Ahhh, don’t miss this special day of dancing! It’s Brooklyn Contra’s first ever Harvest Ball! We’ll be joined by the always amazing Kingfisher for a double dance and the melodious Emily Johnson-Erday for an hour of waltzing to start the day off, with calling from Julian Blechner!
Kingfisher, the eclectic duo of Cecilia Vacanti and Jeff Kaufman, plays both traditional and modern contra dance music, and has been hailed as one of the most versatile up-and-coming dance bands on the road today. Already a mainstay in the Greater Boston area, they've performed to large, enthusiastic crowds on the West Coast, Eastern Seaboard, and throughout the Northeast. Jeff Kaufman, a multi-instrumentalist, anchors the duo from the piano, as well as mandolin and a number of innovative electronic instruments he created himself, providing the duo with bass and drum grooves — all of which gives Cecilia Vacanti opportunity to wow you with intense fiddling renditions of tunes across the spectrum, surprising even the most seasoned listener with a genre-bending playlist thats is absolutely breathtaking.
Emily Johnson-Erday learned old-time music knee to knee from her family and community in North Carolina. Now based in Brooklyn, her upbringing and a love for theater lend Emily’s songs a genuine, folk-rooted sound, a powerful narrative arc, and an empathy that feels like a musical embrace. Listen to her music at emilyjohnsonerday.bandcamp.com and follow her journey online (@thebanjowitch).
Julian Blechner is a seasoned contra and set dance caller based in Western Massachusetts. He has been calling dances since 2011, from festivals like the New England Folk Festival and Flurry to series dances of all sizes from Maine to the Middle Atlantic. Julian enjoys calling for all skill levels of dancers, and specializes in creating fun evenings with varied and engaging choreography for whatever the crowd is up for! He brings a cheerful, friendly attitude with clear, concise teaching and prompting.
Saturday October 19th:
Waltzing: 3:30-4:30pm
Advanced Dance: 4:30-6:30 pm
Contra Dance for All: 8-11pm
Lesson: 7:30pm
Camp Friendship, 339 8th St. Park Slope
Cost of entry:
Free for Sustainer and Sponsor members, $9 per dance for Supporter members and students, $15 for non-members, $25 for both dances