Merri’s Dance and Music eNews

Summer 2008 Folk Enews

Greetings, Folkies,

My folk enews is going on hiatus while I assist a very ill family member. I’ve collected some links to help you find information about music, dance and concert events around the southwest. I hope that the links below work and that you all have a fun summer.

New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society (FOLKMADS) events, such as contra dances, special events, and festivals, are now posted electronically at www.folkmads.org

This summer the most important events to remember are the Albuquerque Folk Festival on June 21, 2008, and the Wildlife West Music Festival on August 1-3, 2008. I went to both last year, and they were awesome. The Wildlife West Music Festival will feature the Byron Berline Band, April Verch, and the Boulder Acoustic Society, in addition to other regionally known bands. AND you can walk around and observe bears, mountain lions, and other rescued wild critters–utterly amazing.

Banjo and mountain dulcimer workshops will occur Friday, June 20 and Sunday, June 22 with Mary Z. Cox. Contact inquiry@siliconheights.com for details.

Info on Las Cruces, NM dances is at www.zianet.com/lcludeman/contra/snmmds.html (no dances in June or July; dances resume in August).

www.nmdance.com is Albuquerque Swing and Country Dance Club.

www.folkdancing.org/new_mexico.html and www.tifd.org/SWDir.htm contain much info about all kinds of dance around the southwest.

To subscribe to a New Mexico local dance e-newsletter, please contact Susan Kellogg at glkello@nmia.com or call 505-299-3737.

Monthly Singing: FOLK SONG CIRCLE the 1st Friday of each month in Corrales, New Mexico. 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT; Contact: Laurie McPherson 898-6978, lauriemcpherson@hotmail.com or lmcpherson@salud.unm.edu

New Mexico Music Links: www.abqmusic.com is neal copperman’s awesome music venue with lots of concert information for music-lovers. Neal also organizes ¡Globalquerque!, which will be Sept. 19-20, 2008 at the Hispanic Cultural Center, ABQ, NM.

ABQ Biopark & Zoo Concerts: www.cabq.gov/biopark Concerts on Fridays at the zoo and Thursdays at the Biopark.

www.southwestpickers.org has info on bluegrass concerts around Albuquerque.

The Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque, mostly jazz and folk, has a web site, www.outpostspace.org/.

Santa Fe Concerts: GiG is Santa Fe’s non-profit performance space. GiG is located at 1808 Second St. The suggested donation is $7 to $10. All shows are at 8 PM. Check out www.gigsantafe.com for more details about each week’s artists and listen to their music samples at the Listen link!

rogerlandes.com/ is the web site of Roger Landes, Taos musician extraordinaire and organizer of Zoukfest, www.zoukfest.com It’s June 8-14, 2008 at the College of Santa Fe.

To sign up for the e-mail list for Parkland Circle House Concerts (Albuquerque), write gcnewma@sandia.gov

Durango Contra Dance Info: For information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Arizona Music and Dance Info: www.tftm.org/contradancing/cdancing.htm (Scroll down the page to find links to various Arizona dance communities.

Colorado Music and Dance Info: www.dancingtheweb.com/coloradocontra/ccovenue.htm

Oklahoma Dance Weekend: Flamingo Fling
When: June 20-22, 2008
Where: Epworth UMC 1901 N. Douglas Oklahoma City, OK
Joseph Pimental calling, with music by Goldcrest
Joseph Pimental is a nationally known caller formerly from Ohio, but now from Houston. Goldcrest also features musicians with a national reputation. Hospitality is available, if needed. Registration details available at:
www.scissortail.org/FlamingoFling/tabid/59/Default.aspx

And last, but certainly not least…MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Oct. 10-12, 2008: Pete Sutherland will play a concert in Albuquerque on October 10, a dance in Santa on October 11, and then the annual Fall Ball English Workshop and Dance will be on Sunday, October 12. A music and dance extravaganza not to be missed!

Email me other links and I will add them to this page. Thanks and happy dancing and playing,

Merri Rudd
merri@merridancing.com
www.merridancing.com

May 2008 Folk Enews

Greetings, Folkies,

FOLKMADS is going to an all-electronic newsletter and calendar to save paper and postage. You can ask to continue to receive the paper version though, if you prefer it. Visit www.folkmads.org/ for details.

Well, Folk Wedding #9 (to the tune of “Love Potion #9) happened May 10, 2007. That’s right, 2007. I was sworn to secrecy until their 1st anniversay, and now I’m cleared to divulge. There was one particularly hilarious bulk mail party before I relinquished my crown where some of the mailing crew were speculating about the identity of Folk Couple #9, who were sitting right there. It was hilarious to me at least, as I watched #9 maintain their anonymity without even a grin or wink.

Many local Albuquerque bands will be playing free concerts in the Old Town plaza various nights in May to help promote the Albuquerque Folk Festival on June 21 at the NM Expo (former state fairgrounds). See the schedule at abqfolkfest.org/oldtown.shtml

And might I just say that the Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas concert was AWESOME! Just ask any of the 25 or so FOLKMADS folks who attended!

Corrales Sing, Friday, May 2
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’ll sing songs about Unions, Labor, Mining, Logging.
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Tonight only–different location!! The First Friday Singaround will be at Art and Jenn Brooks’ place, 8109 Sprenger Dr. NE in Albuquerque, near Paseo del Norte and Wyoming NE. Call 797-0916 for a map. Each participant in the circle may lead a song, do a solo, request a song, or pass. Bring enthusiasm, songbooks, instruments, beverages/snacks, kids, and friends.

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, May 3
Open mike for callers hosted by Richard Wilson with Five-Dog String Band (David Margolin on fiddle, Steve Huestis on banjo, Rick Olcott on guitar) playing old-time dance tunes. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Durango Contra Dance, Saturday, May 3
POTLUCK & CONTRA DANCE
The location this month only is the American Legion Hall, 878 E. 2nd Ave, Durango (enter from 9th Street).
6:00 is a community potluck that is open to all. Bring a dish to share.
7:00 is beginner dance instruction
7:30, the Contra Dance starts, with Flagstaff caller Deb Comly and music by Durango’s own Kitchen Jam Band.
All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Admission is $10. First-timers get a pass to come back for free. For further information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Old Time Music Circle, Albuquerque, Sun., May 4
Come jam from 2-4 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. There will be 2 groups playing in 2 separate rooms. Bluegrass music will be in the front room (entry room) and Old Time music will be in the west room (where concerts are held). Email Judy Muldawer at inquiry@siliconheights.com for more details.

Albuquerque Concert, Sunday, May 4
BOB MALONE at
Windchime Champagne Gallery
518 Central Ave SW
Show: 7:30 PM, Doors: 6:30 PM
Tickets are $15 advance, $20 door
Available at www.abqmusic.com, Bookworks and Natural Sound
Bob tore up the Bosque House Concert several years ago. His blend of Randy Newman-esque clever songwriting (”I Know The Stripper Likes Me”, “Sometimes I Wish I Were Me”, “In Love With The Woman (The Other Woman Love To Hate)” runs headlong into Dr. John’s boogie woogie rootsiness. Bob’s a flashy piano player (check out the video of “Home To Me” on his web site), a hilarious storyteller, and an all around top notch performer. He’s coming off of an amazing 2007, where he opened for Rickie Lee Jones, Leon Russell, The Subdudes and The Bobs, toured Australia and New Zealand, and was named Songwriter of the Year in the South Bay Music Awards. Get plenty of musical previews at www.bobmalone.com

Michael Combs in Concert in Santa Fe 3 Times in May
MICHAEL COMBS plays hard-boiled, rough-sawn, whole-grained ACOUSTIC FOLK from many lands on the Button Accordion, Fiddle & Guitar at Upper Crust Pizza, Old Santa Fe Trail & De Vargas St. 6-9 p.m., no cover, Sun. 5/4; Mon. 5/26; Sat. 5/31

Three ABQ Concerts in a Row, May 7-9
Leo Kottke at the Kimo on Wednesday, May 7
Asylum Street Spankers at Cooperage on Thursday, May 8 (these talented musicians sing some sizzling political satire)
Wilco, a rock band, at UNM’s Popejoy Hall on Friday, May 9
Details at www.abqmusic.com

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Sat., May 10
Wendy Graham from Durango calling with Albuquerque’s Hands Five playing. This dance will ROCK! 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Second Sunday Dance, May 11
Merri Rudd calling elegant English and zesty contras; One Good Turn playing this Mother’s Day dance. 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, May 13
Join the Megaband in a jam in its current location at O’Niell’s Pub, Banquet Room, 4310 Central Ave SE (Central at Washington in East Nob Hill), 7:00-10:00 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729. (We just ate there today and it was YUMMY!)

