FFOTM Contra Dance

Our next "1st Saturday" FFOTM Flagstaff Contra Dance

Saturday, March 6th, 2009 - 7:30 to 11:00 pm - Ashurst/Old Main Hall at NAU

Peg Hesley from Phoenix will call to Updraft.

The next Cottonwood Civic Center Contra Dance - Saturday, February 20th

News - Dances Around The Region - FFOTM Dance Angels - Free Pass For Your 1st Dance - Join Our Contra Dance Band

FFOTM hosts a great contra dance on the first Saturday evening (usually) of the month from 7:30 until 11:00. Join us on the hardwood floors of the lovely Ashurst/Old Main Hall on the campus of Northern Arizona University. Contra dancing is a fine way to spend a Saturday evening!

The dances are fun and the break time offers the beautiful trees and green grass of the Old Main campus. There is instruction given before each dance, and basic contra dance moves are taught at 7:30. Come alone or bring a friend.

View the NAU North Campus Map
(Buildings 10 and 11 on the map.)

Everyone is Welcome !

Suggested Donation is $5.00 for NAU Students and FFOTM Members. $8.00 for non-members.

We honor the "Rissa Pass" for first-time Contra Dancers.

View More Photos Here

First Saturday Contra Dance News
by Kari Usher

I hope you are enjoying all the fun Winterfest activities that February in Flagstaff brings. Looks like we've finally had our share of snow this year.

What a great Dance we had on February 6th. What a fun evening it was and a big thanks to all who brought a goody to share. Thanks to all the NAU students who joined in and helped to make the evening memorable.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming dances. We dance the first Saturday of every month.

There are also other dances - Prescott the first Friday, Cottonwood the 3rd Saturdays, Phoenix on the 2nd Saturdays and 4th Wednesdays. There is usually someone heading to theses other dances and carpooling always makes these dances more fun.

March 6th
Updraft from Flagstaff will provide music for Peg Hesley's calling.

April 3rd
Just Desserts is the band, and Deb Comly will be the caller.

May 1st
The Mars Hillbillies will provide the tunes. Caller TBA.

June 5th
Just Desserts is the band. Caller TBA.

July 3rd
Hands Four, from Tucson and surrounding areas will play and Laila Lewis will call.

August 7th
Peg Hesley will call to Just Desserts

We have some fun things coming up.

We'd love to see you and your friends and get caught up with how you are getting along with your seasonal plans and adventures.

See you on the dance floor !

Dances are at Ashurst Hall on the NAU campus.
Ashurst Hall is in Old Main Hall.
The lesson/refresher time is at 7:30pm and we dance until 11pm.
Suggested donation of $5 FFOTM/students and $8 for the public.
No partner needed, live music is provided.
Bring a smile and wear comfortable clothes.

We would love your input. We have a dance committee meeting every other month, if you would like to get more involved in helping keep this activity strong and growing. Call Kris for more info 526-3020. See you on the dance floor.

Contra Dances Around the Region

Cottonwood, AZ
We Dance Contra Dance at the Cottonwood Civic Center Third Saturday of each month, Except for May ! Cottonwood dances are held at the Cottonwood Civic Center (also known as the Clubhouse) 805 N. Main Street in Old Town Cottonwood. From I-17, Exit #287 to Cottonwood on Hwy 260, left on Hwy 89A to the Civic Center. Dances are preceded by a potluck dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 at the hall, with a pre-dance lesson from 6:30 - 7:00 and dance from 7:00 - 10:00. $5 per dancer. Call Deb at 774-5936 or email azwedance@gmail.com to learn more .

Prescott, AZ
Folk Happens! Contra Dance
First Fridays at the Prescott Armory, 824 E. Gurley St. Instruction 7:30 pm, dance 8-11 pm. $5, $4 for members of AZ dance organizations and students. Call (928) 445-8823 or visit them online to get all the information on May Madness!

Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix Friends of Old Time Music
Phoenix contra dances are held on the second Saturday of each month at the Kenilworth School, 1210 N. 5th Ave. (near I-10 and 7th Ave.) The pre-dance lesson is at 7:00 with the dance from 7:30 - 10:30. $9 for public, $7 for members/students, and $3 for under 18 (includes childcare). Need more info? Call Carl at 602-268-7181, Ron or Linda at 480-893-3328, or go to http://www.pfotm.org

4th Wednesday Contra Dance Location: Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Avenue (adjacent to I-10 and Margaret T. Hance Park), in downtown Phoenix. Time: 7:30 – 10:00 pm (No dance lesson) Admission: $7.00 all dancers. For information: Call Joe or Peg at 602.564.6620 Email phoenixcontradancer@cox.net

Tucson, AZ
Tucson Friends of Traditional Music
First and Third Saturdays: First Church United Methodist, at 915 E. 4th St, just west of the UA campus between Park and Tyndall. All Dances 8-11 pm, instruction at 7:45 pm. Admission is $6 or $5 for TFTM members. Call (520) 408-6181 or visit them online for Dance in the Desert information!

Visiting New Mexico in the near future ?
There are Contra Dances in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos.
View the New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society online for the current schedule and the latest information.

Visiting Las Vegas, Nevada in the near future ?
The Southern Nevada Old-Time Contra Dancers is a collection of people who love to contra dance.
We sponsor dances twice a month in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.

Around the Country - Contra Dance Directory

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FFOTM Dance Angels

Have you ever thought about what it takes to put on a regular monthly contra dance event? There's the hiring and scheduling of callers, bands and halls, making and distributing of posters and fliers, getting the word out about the event through public service announcements, storing and care of supplies and equipment, and organizing of volunteers.... to name just some of the tasks. Many wings make light work, and we'd love your help!!

You are invited to join us at our regular Dance Angel potlucks!!! All interested members of the dance community are encouraged to fluff their wings! We get together to discuss, plan and organize the monthly FFOTM dances at these fun and festive potluck get-togethers. Everyone is invited to come share the ideas and join the flock.

We meet on the first Wednesday evening after the FFOTM monthly dances of the even numbered months..... Meeting time: 6:30 - 7:45pm. Call Kris 526-3020 to learn more.

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The Just Desserts Contra Dance Band

The Just Desserts Band is the House band for the Flagstaff contra dances every other month.

Rehearsals are open to anyone who wants to play or listen to contra dance tunes. Any instrument and playing ability is welcome.

The name comes from the fact that the real reason we gather every Thursday, is for the purpose of eating and yakking afterward. The rehearsals are at the home of Deb Comly and Mike Redig (in Flagstaff) at 7pm and everyone is invited (there are always enough percussion instruments and accordions to go around...) Call 774-5936 to learn more.

A Free Pass For Your First Contra Dance!

Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music
invites you to your first contra dance in honor of Rissa Miller.

Our dear friend, Rissa Miller, was passionate about getting new people to try contra dancing. Her husband, Warren, sent us The Rissa Pass shortly after a wonderful celebration of her life with the hope to continue to serve that purpose.

Warren wrote: "You may print as many as you want, cut and fold them, and give them to people with an invitation to try contra dancing. The pass includes information about when dances take place in Prescott, Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Tucson, and web sites that give more information. If any dance community finds that the number of Rissa Passes presented becomes a problem, I will be glad to reimburse the dance groups for Rissa Passes used to attend dances. For people outside of Arizona, I urge you to try presenting the Rissa Pass in other parts of the country. I will make the same guarantee, but I suspect that many dance organizations will be happy to honor the Pass for first time contra dancers."

Join us for your first contra dance!
Contact Kris for more information 526-3020