Capering & Kickery

April 2012 Gig Calendar

April is a relatively quiet month as I prepare for my trip to Russia at the end of it, but I have a few things going on, with four consecutive trips to Massachusetts!

Here's a quick list with links for more information:

Sunday, April 1st ~ New York City
Regency Dance Workshop
Beginner-friendly lesson 2:00-4:00pm

Sunday, April 1st ~ New York City
Blues Waltz Workshops
4:00-6:00pm

Tuesday, April 3rd ~ Middletown, Connecticut
Jane Austen Era Dancing
Beginner-friendly lesson 8:15-9:30pm.  No costume needed.

Tuesday, April 10th ~ Cambridge, Massachusetts (Boston area)
Bluesy Tuesy
7:30-11:00pm.  DJing blues for the second set. 

Saturday, April 14th ~ Cambridge, Massachusetts (Boston area)
Spring Waltz Party
Beginner lesson 7:00-8:00pm, DJ'ed music 8:00-10:30pm

Tuesday, April 17th ~ Boston area
Private lecture 

Friday & Saturday, April 20th & 21st ~ Mansfield, Massachusetts (Boston area)
New England Folk Festival (NEFFA)
Friday, 10:45-11:30pm:  Intermediate Cross-Step Waltz
Saturday, 11:00-11:50am:  Polkamania!

Saturday-Tuesday, April 28th through May 1st ~ Moscow, Russia
Anno Domini
Nineteenth century dance workshops 

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I am also available for private lessons in Connecticut (New Haven or Middletown) generally, and occasionally in New York City and Boston.  Email me directly if you would like to schedule a private lesson.

New Haven & Middletown, Connecticut -- generally available
Boston -- April 10, 11, 14, 15, 18

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Coming in May
The Sailing Masters Regency Ball in Essex, Connecticut on May 12th
Regular monthly waltz & Regency-era lessons in New York City
Regency dancing in Connecticut
...and more!

Victorian Fancy Dress Ball Advance Registration Reminder!

A quick reminder that the deadline for advance registration for the Fancy Dress Ball is quickly approaching!  Registration must be received (mail or online via Paypal) by March 17th for the advance rate!

The full event announcement follows below:

On Saturday, March 24th, in New Haven, Connecticut, there will be held a fancy dress ball in the style of the 1880s, featuring live music, Victorian dancing, refreshments made from historical recipes, and a chance to bring fancy dress costumes to life!

The ball will be held from 8:00 to 11:30pm at beautiful Pratt Hall, less than a block from the New Haven Green and only a few blocks from the historic Yale University campus.  The dancing will be precepted by dance historian and teacher Susan de Guardiola with live music by the noted dance trio Spare Parts, heard recently on the soundtrack of the film Bright Star.  The dances will be a typical Victorian mix of couple dances (waltz, polka, schottische, galop) and set dances (contras, quadrilles).  All set dances will be taught during the evening, and there will be a workshop from 2:00 to 5:00pm the afternoon of the ball to help people wanting to learn the couple dances.

Fancy dress (masquerade-type costume, not just dressing up) based on the styles of the 1880s is strongly encouraged.  Note that this includes styles of any previous era (Civil War, Regency, Colonial, Medieval, Renaissance, etc.)  Kickery's sister blog Historical Fancy Dress is intended as a resource for costume ideas; a good starting point is the article "Fast and Easy Fancy Dress Ideas".  The evening will include a procession of costumes.  Since this is a fancy dress ball rather than a masquerade, masks are not necessary.  To preserve the beautiful floor, please make sure to have clean dance shoes or indoor-only shoes to change into at the hall so as not to track dirt or grit into the ballroom.

The ball is strictly limited to 80 people due to the size of the hall.  Advance registration ($30 per person, or $20 for ages 13-21) is recommended.  At-the-door prices are $10 higher and admission will be available only if space permits.  Younger children may attend with their parents, and are expected to be strictly supervised throughout and withdrawn from the ballroom if they become too tired/fussy to display polite behavior.

Please see the Victorian Fancy Dress Ball website to register (mail or Paypal) or for further details of the event.

 

CD Review: Returning Heroes

Brand new this month -- the release party is coming up in a couple of weeks -- is the dance band Spare Parts' latest CD of mid-nineteenth-century dance music, Returning Heroes.  After dancing for many years to music from their earlier CD, The Civil War Ballroom, it's a delight to have new music for this era!

The short review: it's a great CD; buy it immediately if you enjoy dancing of the Civil War era.  

The longer version follows.

Disclaimer: the musicians of Spare Parts are personal friends, and my advance copy of this CD was sent to me as a gift.

March 2012 Gig Calendar

I have a wide variety of gigs this month; everything from Regency dancing to hoopdance, plus another fabulous Victorian Ball, this time an 1880s-style Fancy Dress event!

I am also available for private lessons in Connecticut (New Haven or Middletown) generally, and occasionally in New York City and elsewhere.

Here's a quick list with links for more information:

Sunday, March 4th ~ New York City
Regency Dance Workshop
Beginner-friendly lesson 2:00-4:00pm

Sunday, March 4th ~ New York City
Victorian & Cross-Step Waltz Workshops
4:00-5:00pm Late Victorian Waltz
5:00-6:00pm Cross-Step Waltz: Cross-Hand/Shadow Variations

Tuesday, March 6th ~ Middletown, Connecticut
Jane Austen Era Dancing
Beginner-friendly lesson 8:15-9:30pm.  No costume needed.

Saturday, March 10th ~ Middletown, Connecticut
Hoop Trance Dance
Beginner lesson 7:30-8:00pm, DJ'ed music for freestyle hooping 8:00-9:30pm.   

Sunday, March 11th ~ Providence, Rhode Island
Mostly Waltz Rhode Island
Workshops in rotary & cross-step waltz, then DJ'ed music for dancing. 2:00-5:15pm 

Tuesday, March 20th ~ Middletown, Connecticut
1970s Disco Line Dancing
Beginner-friendly dancing 8:15-9:30pm.

Saturday, March 24th ~ New Haven, Connecticut
The Victorian Fancy Dress Ball
Ball 8:00-11:30; afternoon workshop 2:00-4:30

Friday, March 30th ~ New Haven, Connecticut
Elm City Waltz
DJ'ed waltz evening 8:30-11:30pm with beginner lesson 7:45-8:30pm.

Private lessons (email me directly if you would like to schedule a private lesson)
New Haven & Middletown, Connecticut -- generally available
New York City -- Saturday, March 31st

Coming in April
Back to Russia at the end of the month to teach 19th century dance in Moscow!
Cross-step waltz & polka classes at the New England Folk Festival (NEFFA)
Regular monthly waltz & Regency-era lessons in New York City
Regency dancing in Connecticut