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, May 17
Artie Walsh calling and the Albuquerque Megaband playing. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, May 17
Dance at the San Geronimo Lodge, at 7: 00 and wind down at 10:00. Call 776-1580 with questions about the dance.

No Las Cruces Contra Dance in May, June or July
It’s summer holiday for those folks down south as they travel to various other dances and camps around the southwest. Las Cruces dances will resume on August 15. You can also find the current dance schedule on the web at: www.zianet.com/lcludeman/contra/cdsched02.htm (don’t believe the schedule totally because the May 16 dance is cancelled!)

ABQ Baroque Concert, Sunday, May 18
Albuquerque Baroque Players present a concert of Cantatas by J.S. Bach with soloists Janeene Williams, soprano, and David Farwig, baritone. Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd. NE. 3 p.m. FREE admission. For more info call 255-7089 or visit the website at www.unm.edu/~sbpatric

NO Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, May 24
That’s because you should all be at Folkmadness 2008! Music & dance camp will be May 23-26, 2008 at NM Tech campus in Socorro, NM . Lisa Greenleaf and Bill “Doc” Litchman calling, Groovemongers and Alice/Al White playing. Details at: www.folkmads.org/2008Folkmadness.html

Two Special Dance Events on May 31
Cotillion Ball & Ramble in honor of Lily Wilson’s 21st birthday!
IOOF Hall, Santa Fe - 7 pm, Music by Second Nature
Fancy Dress encourages. Details here

Special 5th Saturday Square Dance
7:30-10:30 p.m., Heights Community Center
Caller: Kris Jensen, Band: The Fabulous Waynerds
Details here

This & That

San Antonio Dance Weekend: Weekend Dance Workshops by Bob Dalsemer from North Carolina. San Antonio May 9-11, 2008. Info on the website, www.sacontradancers.org The San Antonio Contra Dancers invite you to dance with us during this exceptional weekend! Some home hospitality is still available. For questions, please contact Lissa at lissa@ifcchouseconcerts.com

ZoukFest World Music Camp (June 8-14 in Santa Fe) will be here soon. Guest Artist this year is Andy Irvine! Check out new and returning staff and new classes. Details at www.zoukfest.com

Albuquerque Folk Festival : Saturday, June 21 at the State Fairgrounds, aka NM EXPO. From 10 a.m. to 11. p.m. Contra (Wendy Graham and Kris Jensen calling), swing and African dance in the evening. Band Scramble. Linda Vik is leading Lit’l Folks Fiddle Contest. They need volunteers–contact them by May 31 - big benefits: free admission, parking, T-shirt. volunteers@abqfolkfest.org

Save the dates: Banjo and Mountain Dulcimer Workshops, June 20 and 22, in Albuquerque with Mary Z. Cox. Email inquiry@siliconheights.com for more information or for a registration form.

Oklahoma’s Flamingo Fling in June: The Flamingo Fling is the annual contra dance weekend in Oklahoma City, this June 20-22nd, with Joseph Pimentel calling to the rhythms of Goldcrest. It will be a stunning combo of contra and English to thrill your dancing feet. Registration form online at www.scissortail.org/FlamingoFling/tabid/59/Default.aspx

Portland, Oregon’s Northwest Passage Camp Bruce Hamilton, Sue Rosen & Merri Rudd calling English and contra dances. Notorious (Larry Unger, Eden MacAdam-Somer, Ralph Gordon) and Phantom Power (Lissa Schneckenburger, Bruce Rosen, Mark Roberts, Stefan Amidon) playing. Annie Johnston cooking gourmet meals! Alan Roberts on sound. August 29 - September 1, 2008. www.NWPassageDanceCamp.org contains full details about camp, including registration form, information about scholarships, work-trade positions, and student discounts.

!GLOBALQUERQUE! Sept. 19-20, 2008
Hispanic Cultural Center. They just launched the new festival web site with some previews of this year’s lineup. Confirmed so far are:
- GENTICORUM (Quebec, Canada)
- HAPA (Hawaii)
- MOR KARBASI (Israel)
- ORCHID ENSEMBLE (China/Canada)
- SAVINA YANNATOU (Greece)
¡Globalquerque! tickets are available from the NHCC box office and
Ticketmaster.

And last, but certainly not least...MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Oct. 10-12, 2008: Pete Sutherland will play a concert in Albuquerque on October 10, a dance in Santa on October 11, and then the annual Fall Ball English Workshop and Dance will be on Sunday, October 12. A music and dance extravaganza not to be missed!

Oh yeah, I forgot to say who Folk Couple #9 was. Here they are…….

Judge Merri, Gale (daughter of bride), Carol Langer (fiddler), Tim Shaffer (fiddler & guitarist), May 10, 2007 [Photo by Tony Garcia]

Happy Spring to All,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com

April 2008 Folk Enews

Greetings, Folkies,

A special English ball will take place in Taos on Friday, April 25, details below. AND Santa Fe has a special guest from California, Ray Bierl from Hillbillies from Mars (I once drove 18 hours to Wyoming to dance to them, and they played at our Folkmadness Camp last century too). That concert, workshop and dance will be April 11 and 12. Lots of things for dance gypsies too, as well as multiple concerts in April.

Corrales Sing, Friday, April 4
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’ll sing songs about KINGS, QUEENS, and JACKS. This might evoke any number of historical ballads about royalty real or imagined, as well as the plentiful appearances of poor Jack the fool. Card games and gambling songs should also be in plentiful evidence!
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Each participant in the circle may lead a song, do a solo, request a song, or pass. Bring enthusiasm, songbooks, instruments, beverages/snacks, kids, and friends.
Contact: Laurie McPherson 898-6978
Email: lauriemcpherson@hotmail.com or lmcpherson@salud.unm.edu
114 Coronado Road, Corrales, 87048
(Directions: From the intersection of Alameda and Coors, go 1.8 miles north on Corrales Road. Pass the Chevron station, go several blocks. Just past the Horseman’s Supply store, turn left on Coronado Road. Post office is too far. They’re the second house on the right, come in past the barns to park.)

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, April 5
Doc Litchman calling and special guest band Bayou Seco (former Albuquerqueans Ken and Jeanie now from Silver City, NM) playing New Mexican and Cajun style dance tunes. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Durango Contra Dance, April 5
POTLUCK & CONTRA DANCE
Saturday April 5
VFW, 1550 Main St, in Durango
6:00 is a community potluck that is open to all. Bring a dish to share.
7:00 is beginner dance instruction
7:30, the Contra Dance starts, with Durango caller Wendy Graham and more music by The Usual Suspects from Laramie, Wyoming.
All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Admission is $10. First-timers get a pass to come back for free. For further information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Old Time Music Circle, Albuquerque, Sun., April 6
Come jam from 2-4 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. There will be 2 groups playing in 2 separate rooms. Bluegrass music will be in the front room (entry room) and Old Time music will be in the west room (where concerts are held). Email Judy Muldawer at inquiry@siliconheights.com for more details.

