Published: 10/24/2019 3:37:27 PM
The Monadnock Folklore Society presents the Peterborough First Saturday Contra Dance on Nov. 2, featuring Bob Isaacs calling Emerald Rae and Julie Vallimont.
Contra dance is a fun, relaxed style of folk dance which has flourished in New England since the 1700s. Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors. Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends, but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.
Hailing from New Jersey, Isaacs is known for his ability to invent creative dances while remaining true to the traditional roots of contra dancing.
Rae is a fiddler and folksinger from the seaside town of Gloucester, Massachusetts. She was chosen as a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist and is quickly gaining ground as one of the top new artists to follow this year. Pairing ornamented vocals with groovy percussive fiddle, Rae pushes the boundaries of the imagination with a refreshingly colorful palate. She’ll be complemented by Vallimont on the piano.
The dancing begins at 8 p.m. The dance also hosts a free jam session for beginning and intermediate musicians at 6:30 p.m. and a workshop for new dancers at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is $10 or $7 for students and seniors.
The dance takes place in the Town House in Peterborough at 1 Grove St.. For more information call (603) 762-0235 or visit www.monadnockfolk.org.
The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.