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Flagstaff Friends Of Traditional Music Hosts a great contra dance on the first Saturday evening of the month (usually) from 7:30 until 11:00 p.m.  Most of the time we dance on the hardwood floors of the Ashurst/ Old Main Hall on the campus of Northern Arizona University GPS Location: 35.19242777,-111.6561046 Download the NAU Parking Map (Buildings 10 & 11 on the map) Note: Construction in front of Old Main has been completed. The road and parking spots north of Old Main have been removed and the area has been landscaped . Please allow some time to park and walk to Ashurst Hall. 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. Instruction is given before each dance, and basic contra dance moves are taught at 7:30.  Come alone or bring a friend.

Everyone is Welcome ! Suggested Donation: $6.00 for ALL Students and FFOTM Members. $9.00 for non-members. (yes, prices went up last July) "Second Dance Free Pass" for 1st time contra dancers. View More Photos Here

Ashurst/ Old Main Hall

First Saturday Contra Dance News by Kari Usher

Spring seems like it is here. It has been unseasonably warm out. Feels like it is time to get playing in the dirt and planting some things in the garden. We had a fantastic April dance with the Soda Rock Ramblers playing and Deb Comly calling - with 3 contra lines. There are many opportunities to dance with May Madness and Dancing on the Edge coming up for fun Northern Arizona dance weekends. Our dances are put on by volunteers. If you would like to get more involved and have limited time, consider being a dance host. These duties include coming early to the dance, putting out the refreshments that you have brought, making the lemonade, laying out the information table and receiving folks at the door. If you are interested call Kris for more info 928-853-8552 or Judy at 928-607-6067. We would love your input. We have a dance committee meeting the second Tuesday of each month. If you would like to get more involved in helping keep this activity strong and growing give Kris a call. May 12th - Note this is the second Saturday in May! Scrub Oak is the band and Kari Usher will do the calling. We rescheduled the May Dance and moved it to the second Saturday since May Madness takes place on the first weekend of May this year. June 2nd Seth Levine will come up from Phoenix to call to Just Desserts. July 7th Peg Hesley will call and the band is to be announced. August 4th Just Desserts will play to Peg Hesley from Phoenix calling. There are some interesting funding ideas going around out there. Our expenses have increased just like a lot of other activities. We have had folks approach us to ask about sponsoring a dance evening. We are willing and able to do that with you. We would be happy to advertise who you are and what you do in our newsletter and on our Webpage. Please contact Michael Satterwhite at satterwhite.michael(at)gmail.com if you would like more information.

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FFOTM CONTRA DANCES Are usually held at Ashurst Hall on the NAU campus.  Ashurst Hall is in Old Main Hall.  The lesson/ refresher time is at 7:30 p.m. and we dance until 11:00 p.m.  No partner is needed, live music is provided. Bring a smile and wear comfortable clothes. Suggested donation of $6 FFOTM members/ all students and $9 for the public. Perhaps this would be a good time to become a member of FFOTM ? We would love your input. We have a dance committee meeting the second Monday of every month. If you would like to get more involved in helping keep this activity strong and growing... Call Kris for more info 928.853.8552, or Judy 928.607.6067. See you on the dance floor !  The folks in the dance committee are folks you know and dance with. Kris and Michael Satterwhite provide snacks for the bands and hospitality for the hall, as well as places for folks who travel from out of town to stay.  They also host the dance committee meetings.  Judy Henzler manages the email list to get the word out, arranges dates for hall rental and lines up the dance hosts.  Kari Usher arranges the bands, callers and sound for the dances as well as writes articles for the newsletters and arranges for hospitality for out of town talent. She is also a local caller. Diane Chung provides the press releases to the newspapers. Deb Comly has been coming and is interested in getting some special event dance going as well as family dances.  She is also one of our local callers. Michael Quinn takes care of updating the webpage. Please thank them when you see them, and chat with them if you would like to get more involved.

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Videos Welcome to the Contra Dance ! On Saturday, April 7, 2012 a special contra dance took place at Ashurst Hall on the Campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona featuring the Music of the Soda Rock Ramblers.