Santa Fe House Concert, Friday, April 11
Ray Bierl is one of the famous/infamous Hillbillies from Mars from California. Check this one out! Details at Bierl Events (scroll down that page).
7:30 p.m., 400 Cortez Place, Santa Fe
$10 FolkMADS members, $12 non-members

Santa Fe Music Workshop & Contra Dance, Sat., April 12
Workshop 2-4 p.m., IOOF Hall. $15 FolkMADS members, $25 non-members. Details at Bierl Events. Note new dance time of 7:30 -10:30 p.m. (same as ABQ dances now) Kris Jensen calling with special guest Ray Bierl & Friends playing dance tunes. 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Second Sunday Dance, April 13
Noralyn Parsons & Kit French calling elegant English and zesty contras; The McPapenhagens playing. 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, April 15
Join the Megaband in a jam in its current location at O’Niell’s Pub, Banquet Room, 4310 Central Ave SE (Central at Washington in East Nob Hill), 7:00-10:00 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729. (We just ate there today and it was YUMMY!)

Albuquerque Concert, Wednesday, April 16
ABI TAPIA & BETH WOOD
Windchime Champagne Gallery, 518 Central Ave SW
7:30 PM, Tickets are $15 advance, $20 door
Available at abqmusic.com, Bookworks and Natural Sound
Two Austin-based singer songwriters drop by for the monthly acoustic music showcase at a downtown art gallery. Bring snacks to share! Sponsored by AMP concerts, www.abqmusic.com

Albuq. Megaband in Concert, Thursday, April 17
The Albuquerque Megaband will be playing for community dancing on Thursday, April 17 in the Old Town Plaza at 7 p.m. Bill “Doc” Litchman will call some community dances. This is part of the “Folk Festival Presents” series of concerts by Albuquerque Folk Festival participants and supporters. You can hear a different band or two every Thursday evening in Old Town for the next several months. Visit abqfolkfest.org/oldtown.shtml for the full schedule.

Albuquerque Concert, Friday, April 18
ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS
South Broadway Cultural Center, 1025 Broadway SE
8:00 PM, Tickets are $20 reserved seating
Available at abqmusic.com and the SBCC Box Office (505-848-1320)
We have our tickets; do you have yours?! I hope it’s not sold out yet. Enjoy Alasdair’s fiery Scottish fiddle with cello accompaniment. This is a high energy show with some of the best instrumental interplay you are likely to see all year. (They’ll also play in Corrales on Sat., April 19). The SBCC show is sponsored by AMP concerts, www.abqmusic.com. And visit Alasdair’s web page at www.alasdairfraser.com

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, April 19
Wendy Graham from Durango calling and the Albuquerque Megaband playing. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Corrales Concert, Saturday, April 19
ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS
Not sure about the time, Tickets are $22/$25 at door.
Concert at Old San Isidro Church.

Santa Fe Concert, Saturday, April 19
Michael Combs playing crunchy, whole-grain, rough-hewn traditional fiddle and button accordion.
Upper Crust Pizza, Santa Fe
6-9 p.m. no cover
For more info, call 946-0338

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, April 19
Dance at the San Geronimo Lodge, at 7: 00 and wind down at 10:00. Call 776-1580 with questions about the dance.

Santa Fe Concert, Tuesday, April 22
Michael Combs playing crunchy, whole-grain, rough-hewn traditional fiddle and button accordion to celebrate Earth Day.
Upper Crust Pizza, Santa Fe
6-9 p.m. no cover
For more info, call 946-0338

Taos English Dance, Friday, April 25
They’re having a “Mostly English Country Dance” here in Taos on April
25th. Albuquerque’s Kit French is one of the instructors, the other is from Vermont–Joan Shimer (she wrote the book I often use for teaching English). The dance will be in a barn and it’s free. Starts at 7:30. Local musicians will play. Call 575-770-5259 for directions to the barn.

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, April 25
Lewis Land calling with SNMMDS Band playing. Location: La Mesilla Community Center, 2251 Calle de Santiago, Mesilla NM. It’s actually the adjacent town of Mesilla, and hall is 2 blocks west of the plaza. For info, contact 505-522-1691. 7:30 p.m. beginner lessons & dance to follow to 10:30 p.m., Cost: $5

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, April 26
Merri Rudd calling and Soda Rock Ramblers (Larry Edelman from Denver on fiddle, Scott Mathis on mandolin and guitaron, Linda Askew on guitar) playing. Dance 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

This & That
Folkmadness 2008 is fast approaching with fantastic talent. Send in your registration for camp in Socorro, NM May 23-26, 2008. Lisa Greenleaf and Bill “Doc” Litchman calling, Groovemongers and Alice/Al White playing. Details at: www.folkmads.org/2008Folkmadness.html

Folk Wedding Without Me: Susie Tomlinson of Tucson, AZ reports, “Doug Acuff and I got married while we were on a Wild Asparagus dance vacation in Hawaii. We got married on the beach at Holoholokai which is north of Kona. We stayed on the Hilo side of the Big Island and at Kalani Retreat Center near Pahoa. We always thought you’d be the one to marry us, Merri, but there we were in Hawaii and….”

Merri says, Doug used to live in Albuquerque and dance with us. They often attend Folkmadness. Susie continues, “We met contradancing. Doug was new to Tucson (from Albq) to work at IBM….I had just returned to dancing from having a hip replacement. I was bent over putting on my shoes a bit late (dancing had already started) and noticed a “new pair of legs dance by in shorts”…that was Doug. Our first dance that night had us back to back doing a sashay with our opposites which caused Doug and I to constantly bump butts! So we always say our first dance was the Butt Contra! That was in the fall of 2000…and the rest is history!”

Congrats to both of you, even though I didn’t get to officiate!

ZoukFest World Music Camp (June 8-14 in Santa Fe) will be here soon. Guest Artist this year is Andy Irvine! Check out new and returning staff and new classes. Details at www.zoukfest.com

San Antonio,TX Contra Dance Weekend: North Carolina’s Bob Dalsemer calling, May 9-11, 2008. They are celebrating their 24th Anniversary as a group, and have priced all events very reasonably so that everybody can attend. Info at: sacontradancers.org/Upcoming_Dances.htm

Prescott, AZ’s MayMadness: May 16-18, 2008, Robert Cromartie and Deb Comly calling. JAX and Privy Tippers playing.

ABQ Bluegrass concerts: Details about various concert are at www.southwestpickers.com

Happy Spring to All,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com

A Stellar Experience

I’m late posting a report about the 2008 Stellar Days and Nights weekend. I hope I can remember stories from two weeks ago.

Dave, Noralyn, Hamish and I hit the road the morning of February 21, and despite a little detour in Española through the San Ildefonso Pueblo (”Dave, the shadows are wrong if we’re supposed to be heading north.” “Does this look right?” “Well, I don’t remember ever driving through the Pueblo before.”), we made it to Stellar by 4 p.m. We oohed and aahed at the herd of 15 elk of all sizes framed against the snowy piñons along the highway, saw multiple hawks and eagles perched on posts watching for lunch, and drove into the occasional vortex of whirling snow as we travelled farther north.

