10/25 Rural Vermont Benefit Contra Dance
Sunday, October 25th
7:30 - 10:30 pm (beginners' workshop at 7:15 pm)
Stone Church, corner of Main & Grove Streets, BRATTLEBORO
$10 adults / $7 students and seniors
A contra dance will be held to benefit Rural Vermont on Sunday October 25, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. at Stone Church on the corner of Main & Grove Streets, Brattleboro, Vermont. Beginners' workshop at 7:15 pm. Ticket prices are $10 adults, $7 students & seniors. No experience or partner necessary; wear comfortable clothes and bring clean soled shoes to help protect the dance floor.
Rebecca Lay will be calling the dance, and local musicians Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, Anna Patton, and Peter Barnes will provide the toe-tapping tunes! Young and old, beginners and experts - all are welcome! Come out and have fun with other area local food enthusiasts and support Rural Vermont at the same time.
Contra dancing is a fun, accessible, lively, community dance tradition that is deeply rooted in the culture of rural New England. The figures and steps are simple to learn, the dances are taught and prompted by the evening's caller, and there is always live music by talented local performers.
"It used to be the farmers that would get together at the grange hall who would put us to shame, dancing all night after working in the fields for 9 or 10 hours a day," says Rebecca Lay, dance caller and organizer. "The event is generally for adults, but we have a great group of teenagers that show up regularly. I am a farmer myself, so I like to support Rural Vermont because they help our hard-working community of farmers. We hold contra dances twice a month in Brattleboro, and this will be our first fundraiser for Rural Vermont!"
All proceeds will benefit Rural Vermont and their work to support Vermont family farmers.
Want to volunteer with Rural Vermont? We’re looking for folks to spread the word, help out at the dance, and bake treats for sale at the break. If interested in lending a hand with the dance or volunteering with Rural Vermont in general, give a call (802) 223-7222 or shoot an email to liz@ruralvermont.org.
Rural Vermont is a nonprofit advocacy group founded by farmers in 1985 that advocates, activates, and educates for living soils, thriving farms, and healthy communities. For more info, call (802) 223-7222 or visit www.ruralvermont.org. For more info about the Brattleboro contra dance series and directions, visit http://www.ethanhw.com/brattdance/index.html.