June 1st - Chimacum Grange - The Rose Street Ramblers w/Jack Dunton Calling

The Rose Street Ramblers out for a ramble!

May 18th marked the end of the square dance season at the Quimper Grange in Port Townsend.  And a fine season it was. But . . . . there will be a June dance at the Chimacum Grange on June 1st!  

Caller Jack Dunton will be keeping the dancers directed.  The Rose Street Ramblers will be playing southern tunes to rock the house.   The Ramblers include Becky Evasick on fiddle, Dave Thielk on banjo, Carol Hardy on guitar, and Lori Bernstein on stand up bass.

Dancing starts at 8:00.  Five bucks at the door.  Sixteen and under free!

May - Scott Marckx, Jeanie Murphy and Jim Ketterman play for squares!

Jeanie Murphy

Third Saturday Square Dance

The Third Saturday Quimper  Grange Square Dance and Social (May 18)  features The Puyallup Valley Stringband with the fiddling of Scott Marckx, the banjoing of Jeanie Murphy, and guitaring of Jim Ketterman.

Caller Joanne Pontrello

Joanne Pontrello from Whidbey Island will call squares, reels and mixers!

Scott Marckx

Jim Ketterman

Contra Dance on Second Saturday

The Wharf Rats with caller Jeanie Murphy (second
from left in back row)

Come and join the fun Saturday, May 11 at the Port Townsend Quimper Grange as we dance to the tunes of the Wharf Rats with Jeanie Murphy making the calls. The dance begins at 7:30 and ends about 10:30. $6.00 fee, $3.00 for those 3 to 18 years, free for under 3. The Quimper Grange is located at 1219 Corona St., in Port Townsend.

April 3013 - Nan Evans with Contradictions; Anne Marie Schaefer and Cobbler

Second Saturday Contra Dance

The Contradictions

On April 13, enjoy contra dancing at the Second Saturday Port Townsend Community dance.  Nan Evan will be calling to the tunes of The Contradictions.   Dancing starts at 7:30 and ends about 10:30. $6.00 admission, $3.00 for those 3 to 18 years, free for under 3. The Quimper Grange is located at 1219 Corona St., in Port Townsend.

Third Saturday Square Dance

On April 20th, the Quimper Grange will host caller Anne Marie Schaefer

Cobbler
Jesse Partridge and Jay Finkelstein

Caller Anne Marie Schaefer

and Cobbler for the Third Saturday Square Dance and  Social.  Anne Marie, from Olympia, calls traditional squares throughout the northwest.  She graced Quimper Grange last spring, also.  Cobbler (Jesse Partridge and Jay Finkelstein, fiddle and guitar) play exciting music for square dances. With Jesse’s creative and fresh fiddling backed by Jay’s solid rhythm guitar, Cobbler cooks up a highly danceable, musical concoction as sweet and satisfying as the dish for which it is named.  Doors open at 7:30.  All dances taught. All ages welcome. Come with or without partners, herds, schools, or tribes.  $5.00 admission. Under 16 free.

March 2013 - Wild Phil (contras) and Last Chance (squares)

Four Big dance Events this month:

Square dance caller
Dave Thielk

March 16 - For the Third Saturday Quimper Grange Square Dance and Social, the Last Chance Stringband, with special guest Katya Kirsch on banjo, will be playing very lively southern tunes.  Calling for that event is yours truly, Dave Thielk.  Come as you are, as a single, couple, family, caravan, or troupe!  All dances will be taught; no experience necessary.  Admission is $5.00 (sliding up to $10 is so inclined).  Under 16 free. Dancers are encouraged to bring snacks to share. Dancing starts at 7:30.

Another traditional square dance event:  On Friday, March 22nd, The Victorian Festival is holding a square dance ($5.00 suggested donation). 7:00 PM.  The venue will be the American Legion Hall. Caller will be Dave Thielk with Last Chance Stringband.

Last but not least - Gabe Strand will visit Chimacum Grange on Saturday, March 30, to call squares.  Wild Phil and the Buffalo Gals play the tunes.  I think Becky is calling it a Spring Hoedown.  Be there or be square!

Joe Michaels, well known throughout our region, will be calling contras on March 9th (Second Saturday) at the Quimper Grange.   Wild Phil & the Buffalo Gals will be playing the tunes. The dance begins at 7:30 and ends about 10:30. $6.00 fee, $3.00 for those 3 to 18 years, free for under 3.

February 2013: Fred Park, Ruthie Dornfeld; Amy Carroll and the Bristletones

The gifted dance caller Fred Park
will be calling old and new dances
to please your feet and your soul!

Two great dance events this month:

Put on your dancin' shoes and come to the Quimper Grange, Saturday, February 9 for a especially good time! From North Carolina, comes well known caller, Fred Park with lively music by Ruthie Dornfeld and friends! Come alone or with a friend, everyone is welcome, just be prepared to dance a lot! Dancing starts at 7:30. The fee for this special dance will be on a sliding scale of $6 to $12, $3.00 for those 3 to 18 years, free for under 3. The Quimper Grange is located at 1219 Corona St., in Port Townsend.

The Third Saturday Quimper Grange Square Dance and Social (February 16) brings Amy Carroll and the Bristletones to our fair dance hall!  Amy Carroll has been calling squares, contras, and family dances for many years. This is her second square dance calling adventure in Quimper Grange Hall.  Our monthly square dance is family friendly, moderately priced ($5.00 for adults; under 16 free).  All dances taught.  Come by yourself, bring a friend, a couple, or the whole family!  February 16, 7:30 at Quimper Grange.  