The Stellar weekend is located at the Adventure Unlimited Ranches, an 1,100 acre facility nestled in the foothills of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. “Bring snowshoes,” the organizers advised. We did and were glad. The Ranch sits outside Buena Vista, Colorado, about a 300-mile drive straight north of Albuquerque on Highway 285. It’s in a rural spot with the last several miles on a dirt, ice-splotched road. A frozen snow-covered lake is just below Valerie Lodge, where the eating and dancing and hanging out occur. The log lodge has a great wooden dance floor, giant windows with views of the Arkansas River Valley and surrounding mountains, and a large fireplace, which was lit all weekend long.

Valerie Lodge, Photo by Merri Rudd

A distant 14,000′ peak peeked over the mountains beyond the lake and caught the last light of the setting sun. I have attended many camps before, but none in as beautiful a setting as Stellar. Did I mention there were about 4′ of snow already there? And we were at 8,600′ elevation surrounded by fragrant evergreens? I saw snowshoe hare tracks and scat, and one dancer actually saw the hare, blending in with the snow. Although it was well below freezing at night, I never wore all of the layers that I brought.

Over 100 participants, including 20 New Mexicans, stayed in heated log cabins with bathrooms. People skiied, snowshoed and tromped back and forth between the cabins and dance hall. I especially enjoyed snowshoeing to the lodge in my queen’s costume and long velvet skirt.

The staff consisted of Eden MacAdam-Somer & Larry Unger (who comprise a band called Notorious), Erika Gerety, Bruce Thomson, John Brinduse, Peter Esherick, and Gary Blank (Albuquerque’s own Hands Five), Jim Borzym teaching waltzing, Ron Sommers, the ace sound engineer, and me, teaching and calling contra and English country dance all weekend. That I still had my voice after this calling marathon is a testament to Ron’s skill.

Stellar Staff, Photo courtesy of Peter Esherick

Eleanor Fahrney, the main organizer of Stellar, presented our mission at the staff meeting before Thursday’s dinner. Her six “Points” (like a star/snowflake has) of Stellar were Inclusivity, Quality, Keeping the Traditions Alive, Rejuvenating, Individualized, and Fun. Eleanor had help–other organizers and volunteers to whom she delegated tasks nicely (”I’m getting into this delegating thing,” she announced toward the end of the weekend). The best thing about the weekend for me was discovering that contra and English and square dancing really do have a next generation of energetic and talented leaders like Eleanor, Wendy Graham, Chad Filipski, and Andrea Earley-Coen (formerly with the midwest band Pig’s Eye Landing)–in the middle of rural Colorado, no less. They’re young (some aren’t even 30 yet), they’re energetic, they’re creative, and they love the traditions of folk music and dance.

We started dancing at 7:30 Thursday night and hardly stopped until 11:30 Sunday morning. Eden on fiddle and Larry on guitar and banjo are supremely skilled musicians; together they are musical synergy, feeding off each other and driving each other. They go places musically that most musicians can only imagine. Larry and Eden go there every set. At times they sound like a band of 5 or 6 musicians; their energy and skill take the crowd to dance nirvana. Toward the end of the weekend, Gary and Peter sat in with them on percussion and bass. During my ‘thank you’s’ on Sunday morn, I said that working with Eden and Larry was like skiing down a really steep, wild and wooly hill. But I knew I’d arrive at the bottom safely every time. And so I did. I wrote them when I got home and said I hope they wake up every morning grateful for the gifts they’ve been given.

Notorious, aka Eden & Larry, Photo by Merri Rudd

During a couples’ dancing workshop, Larry realized he’d left his Zweifacher music at home. So he sat at the back of the stage, lined music stave sheets in his lap, and created a new tune, “The Merri Zweifacher.” Brilliant.

English country dance requires one to move in totally different ways from contra dancing. In English dance one floats above the floor, leaning slightly forward, feet following. I like to say that you are “leading with your heart.” One challenge of introducing English country dance to contra dancers is to hold their interest. The uninitiated think that English country dance is “slow, boring contra dance.” How wrong they are! Mary Devlin of Portland, Oregon helped me create the two workshops that I taught. Plus I had done lots of “research” at Oklahoma City’s recent English weekend. For the first English workshop on Friday morning, Elegant English: A Proper Primer, I presented:

About half of the weekend’s dancers attended the English workshops, some dancing English for the first time (the rest were off sleeping, snowshoeing, skiing, singing, jamming, or soaking in the hot springs). Many were surprised at the exuberance of the dances. Others enjoyed the intense moments of eye contact and discovery of the various story lines of the dances. I reminded them that these great moments could also be found in other dance forms. Several reluctant contra dancers recognized the error of their ways and reported to me (with some surprise) that they “now love English country dance.”

On Saturday morn, in my resplendent maroon and pink queen’s gown, I presented the second English workshop, Digging Deeper into English: By George, I think I’ve got it!, with these dances:

A retired schoolteacher approached me at the end of the second workshop. She said she really enjoyed how I captured the dancers’ attention with my enthusiasm and love for English dance, which she felt was strongly evident. I stood silently for a moment, then with tears filling my eyes, I said, “For twenty years, I set a bad example on the dance floor with my disdain for English country dance. And then one day about five years ago, I ‘got’ it. I LOVE English now, and I’m trying to make up for all the harm I did before.” “Well,” she said, “don’t worry. You’re more than making up for it now.” Readers can judge for themselves the joy on these English dancers’ faces.

Morning English Workshop, Photo by Merri Rudd

Hands Five, who debuted in Albuquerque on January 1, 2005, have quickly risen to notoriety in the contra dance world. Their original fiddler was 17-year-old Ryan, who headed off to the northwest for college a year later. Bruce Thomson, one of New Mexico’s finest and most diverse fiddlers (only slightly older than 17 and with whom I’ve been calling for more than 15 years), took over. Joined by Peter Esherick on hammer dulcimer, Erika Gerety on bass, John Brinduse on guitar (and this weekend keyboard!), and Gary Blank on percussion and a haunting, full-sized didgeridoo, Hands Five know how to rev up the dance energy. Their repertoire is eclectic and entertaining. They love to play for both concerts and dances and most of them love to dance. They understand how music and dance fit together. They study tempos, matching tunes to dances, and ‘zinging’ the dancers with the tunes. I recommended Hands Five to Eleanor when she hired me last year, and I wondered how they’d fare alongside a band as seasoned as Notorious. I wonder no more. Hands Five shined; they rose to the occasion; pick your metaphor–they were stars.

The dancers were stars too. They handled everything that Jim and I threw at them with good nature and enthusiasm. They forgave my mistakes, such as “sing on the side,” shouting “la la la la” in unison. They laughed and twirled and spun and appeared to have a grand time. We didn’t stick to my Plan A (we never do), but we did dances such as Peter Stix’s What are Hands Four?, Ted Sanella’s Love and Kisses, Cary Ravitz’s Snake in the Hey, Maliza’s Magical Mystery Motion, and Gypsy Star, Carol Ormand’s Stars of Alberta and Coray’s Silver Jubilee, Kathy Anderson’s Weave the Line, Danish Dessert, and Tropical Gentleman, William Watson’s The Devil’s Backbone, Martin Sirk’s Venus & Mars, Tom Hinds’ Batja’s Breakdown and The Tease, Robert Cromartie’s M.A.D. About Dancing, Mary Devlin’s Triplet to Eugene, Gene Hubert’s Halliehurst, Becky Hill’s The Eyes Have It and Smooth Sailing, Devin Nordberg’s Devin’s Settlement, Bob Isaacs’ Cure for the Clap, Joseph Pimentel’s Ramsay Chase, Susan Kevra’s Trip to Phan Reel, and my own Convolution. Of course, no Stellar weekend would be complete without Al Olson’s Eleanor’s Reel, named for Stellar’s Eleanor (I arranged ahead for her husband Andrew to dance this one with her). And The Dreaded Swing….

