisations create BAREFOOT'S driving rhythm, epic dynamics and rocking style of contra music.

The smooth, lyrical waltzes and trance-inducing rhythms of THE MEAN LIDS mesmerize dancers all over the country. Ben Smith (fiddle, baritone fiddle, banjo, low whistle, and kick drum), Matt Turino (guitar, fiddle and feet), and Miriam Larson (flute and jaw harp) play driving southern old-time and Irish folk tunes, seasoned with spicy cajun-zydeco and hot western swing.

Drawing from New England traditions, the trio delights in bringing infectious, uplifting music to dance floors throughout the country. They have traveled and performed throughout the continent, playing in more than twenty U.S. states and three Canadian provinces, while attracting a large following.

WILL MENTOR is a beloved contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. Pittsburgh-based contra dance caller GAYE FIFER is known across the country for her warm and encouraging personality, smooth dance choices, and concise teaching.

Dance schedule

Friday, Sept 30 with The Mean Lids and Will Mentor

7:30 pm Contra Dance Lesson

8-11 pm Contra Dance for All

Camp Friendship

339 8th St.

Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11215

(Easy to reach via F, R, G trains. Be sure to check http://www.mta.info for service updates)

To protect the hall floors, please bring clean, soft-soled shoes.

Saturday, October 1 with The Mean Lids and Barefoot with Will Mentor and Gaye Fifer

2:15 pm - 5:30 pm Challenging Contras

7:00-7:30pm Contra Dance Lesson for New Dancers

7:30-10:45 pm Contra Dance for All

P.S. 199 Jesse Isador Straus School

270 W. 70th St.

Manhattan, NY 10023

(Easy to reach via 2, 3, A, B, C trains. Be sure to check http://www.mta.info for service updates)

To protect the hall floors, please bring clean, soft-soled shoes.

Tickets

Tickets are $20 per dance or $55 for all three dances in the weekend pass. Tickets and passes are available online athttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2569745 and at

Presented by Country Dance*New York and brooklyn contra

Country Dance*New York, a vibrant and long-standing intergenerational NYC dance community, involves New Yorkers in fun, lively dancing, supports local musicians, callers, and dancers, and hosts weekly English Country Dances and Contra dances.http://wordpress.cdny.org/

Brooklyn Contra is dedicated to preserving folk traditions through innovative and exciting programming and out of the box partnerships that grow Contra's audience. http://www.brooklyncontra.org/