BELFAST– On Friday, Jan. 2 take a spin on the dance floor and let your shoes fly at the First Friday Community Dance & Contras. The intergenerational program begins at 6 p.m. when the All Comers Band warms up and chooses tunes with Maisie Newell. The band is open to all ages, instruments, and skill levels; a collection of tunes is posted at belfastflyingshoes.org. Chrissy Fowler calls the easy-to-learn community dance starting at 6:30 p.m. This first hour is great for new dancers, families with kids, singles and longtime enthusiasts who love the joy of simple folk dances to tunes by an exuberant megaband.
This month’s 8 p.m. contra dance features caller Luke Donforth, who skillfully teaches interesting choreography and infuses the dance experience with fun. Besides calling for other communities, he organizes a family dance in his hometown of Burlington Vermont, and has written a children’s board book, “The ABCs of Contra Dancing”. Donforth is joined by father and son duo Greg Boardman on fiddle and Aidan Boardman on guitar. Greg has nourished the Maine music scene for decades, including founding Maine Fiddle Camp, and Aidan grew up in that vibrant musical scene. Both musicians are dedicated to the music scene, as performers, teachers and public school educators.
The First Church is at 8 Court St. in Belfast. Admission is $15-25 for the whole evening. For just the first hour’s community dance, admission is $1 kids/$2 adults. First Friday FAQ, BFS Community Care Policy and other info at www.belfastflyingshoes.org
Support for Belfast Flying Shoes comes from the Belfast Community Co-op, Belfast Bay Fiddlers, Colburn Shoe Store, GO Logic, the Green Store and Terra Firma PE. Contributors also include grantors, individual donors and other local sponsors. 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 the nonprofit’s diverse programs are a radio hour on WBFY-LP, Belfast Community Radio and a podcast featuring contra dance musicians.