These are only some of the dances that I called. All in all, I taught about 60 dances throughout the weekend, except for the last half hour of Friday night, when Eleanor leaped onto stage and called so I could go to sleep. Calling the weekend was fun, but it would have been more fun if I’d been able to dance more. I’m encouraging the organizers to hire two callers next year to share the work and the fun! I am looking forward to being one of three callers at Oregon’s Northwest Passage Camp, along with Bruce Hamilton and Sue Rosen. Notorious and Phantom Power will play.

We couldn’t have maintained our energy all weekend without the gourmet meals provided by nationally known chef Annie Johnston from Bend, Oregon. She has been feeding dancers for twenty years–homemade frittatas, blueberry cobbler, foccacio, soups, Moroccan coconut chicken, rosemary bread, fudge caramel upside down cake, apricot almond poppy seed coffeecake, and other spectacular treats. Despite Annie’s decadent dishes, I didn’t gain any weight. Apparently, hurling my energy from the stage to the dancers burns off calories! Annie will be cooking for the Northwest Passage weekend too.

Late Saturday night after hanging out in front of the big fireplace with wired dancers, I snowshoed back to my cabin. The bright light of stars pierced the pitch dark sky. Snow fell gently. I could barely breathe for fear of disturbing the beauty of the night. It was still snowing the next morning, and the Durango folks reported that they were leaving after breakfast, before the farewell dance, to make it over the pass before the snow made the roads difficult. But I looked out at the dancers (still three lines of dancers those last two hours), and I saw a few Durangoans dancing. “I thought you were heading home,” I said. “Yep, we are, any minute.” They stayed until the end, until Eden led us in a farewell song. Then people sledded their luggage to the road, packed their cars, said their good-byes, and headed out into the swirling snow, with tunes and songs and dances just a memory in their minds. And we four did the same, recounting stories and images and the joy of music and dance all the way home.

Merri, Noralyn, Dave & Hamish in Farewell Snowstorm

The staff did not have a debriefing meeting to evaluate whether we accomplished Eleanor’s six Points. But I’m pretty sure if you polled those present, most would agree, “It was an amazing weekend, filled with awesome food, camaraderie, music and dance.” Perhaps some of them will post comments to this entry and share their own stories.

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com

March 2008 Folk Enews

Greetings, Folkies,

March is sneaking up on all of us, even though we get an extra day this year. Please note that a fabulous band, Groovemama, is doing a southwest tour, starting with a house concert in Corrales on Thursday, February 28, an Albuquerque contra dance on Saturday, March 1, and fiddle and guitar workshops at very reasonable prices in Albuquerque and Corrales on March 2, followed by a potluck dinner and jam. Details here. Don’t miss out on these exciting events!

I’m guessing most of you would never expect me to attend a whole weekend of English country dance, but here I am, ready for the ball.

Mary, Kit, Merri, Meg (photo by Richard Letts of Austin, TX)

My road trip report has details if you’re curious.

Corrales House Concert, Thursday, February 28
Groovemama playing at 7:30 p.m.
$10 suggested donation (all proceeds go to the musicians)
RSVP to reserve your spot and get directions — email Jane Phillips at heyjane@yahoo.com or call 505-898-2565.
Melding minds and rhythms, Groovemama performances blend music of Ireland, Scotland, French Canada and the Appalachian South with new compositions of their own. Old-Time fiddler Jane Rothfield and Franco-American fiddler Donna Hébert (hey, this is the Donna Hébert who founded the famous New England band Yankee Ingenuity that plays every Monday night at the Scout House dance in Concord, MA) have played together for many decades. Their style is one of musical exploration as they morph into new rhythms and harmonies in tunes from the British Isles and North America. Max Cohen’s great groove guitar is the perfect rhythm instrument; his original songs are well-crafted stories with a twist. Groovemama has a great time onstage and invites the audience to do the same! Come hear the band in an intimate setting!

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, March 1
Merri Rudd calling and special guest band Groovemama playing New England style dance tunes. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Durango Contra Dance, March 1
CONTRA DANCE , POTLUCK AND CONCERT MARCH 1
Saturday March 1
VFW, 1550 Main St, in Durango
5:00 is a community potluck that is open to all. Bring a dish to share.
6:00, the Albuquerque band Hey! will present a concert.
7:00 is beginner dance instruction
7:30, the Contra Dance starts, with Durango caller Wendy Graham and more music from Hey!
All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Admission is $10. First-timers get a pass to come back for free. For further information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Fiddle & Guitar Workshops, Sunday, March 2
The Groovemama musicians will hold workshops from 3-6 p.m., followed by potluck dinner and jam. Fiddle workshops will begin at 3:00 & 4:30.
Guitar workshop will run from 4:00 to 5:30, to allow participants time to join us for potluck and jam in Corrales. (See full schedule on FolkMADS website: )
Location: Fiddle workshops in Corrales; Guitar workshop in NE Heights
90-minute Fiddle Workshops: FolkMADS members: $15 for each workshop
Non-members: $25 for each workshop or $40 for both.
90-minute Guitar Workshop: FolkMADS members: $15, Non-members: $25

Old Time Music Circle, Albuquerque, Sun., March 2
Come jam from 2-4 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. There will be 2 groups playing in 2 separate rooms. Bluegrass music will be in the front room (entry room) and Old Time music will be in the west room (where concerts are held). Email Judy Muldawer at inquiry@siliconheights.com for more details.

Santa Fe Irish Concerts, Sat., March 1 & Sun., March 2
Saturday, March 1, 7:00pm and Sunday, March 2nd, 2:30pm Matinee
Belisama Irish Dance Company
“Rhythm of Fire” Concerts
James A. Little Theater
NM School for the Deaf
website: www.belisamairishdance.com/2.html

Albuquerque Irish Concert, Tuesday, March 4
THE DAVID MUNNELLY BAND! From County Mayo, Ireland
Tuesday, March 4th, 7:30 p.m.
Windchime Champagne Gallery
518 Central SW (between 4th & 5th, south side)
$15 Advance/$20 Door
Tickets at Natural Sound, The Bookstop, and Windchime Champagne Gallery
Or through AMP Concerts: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/25865
The David Munnelly Band took Walnut Valley Festival (aka WINFIELD!) by storm three years ago, and has returned to the Festival ever since (including the upcoming 2008 event). The David Munnelly Band is Button Accordion/Fiddle/ Guitar/ Flute/ Rhythm (& sometimes piano), and in addition to playing traditional and modern tunes & songs, play music from the 1920’s & 30’s Irish American Dance Hall era. This is mostly Ragtime style. When Ireland became its own country, many immigrants returned from America, & brought the popular music with them. David is keeping this tradition alive, and with GREAT VIGOR! This is one of the most exciting Celtic Bands around. They also boast an All Ireland Champion singer, Shauna Mullins, and they even have a Tap (not Step) Dancer!!! It will be an unforgettable show! Here they are on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJSU4KidSE

Corrales Sing, Friday, March 7
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’ll sing songs about Tall Tales and Miracles.
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Each participant in the circle may lead a song, do a solo, request a song, or pass. Bring enthusiasm, songbooks, instruments, beverages/snacks, kids, and friends.
Contact: Laurie McPherson 898-6978
Email: lauriemcpherson@hotmail.com or lmcpherson@salud.unm.edu
114 Coronado Road, Corrales, 87048
(Directions: From the intersection of Alameda and Coors, go 1.8 miles north on Corrales Road. Pass the Chevron station, go several blocks. Just past the Horseman’s Supply store, turn left on Coronado Road. Post office is too far. They’re the second house on the right, come in past the barns to park.)

