All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas, Feast of All Saints, or Solemnity of All Saints, is a Christian festival celebrated in honour of all the saints, known and unknown.
As October turns to November, thousands of people across North America, Europe, and elsewhere observe the sacred time of Samhain, as All Hallows’ Day was called in Gaelic. Samhain is a festival of the departed, marking the time when the veil separating This World from the Other World opens allowing a mingling of spirits from both worlds. Meaning “Summer’s End” and pronounced saah-win or saa-ween, Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest and the start of the coldest half of the year. For many practitioners, Samhain also is the beginning of the spiritual new year.
Originating in ancient Europe as a Celtic fire festival, Samhain is now celebrated worldwide. The timing of contemporary Samhain celebrations varies according to spiritual tradition and geography. Many celebrate Samhain over the course of several days and nights, and these extended observances usually include a series of solo rites as well as ceremonies, feasts, and gatherings with family, friends, and spiritual community. In the northern hemisphere, many celebrate Samhain from sundown on October 31 through November 1. Others hold Samhain celebrations on the nearest weekend or on the Full or New Moon closest to this time.
Join us this Saturday, October 20th for a Samhain (modern Halloween) themed dress up and dance party at your favorite Swing-era dance hall, the Thelma Boltin Center of Gainesville.
Calling for the Florida Mountaineers is Stan Prince, whose believes that “dancers are there to dance to the music and not to listen to the caller once they’ve learned the dance”. He has been calling for over ten years and dancing a whole lot longer.
The band that will be joining us again from Jacksonville is The Florida Mountaineers:
- Fiddler Anna Strickland has a rich background in traditional Irish, old-time & classical music dating from her youth.
- Fiddler Nathan Stinnette, originally from Virginia, brings more than 20 years of old-time fiddle & mandolin experience to the group.
- Banjoist Madison Taylor is a lifelong student of music playing modern jazz, ragtime & old-time banjo & guitar.
- Guitarist David Strickland specializes in old-time backup guitar playing, as well as rustic Appalachian fiddling.
- Bassist Molly Sweet is a classically trained clarinetist & also plays a mean upright bass.
Fiddlers Anna has a rich background in traditional Irish, Old Time and classical music dating from her youth. Fiddler Nathan, originally from Virginia, brings more than 20 years of Old Time fiddle and mandolin experience to the group since relocating to Jacksonville in 2011.
Banjoist Madison is a lifelong student of music playing modern jazz, ragtime and Old Time banjo and guitar. Guitarist David has been part of the Jacksonville music scene all of his adult life and specializes in Old Time backup guitar playing, as well as rustic Appalachian fiddling.
Bassist Molly is a classically trained clarinetist and also plays a mean upright bass.
Please invite your friends and share the joy of Contra dance.
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Date: Saturday, October 20th, 2018
Location:
Thelma Boltin Center
516 NE 2nd Ave, Gainesville, FL
Schedule:
05:15pm — Doors open
05:30 – 6:15 pm — Open waltz (waltz lesson for beginners) – no partner necessary
(Live music: Stay Tuned)
06:15pm – 0:645pm — Band sound check
06:45pm – 07:00pm — Contra workshop for beginners
(New contra dancers, & those wishing to review their dance moves
or help others to do so, please attend this pre-dance contra lesson.)
07:00 – 10:00pm — Contra Dance
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Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
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No partner or experience is necessary. Contra dances are taught, walked through, & called.
No special dress is required. Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled shoes.
Snacks at the break are provided by dancers. If you snack, bring one to share & a water bottle to help our planet.
Parking is in the lot across the street & in marked spaces on adjacent streets.
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Hosted by the Gainesville Oldtime Dance Society
[GODS]