The Bristletones play for Amy Carol on
February 16.

Finally - The Grant Street PTA is hosting a Square Dance Fundraiser on February 22nd.  And guess what they are raising funds for?  To support their student garden!   The band will be Skookumband with various guest musicians, Rita Mandoli calling, with possible guest callers.  This is a family event.  Please consider dropping in, making a donation, or staying for the whole evening.  From 6 to 8 PM at the Grant Street Elementary gym.

January 2013 - Last Chance String Band, Wild Phil and the Buffalo Gals

Wild Phil and the Buffalo Gals
play for squares on Jan. 19

 Jo Yount calls with the Last Chance String Band for contra dancers on January 12, beginning at 7:30PM.   Come with a friend or without; there will be someone to dance with.  BUT come early and be ready to get on the floor right away. $6.00 fee, $3.00 for those 3 to 18 years, free for under 3.

Laura Me Smith

On January 19th, Wild Phil and the Buffalo Gals play for squares, with Laura Me Smith calling. All dances taught. All ages and experience levels welcome.  Come with or without a partner.  Family friendly.  Beginners tutorial at 7:30.  Dancing commences at 8:00. Be there, be aware, be square, play fair, and dance, if you dare!  Adults $5.00; 16/under free.  Dancers encouraged to bring snacks to share.  Work trades available if arranged in advanced.  For more details, contact Dave T. at 360-385-3308

December 2012 - New Year's Eve Fundraiser Dance and Social

The Susannah Gals

Quimper Grange is hosting a third annual New Year’s Eve event featuring square and contra dancing as a fundraiser to support ongoing hall maintenance and improvements. Quimper Grange is Port Townsend’s premier traditional dance venue and on any given Saturday night there is bound to be a lively dance going on: a square dance, zydeco, contras dance or tango. All that dancing takes a toll on the old floor so the floor has had to be refinished twice in the past four years. Many other improvements have been made from putting on a new roof this year, to getting a new projection screen, from hanging energy efficient window covers to upgrading the heating system. Some of the improvements are outside of the hall such as    
the curtain drain installation and the graveling of the parking area. Much has been done but there is still more to do. This year’s fundraising event will be split between traditional southern square dancing and contra dancing. Any and all proceeds will be used for hall maintenance and improvements. From 8:00 to 10:00 Dave Thielk will call squares, circles and mixers. From 10:00 until Midnight, expert caller, Nan Evans, will call contras. Local bands, Susannah Gals and Rose Street Ramblers will provide the music. This is will be a family friendly event. Potluck snacks are encouraged. Suggested donation is $12.00, however, no one will be turned away at the door and donations of any size are greatly appreciated. Drop in to check out the venue, or stay and dance the night away. Doors open at 8 PM. Quimper Grange is located at 1219 Corona (at the end of Sheridan). For more information, call Dave Thielk at 360-385-3308.  

Rose Street Ramblers

     

December 2012 - Airstream Traveler, Rose Street Ramblers, and a New Year's Eve Event!

Airstream Traveler will take you on a dance vacation!

Square dancers will be gathering at Quimper Grange on December 15th at 7:30 for an evening mirthful dancing and socializing. Airstream Traveler will be playing rocking old timey tunes. Seattle caller Carol Piening will be calling traditional squares, and a few New England surprises as well. Adults: $5.00; youth (16 and under): free. Dancers so inclined are encouraged to bring snacks to share. Pre-arranged work trades are available.


And, the second Saturday Contra Dance features the Contradictions with caller Nan Evans!

The Contradictions are Port Townsend
 biggest contradance  band.

And big news  -  On New Year's Eve, the Rose Street Ramblers and the Susannah Gals share the stage with  callers Nan Evans and Dave Thielk for a dance and social event for folks of all ages.  Squares from 8 to 10 and contras from 10 - 12.

Susanah Gals, with Becky Evasick, Carol Hardy, Carol Sword, and Lori Bernstein, will play old time tunes for the squares with Dave Thielk calling.. The Rose Street Ramblers, again with Becky Evasick on fiddle, will slow things down just a touch for the contra dance sets with Nan Evans calling.

The Rose Street Ramblers out for a little ramble?

The evening is intended to be family friendly. Come as a single, a couple, a family, or a tribe, and be ready to dance. Some holiday treats and beverages will be provided, and dancers are encouraged to bring their own if they are so inclined.

Susannah Gals!

Suggested donation is $12.00, however, NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY AT THE DOOR! Please dance the night away at the Grange and help us continue to maintain this wonderful community building.

Saturday at the Grange! The Onlies with Tony Mates. Be there!

Dianne Carreri calls Contras with Scott and Jeanie; Tony Mates calls Squares with The Onlies

Jeanie Murphy on banjo

Scott Marckx on Fiddle

Caller Dianne Carreri of 
Salmonberry fame!

November dancing at the Grange offers two special events.  Long time Salmonberry caller Diane Carreri will be calling contras with Scott Marckx, Jeanine Murphy and Jim Ketterman on November 10th.  Dianne was a founding mother of Salmonberry, the first regular contra dance in Seattle which ran on the Second Saturday (just like Port.Townsend dance) from 1980 to 1992.  Twenty years later, Dianne says "I am ready to make do-si-do a part of my regular vocabulary again."
And, the Onlies return once again with Tony Mates calling squares on November 17!

The Onlies - rockin' hard dance tunes

Caller Tony Mates - calls, plays bass
and rides bike - all at the same time!

A sneak Preview of the Onlies!