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, March 8
Note new dance time of 7:30 -10:30 p.m. (same as ABQ dances now) Donna Howell calling with Beat La Feet playing dance tunes. 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Second Sunday Dance, March 9
Richard Wilson calling elegant English and zesty contras; Second Nature (Karina Wilson on fiddle and Della O’Keefe on piano) playing. 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, March 11
Join the Megaband in a jam in its current location at O’Niell’s Pub, Banquet Room, 4310 Central Ave SE (Central at Washington in East Nob Hill), 7:00-10:00 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729. (We just ate there today and it was YUMMY!)

ABQ Dance Committee Meeting, Saturday, March 15
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Bob & Linda’s - 509 Aliso NE
Come give input and volunteer to help keep the dances invigorated and organized. Then you can go dancing after the meeting. For more details, call 255-6037

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, March 15
Marj Mullany calling and the Albuquerque Megaband playing. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID. I’m guessing green attire would be festively encouraged.

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, March 15
Dance at the San Geronimo Lodge, at 7: 00 and wind down at 10:00. Call 776-1580 with questions about the dance.

Taos Irish Concert, Sunday, March 16
6:30-9:30 pm, Irish Traditional Music
Roger Landes & Friends
Taos Inn, 125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos
575-758-5776, rogerlandes.com

Taos Concert, Thursday, March 20th
6:30-9:30 pm, Roger Landes Solo
Taos Inn, 125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos
575-758-5776
rogerlandes.com

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, March 21
Lewis Land and Lonnie Ludeman calling with SNMMDS Band playing. Location: La Mesilla Community Center, 2251 Calle de Santiago, Mesilla NM. It’s actually the adjacent town of Mesilla, and hall is 2 blocks west of the plaza. For info, contact 505-522-1691. 7:30 p.m. beginner lessons & dance to follow to 10:30 p.m., Cost: $5

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, March 22
Richard Wilson calling and Second Nature (Karina Wilson on fiddle and Della O’Keefe on piano) playing. Dance 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $7 members, $8 others, students 1/2 price with ID.

Special Swing Dance Event, Saturday, March 29
Come to a special sizzling swing dance with Le Chat Lunatique playing. This dynamic, young quartet will blow your dancing shoes off with their energy, creativity and vive!
7:30 - 10:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $8 members, $10 others, students 1/2 price with ID. FOLKMADS will set up chairs, and some tables with chairs in the other part of the hall, for more of a social club feel. But most of the crowd, including Le Chat Lunatique groupies (translate: young folk), will be up and dancing all night long!

This & That
Folkmadness 2008 is fast approaching with fantastic talent. Send in your registration for camp in Socorro, NM May 23-26, 2008. Lisa Greenleaf and Bill “Doc” Litchman calling, Groovemongers and Alice/Al White playing. AND Priscilla Zimmermann from Santa Fe has been hired to lead singing. Details at: www.folkmads.org/2008Folkmadness.html

Arizona’s Peg Hesley Goes to Texas: 2nd Annual Contra Dance Weekend in Post, Texas (about 5 hours from ABQ). March 7-9, 2008, 8 p.m. Friday until noon Sunday. Caller will be Peg Hesley of Phoenix, AZ with two bands playing, Flagstaff’s Traditional Blend and Texas’s Mimi & Allison. Cost is $70, which includes three meals. Lodging additional, $50-$80 per person, includes 2 nights. Cost: $65 for the weekend of dancing. For information, visit www.thegreatdanceescape.org

ZoukFest World Music Camp (June 8-14 in Santa Fe) is now open for early registration! Check out our new and returning staff and new classes! All those who register before April 1st are automatically entered into the drawing for free tuition. That’s right, one lucky ZoukFest attendee will get free full tuition for the week. Be sure to look at the two amazing instruments in the current raffle! Details at zoukfest.com

Happy St. Paddy’s Green to everyone and enjoy your extra Leap Day,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com

Baby Cat, February 1993 - February 13, 2008

Inevitably the death of a pet makes you contemplate your own mortality. So I suppose I’ve been holding my breath and denying my mortality as we saw Baby Cat through his final days this past week.

Each year we celebrate our natal days; each year the anniversary of our death passes without note or fanfare. Although we don’t know the date of our eventual demise, in Baby Cat’s case, his two dates may well have been one and the same. We’ll never know for sure.

My husband Mark (with whom I share a 26th anniversary today) wrote eloquently about Baby’s Last Day and included much of his history.

Baby came to us as a tiny kitten with his feral mother. He didn’t purr his first year, but finally found his voice. He was so small when we first saw him with his milky eyes and backset ears that we thought he might be blind. He looked more like a mouse than a kitten. Eventually his blue eyes turned yellow-green and his ears perked up. He ultimately weighed 14 pounds, but we still called him Baby. Or Dude or Little Guy or Doodle. His white paws were enormous, compared to our petite Kitty. He was soft as a bunny, with back feet reminiscent of a jackrabbit. His long gray tail had 3 black rings at the tip, like a raccoon.

He was mostly an outdoor cat, sleeping under our spruce tree and the neighbor’s spruce tree. We tried to make him sleep inside at night, not always with success. But Baby always came running when I’d whistle for him, just like a dog. He didn’t necessarily stay inside then; he might meow plaintively at the door, wanting to go back outside. If the weather was bad or cold, we’d make him stay in. Or he’d come in one door and immediately trot to the other door to go back out. When the weather was bad, he’d check both doors, perhaps hoping for a different result, then turn despondently back into the house and lie on the bed or chair.

Each fall when the gas furnace kicked on the first time of the season, Baby would yowl in terror and run for the nearest door. Eventually, each season he would remember that heat was good (even if loud) and would drape himself over a pillow in front of a heater vent, fur blowing gently in the warm breeze. He would also nestle into the electric blanket covering our couch during the winter. Often he was forced to share the couch with Kitty and the dog. On exceptionally cold days, he would jump from the floor under the bedspread and nestle, a big lump on the edge of the bed. We never figured out how he could breathe under there.

Baby was a mellow cat, almost Zen-like. Sometimes he was too passive, submitting grumpily to Kitty’s constant cleaning of him until he’d finally had enough and would stalk away, head wet with Kitty’s saliva. He came home with scratches on his nose and occasional abcesses. We never saw him fight, so we theorized that he just sat there and let another cat swat him, then walked away back home.

He had his decadent side. He might lounge on one’s legs, like a tree branch, purring and cleaning himself. He’d stay there until my legs fell asleep and I had to move him to regain feeling.

He never really craved attention like some cats. He wanted it on his own terms, usually when it was least convenient to the human. If I was sitting on the toilet with the bathroom door cracked, I would see a fat white paw poke through the crack, opening the door. Then he’d pad in, purring and butting my legs. I’d say, “Excuse me! I’m trying to use my litter box.” He’d ignore me and continue to purr and rub my legs. Sometimes he’d stand up, balanced on the toilet rim demanding to be petted. When I was weeding the yard, Baby would wander out from the bushes, butting my hand with the trowel. I always wondered if he could hear the weeds’ protest and wanted to stop me. When I was working on the computer, he’d jump onto my desk and stand on the keyboard, producing an endless series of s’s. I rarely minded his intrusions.

We also had a winter ritual. When I emerged from the shower, I’d put on my robe, open the bathroom door, and in would come Baby. He’d sit in my lap in front of the wall heater, and I would rub his throat and vigorously scratch the top of his head. He would act as though he didn’t like it, shaking his head and walking away a few steps. Then he would head-butt me, seeking more.

He had a ritual with Mark too. Mark is allergic to cats, although not deathly so. Still, if we failed to make the bed in the morning, we would find Baby curled on Mark’s pillow, never mine.

