#Dance Weekend returns, now in March (hopefully with better weather!)
Come dance in the famous Bumper Car Pavilion to the calling of Will Mentor and Alex Deis-Lauby with music from River Road (Kristen Planeaux, Sarah Hadley-Yakir, and Jesse Ball) and the Ice Cream Truckers (Audrey Leigh Jaber, Kelsey Wells, Yann Falquet).
The Friday Night Dance will feature Will Mentor and the Ice Cream Truckers also at Glen Echo on March 8th, an event adjacent to the weekend and with separate registration.
Volunteering: Full-weekend volunteers will be assigned 3 hours of work. Partial-weekend volunteers will be assigned 1 hour of work
#Dance Weekend is an ultra challenging urban dance weekend featuring mind bending figures, non-gendered calling, and phenomenal music. Two days of amazing workshops, dancing, community, fun, and food in the fabulous open air, covered Bumper Car Pavilion; workshops throughout Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD
Housing match-ups will be completed in the week before the event. If you fill in this section, we received your request. Please be patient and let us know if you no longer need housing.
Covid Protocols -
If Covid transmission rates are low in Maryland, DC, and Virginia at the time of the event, this will be an FSGW Tier 2 event, which means:
- Masks (N95 / KN95 / KF94) are suggested but not required.
- Participants are encouraged to be vaccinated with at least one booster.
About the Artists -
River Road delivers beauty, power, and groove to contra dances with a highly revered mixture of contemporary and traditional tunes with strong influences from Quebecois, New England, & Maritime traditions, featuring Sarah-Hadley Yakir on fiddle, Kristen Planeaux on piano, flute, and accordion, and Jesse Ball on mandolin, guitar, accordion, and foot percussion. While they are geographically divided by the Connecticut river, an aptly named River Road connects them to create an energy that is highly sought after in the contradance scene.
Ice Cream Truckers is a brand new band featuring veteran dance musicians from both coasts. Audrey Jaber (Wake Up Robin, Free Raisins), Kelsey Wells (Engine Room, Turnip the Beet), and Yann Falquet (Genticorum) play toe-tapping tunes with twin fiddles, banjo, and guitar!
Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight. As he once said, “I usually have a great time calling. Between the demographics of the dancers, the band, the hall, the temperature, etc. — every evening of contra dances has its own identity.” And always, he keeps intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about the dancers!”
Alex Deis-Lauby is an NYC-based folk dancer, caller, teacher, and organizer, Alexandra is a contra dance caller who calls weekends and festivals all over the country. She tours, calling local dances for both contra and English Country Dance. She also calls community, teen, and family dances as well as weddings and parties. Her clear teaching, smooth voice, and fun dance selection delight dancers coast-to-coast.
