BELFAST – On Friday, Jan. 3 ring in the new year at the First Friday Community Dance & Contra Dance.
The intergenerational program begins at 6 p.m., when the All Comers Band warms up and chooses tunes. The band is open to all ages, instruments, and skill levels; tunes are posted at belfastflyingshoes.org. The easy-to-learn Community Dance led by Chrissy Fowler starts at 6:30 p.m. Whirling around the floor are families, new folks, and longtime dancers.
This month, the 8 p.m. contra dance features Vermont caller, Luke Donforth, with a trio of high-octane dance musicians from the Northeast: Emily Troll, Eric Boodman, and Dan Faiella. Emily Troll is a lifelong contra dancer who plays accordion and fiddle, directs a mega-band called the Rage Potatoes, and lives in South Portland. She is joined by Massachusetts-based fiddler Eric Boodman and New Hampshire native Dan Faiella on guitar. Dancers can expect exciting music that will get their feet flying. Donforth brings warmth to the stage, rooted in his experiences as a dance organizer, touring caller, and founding member of the Mad Robin Callers Collective in Burlington.
The First Church is at 8 Court Street in Belfast. Admission is $15-20 for the whole evening. Just the community dance is $1 kids/$2 adults. For information, First Friday FAQ, and BFS Community Care Policy, visit www.belfastflyingshoes.org or contact [email protected].
Support for Belfast Flying Shoes is provided by the Green Store, Searsport Shores Oceanfront Camping, Belfast Community Co-op, and First National Bank, as well as other local sponsors, grantors, and individual contributors. Founded in 2005, Belfast Flying Shoes builds community and cultivates well-being through the joy of traditional music and dance for people of all backgrounds and identities in Midcoast Maine. Among its diverse programs, the nonprofit produces a concert series for older adults: “Sing Along and Tap Your Toes”.