I have many images of Baby: waiting at the corner of our block, until we appeared. Then he’d walk alongside LuckyDog as we headed home, shoulder to shoulder, cat and dog tails erect, parallel plumes. He liked to sway; if I was on the wood-slatted swing out back or the quilted hammock, he would watch the motion and join me, timing his jump to the swaying. Once we had an infestation of mice in the garage and outside, and Baby ate four or five in one afternoon. I witnessed one mouse sliding down his throat, legs and tail the last to vanish, just like the python we used to housesit. In the morning I’d open the front curtain and see him on the front porch futon, lounging in the sunlight, lazily looking up and meowing at me. In October 2007 we went on a short camping trip, and when we returned home, Baby was nowhere to be found. Mark looked around and finally heard him mewing sadly, but distantly. In our absence, Baby had climbed the ladder to the roof of the house, but couldn’t figure out how to get down. The neighbor and cat-sitter didn’t find him, and he probably spent one night on the roof.

Mark’s blog entry explained that Baby blossomed after Kitty’s death in July 2007. Irony abounds even in the animal world. Baby was mostly an outdoor cat his whole life probably because Kitty dominated and bothered him. After Kitty died, Baby evolved into a different cat. He stayed indoors much more, he talked often after 14 years of silence, he purred more, lap-sat more, visited more people who came to our house, rather than running for the door. But he didn’t get to enjoy his ‘top cat’ status for even 8 months.

It took us a few days to notice that he had quit eating. After a week, we took him to the vet. She found an abdominal mass the size of a fist. X-rays and blood tests revealed that he most likely had inoperable cancer. The largest tumor was inside his small intestine, blocking food. They kept him overnight to rehydrate him, and when I went to visit before closing hours, he had perked up due to the IV fluids entering his right front paw. I petted and brushed him and sobbed for a half hour, trying to come to terms with the fact that he was terminally ill and unlikely to live more than a few more days. The next 24 hours we debated: how do you know when is the right time to euthanize him? Why can’t he tell us how he feels and what he wants? We waited too long to euthanize Kitty–what should we do for Baby?

The universe sent more irony. As soon as I got home from the vet, the neighbor kids across the street rang the doorbell. They had found Baby’s collar, which had been missing for more than SIX MONTHS, in the church parking lot behind our house. I was certain this was a message from the universe, but could not unravel the meaning.

We had planned to euthanize him tomorrow, getting him through his 15th birthday and our 26th anniversary. But after lying on the floor with him for hours, gently stroking and brushing him, I realized he was extremely uncomfortable. What was the point of keeping him alive? We injected fluids under his skin to help hydrate him, but he couldn’t keep down the Prednisone, opiate, or even water from his bowl. So we called the vet and moved his appointment to yesterday.

The vet tech wanted to take him away to put in the catheter for the euthanization. But I had promised Baby I wouldn’t leave him again. So she inserted the catheter in Room 5, the room that you don’t want your pet to go to, the room where Kitty and our friend Meg’s dog Jackson were euthanized. I stroked Baby as the fluids entered his body, and we heard him purring, even during the euthanization. Then the purring faded.

When we got his body home, waiting to be buried, we both swore we still heard him purring. We hope we were wrong.

During the last few days of Baby’s life, Mark and I manifested our grief physically. Mark says his was a taut feeling in his stomach, like he needed to puke but couldn’t. I felt a severe tightness across my heart, and tried to swim it out at the YMCA. I also felt a great weight of sadness. After Baby’s death, I felt some relief from the physical pain. Although we are both very sad, we feel that we did right by him his whole life. We have no regrets other than that he couldn’t stay with us a few more years. We gave him a peaceful end.

My friend Ann wrote, “Baby’s a very sweet cat…really the best cat I ever met. With visits every four years, I only got to see him a few times. But I will miss him very much…he was very good company while I visited, more of a buddy than I ever really knew a cat could be. He made me feel at home away from home. He is a beauty on the outside and the inside….”

Although Baby shared the house with Mark, me, Kitty, and Lucky, he was my cat. If a cat can love something or someone, then I believe Baby loved me in his own cat way. He would curl up with me as I read a book, purring. Perhaps it was my warmth he craved, perhaps my company. It doesn’t really matter to me. Either way, I am buffeted by grief. Ann’s right—Baby was the sweetest cat I’ve ever met.

Photo by Mark Justice Hinton

Bare Necessities in Oooooooo-kla-homa!

I just spent a whole weekend in Oklahoma City at an English country dance weekend. It was fantastic!

My long-time dance friends know that this is a remarkable declaration. I failed to embrace English country dance for more than 20 years, and only in the last five years have I discovered its beauty, nuance, and grace.

Eight New Mexicans attended the event, along with about 75 other dancers from Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Kansas, and other spots. Meg, Kit, Mary, and I flew. Richard Wilson drove 1,000 miles with daughters Karina and Lily and family friend Mia. Karina is in her early 20’s and has become quite an accomplished dance fiddler. We stayed at local homes with wonderful hospitality. Our hostess extraordinaire Cia pampered us with meals and stories, and we were delighted to find tasty and affordable Indian and Vietnamese food around town.

Bare Necessities, THE premier English dance band in the world, flew in from various states for the event. Jacqueline Schwab played piano while calling the dances. Peter Barnes on flute, English horn, and penny whistle, Mary Lea on fiddle, and Earl Gaddis on fiddle rounded out the band. English country dance music is rooted in the 1600 and 1700’s, with some modern compositions thrown in. The music swells, transcends, and heartbreakingly evokes simpler and more peaceful times. The dances, each of which matches a particular tune, were danced in England in castles and villages. The dances immigrated to America along with the dancers. They require grace and precision with “moments” of connection with one’s partner and others. Many of the dances are jubilant, some are elegant, all are fun. Dance moves immortal through time.

It wasn’t until lunch at Lido’s on Saturday that Earl mentioned casually that he had 104 fever. Taking his temperature after his meal revealed that it had dropped to 99-something. During lunch we told him and Jacqueline about Karina, whose radiant fiddling is the hope for the future of English dance in New Mexico.

Most of the dancers who attended the weekend were somewhat or greatly experienced. However, a few new dancers braved the weekend and happily survived. We danced three hours Friday night, had a two and a half hour workshop Saturday morn, 3-hour workshop Saturday afrternoon, and fancy final ball Saturday evening. Surprisingly, I did not take an Advil, get a blister, or suffer any consequences from leaping and twirling and gliding about with vigor and exuberance. I had not planned to wear the “period dress” requested, but not required. However, a few days before we travelled, I found a maroon velvet queen’s costume with regal gold trim for $7 at the thrift store. AND it was machine washable.

Mary, Kit, Merri, Meg (photo by Richard Letts from Austin)

During the Saturday night dance, I heard an especially beautiful waltz flowing from the stage. I looked over and observed that Karina was playing fiddle with Bare Necessities and Earl was nowhere to be seen! Astonished, I sat out one dance to watch her fingers silently pluck the strings, rehearsing the tune while Jacqueline taught the dance. I admired Karina’s serenity and joy playing with these new-to-her musicians. I studied the communication between the musicians, and how each dropped out to showcase the others. Afterwards, Karina was euphoric and thanked us for “talking her up” to the band. “We’re very proud of you,” I replied.

Peter Barnes (in period dress?), Mary Lea, Karina, Jacqueline Schwab
photo by Mary Beath

It turned out that Earl was lying on his stomach behind the stage with 5 acupuncture needles protruding from the base of his skull. His fever had rekindled, and he needed help. Luckily for Earl, one of the dancers present was also a doctor and acupunturist. With needles still visible, he played the last few tunes of the night and proclaimed that he hadn’t felt this fine in several days.