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Contra Dances Around the Region

Cottonwood, AZ AZ We Dance Contra Dance at the Cottonwood Civic Center The Third Saturday of each month. 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. Pre-dance Instruction from 6:30-7:00 and dance from 7:00-10:00. $6 per dancer. $5.00 per student and $3.00 for ages 16 and under. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq-NYW7pJP4 Az We Dance also sponsors a dance weekend: May Madness takes place May 4, 5 & 6, 2012 for May Madness!! Our theme this year is "Cinco de Madness." Here is the talent line-up for the May Madness Contra Dance Weekend: The Great Bear Trio, Elixir, The Groovemongers, Nils Fredland and Will Mentor. Learn More...

Prescott, AZ Folk Happens! Contra Dance Changes are a foot for Prescott area Contra Dancing for 2012! Our Contra Dances are now on the fourth Saturday of the month and most will be held at the the First Congregational Church, 216 E. Gurley St., just two blocks west of our 2011 location. There is a lesson at 7:30 PM and contra dancing from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Beginners and experienced dancers are always welcome. Partners are definitely not required. Another change for 2012 is new policy that, if a contra dancers brings in a “newbie”, he or she gets a dollar off on admission. Local and out of town callers and bands generally alternate month to month. Instruction 7:30 pm, dance 8-10:30 p.m. $8 general public, $6 for members of Arizona contra dance organizations & students. Call (928) 445-3496 or visit them online: http://www.folkhappens.org/dances.html ----- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xz7dZHHcjw

Phoenix, AZ  Download the May - July 2012 Issue of: Az Folk News The best list of Traditional Music Concerts and Dance Events throughout the state of Arizona. Check out especially the March events in Phoenix, we are really buzzing with activity then! Click Here to download PDF Phoenix Traditional Music & Dance 2nd Saturday Contra Dance Second Saturday of each month at the Kenilworth School, 1210 N. 5th Ave. (near I-10 and 7th Ave.) Time: A pre-dance lesson at 7:00 with the dance from 7:30 - 10:30 pm. Admission: $8 for public & members, and $5 for under 25. For information: Call Joe or Peg at 602.564.6620, Ron or Linda at 480-893-3328, or go to http://www.phxtmd.org Phoenix Traditional Music & Dance 4th Friday Contra Dance Fourth Friday of each month at the Irish Cultural Center (and selected 5th Fridays), 1106 N. Central Avenue (adjacent to I-10 and Margaret T. Hance Park), in downtown Phoenix. Time: 7:30-10:00 pm. (Dance lesson upon request) Admission: $8 for public & members, and $5 for under 25. For information: Call Ron or Linda at 480-893-3328, or go to http://www.phxtmd.org "Dancing On The Edge" Dance Camp Registration Is Now Open Advance registration is now open for Dancing On The Edge! Enjoy contra and English country dancing on the Mogollon Rim of Northern Arizona this coming June 15 - 17, 2012. Go here for information and the registration form: http://www.dancingcampers.org/

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 $8-9 or $7-8 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 every weekend in Albuquerque, Santa Fe or 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. They sponsor dances twice a month in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.

Around the Country - Contra Dance Directory

FFOTM Dance Committee 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. Organizing volunteers. Many hands make light work, and we'd love your help!! You are invited to join us at our regular Dance Committee Potlucks! All interested members of the dance community are encouraged to get together to discuss, plan and organize the monthly FFOTM dances. Everyone is invited to come share their ideas and to join the group. We meet monthly on the second Tuesday. Meeting time: 6:30-7:45 p.m. Call Kris 928.853.8552 to learn more. .

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 is for the purpose of eating and yakking afterward.  We are continuing the third Thursday of the month Just Desserts band practice at the Peaks Community Center. Due to attendance we will not be offering the Peaks dance opportunity on the third Thursday of the month. Just Desserts will continue to play if you want to come and listen. Thank you to the folks who did come. It starts about 7pm and we'd love to see you there. If you need more info about the band call Deb & Mike at 774-5936. join our contra dance band

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Going to Your First FFOTM Contra Dance? We offer a "Get In Free to Your Second Dance" Voucher To all first time attendees. Ask at the door for details.

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