The organizers of this weekend, Carol Barry and Kevin Barrett, created a memorable event from the beautifully decorated hall to the excellent sound to the ambiance of long ago. Even the name tags were brilliantly inventive, laminated paper with a washer, a magnet, and double stick tape.

As they might say in Shakespeare’s day…”Huzzah!!!”

Saturday’s Ball (Richard and Lily Wilson in foreground)
Photo by Mary Beath

February 2008 Folk Enews

Howdy, Folkies,

I never thought I’d be saying THIS, but a musician friend has been nominated for a Grammy award. He’s played with Ruthie Dornfield, Rodney Miller, and other folk musicians, as well as some of Nashville’s finest country stars. I’ve hung out with him at Pinewoods, danced to his driving guitar rhythms, and listened to him tell stories at his house. Russ Barenberg finally quit his day job to pursue music full-time, and what happens? Grammy nomination!

Russ, his sweetheart Susan Kevra, and their two dogs hail from Nashville, TN. Russ’s CD “When at Last,” a set of original tunes, has been noticed. One tune, “Little Monk” is nominated for a Grammy for “Best Country Instrumental Performance, Category 40.” So when you gather around the TV on February 10 at 8 p.m., know that sometimes good things happen to excellent musicians. If you don’t believe me, visit www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/ or www.russbarenberg.com/CurrRel.cfm (Even though we’ve never met her, my hubby and I are also rooting for Feist for “Best New Artist, Category 4.”)

Corrales Sing, Friday, February 1
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’ll sing songs about Temptation and Salvation.
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Each participant in the circle may lead a song, do a solo, request a song, or pass. Bring enthusiasm, songbooks, instruments, beverages/snacks, kids, and friends.
Contact: Laurie McPherson 898-6978
Email: lauriemcpherson@hotmail.com or lmcpherson@salud.unm.edu
114 Coronado Road, Corrales, 87048
(Directions: From the intersection of Alameda and Coors, go 1.8 miles north on Corrales Road. Pass the Chevron station, go several blocks. Just past the Horseman’s Supply store, turn left on Coronado Road. Post office is too far. They’re the second house on the right, come in past the barns to park.)

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, February 2
Artie Walsh calling and Sandia Hots playing sizzling dance tunes (Liz Stevens on fiddle, Michael Gallagher on banjo, Linda Askew on guitar, and Scott Mathis on guitarron and mandolin). 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Albuquerque Baroque Players, February 2 & 3
with guest Marilyn McDonald, violin, playing
Sonata in Four Movements, Concert III: Grave
Saturday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m., Los Altos Chrisitan Church, 11900 Haines NE, Albuquerque. Sunday, Feb. 3, 4 p.m., Historic Old San Ysidro Church, Corrales. $12 General, $10 Seniors, $5 Students. Call 255-7089 for reservations or visit the web site at www.unm.edu/~sbpatric

Durango Contra Dance, February 2
The Contra Dance is having three events in conjunction with Snowdown at the VFW, 1550 Main St, in Durango.
5:00 is a Medieval Madness Potluck open to all. Bring a dish to share.
6:00, the Albuquerque band Virginia Creepers will present a concert.
7:00 is beginner dance instruction, and followed by Ye Olde Contra Dance with “Dance King” Richard Wilson from Santa Fe as caller. Come dressed in your finest Faire wear for a chance to win a king’s ransom in prizes. All ages and skill levels are encouraged to attend this folk dance. All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary and dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Admission is $10. First-time get a pass to come back for free. For further information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Old Time Music Circle, Albuquerque, Sun., February 3
Come jam from 2-4 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. There will be 2 groups playing in 2 separate rooms. Bluegrass music will be in the front room (entry room) and Old Time music will be in the west room (where concerts are held). Email Judy Muldawer at inquiry@siliconheights.com for more details.

Las Cruces Concert, Sunday, February 3
Emma’s Revolution
Rio Grande Theatre, 7.00 pm.
Advance ticket sales $12 general admission; $10 for students/seniors.
$15 for everyone on the day of the show.
Emma’s Revolution is Pat Humphries and Sandy Apatow, a Maryland duo who have recorded and toured internationally to great reviews. Called the “true spirit-child of Woody Guthrie,” activist musician and award-winning songwriter Pat Humphries has written and performed anthems at peace and justice events around the world. Performing with them will be local artists Chris Sanders and Bob Hull. Tickets are available at Hubbard’s Music ‘N More, Mountain Music and Enchanted Gardens Nursery, all in Las Cruces. Call Marc at (575) 571-7435 for more information about the event, and check www.emmasrevolution.com for more information about the music.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, February 9
Note new dance time of 7:30 -10:30 p.m. (same as ABQ dances now) Janine Sammeth calling with Chiletones playing dance tunes (David Margolin on fiddle, Jim Hughes on banjo, Bruce Thomson on guitar). 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $6 members, $7 others.

Second Sunday Dance, February 10
Kris Jensen and Kit French (just back from an English dance weekend in Oklahoma City) calling elegant English and zesty contras; The McPapenhagens (Gary Papenhagen on fiddle and friends) playing. 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, February 12
Join the Megaband in a jam in its new location at O’Niell’s Pub, 4310 Central Ave SE (Central at Washington in East Nob Hill), 7:00-10:00 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729.

Santa Fe Concert, Valentine's Day
MICHAEL COMBS @ UPPER CRUST PIZZA IN SANTA FE
THURSDAY, FEB. 14 (El Dia de San Valentin)
De Vargas & Old Sta. Fe Trail, 6-9p no cover
Fiddle, Button Accordion, Trad’l Tunes & Song from many lands and times.

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, February 15
Lewis Land and Lonnie Ludeman calling with Dan Levenson & the Boiled Buzzards playing. Location: La Mesilla Community Center, 2251 Calle de Santiago, Mesilla NM. It’s actually the adjacent town of Mesilla, and hall is 2 blocks west of the plaza. For info, contact 505-522-1691. 7:30 p.m. beginner lessons & dance to follow to 10:30 p.m., Cost: $5

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, February 16
Kris Jensen calling and the Albuquerque Megaband playing. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, February 16
Dance at the San Geronimo Lodge, at 7: 00 and wind down at 10:30. Call 776-1580 with questions about the dance.

KLEZMERQUERQUE 2008, Albuquerque, February 15-17
The Southwest’s annual celebration of Klezmer music and dance, KLEZMERQUERQUE 2008, will present a weekend of concerts, dance parties, classes, and a lunch with music featuring world-renowned klezmer artists as well as many local artists. Klezmer is the secular instrumental music and dance of the East European Jewish people. The annual event will take place from February 15-17 (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) at Albuquerque’s Congregation Nahalat Shalom, which is located on 3606 Rio Grande Blvd. NW (between Candelaria & Griegos). Prices and times vary for different events. Admission for the entire weekend of events (2 concerts/dance parties, 3 classes, klezmer potpourri presentation and a lunch with music program) is $90-general, $75-seniors/fixed income/under 18. Individual classes (one-and-a-half hour long each) are $20-general / $16-fixed income. For more information about concerts, class times/prices, Saturday lunch with music and any other questions please contact: Festival Coordinator Beth Cohen (505)243-6276 cohenedmunds@netzero.net and/or Congregation Nahalat Shalom www.nahalatshalom.org (505)343-8227.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, February 23
Lewis Land calling, Santa Fe Megaband playing dance tunes. Dance 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $6 members, $7 others.

Six Weeks of Harmonizing Workshops with Katie Gill in ABQ
With Katie Gill’s Harmony Workshops, designed for 6 to 10 people. 6 week commitment. Learn what the different harmony parts sound like around the melody and how to find them. Train your ear to listen and learn how to improvise or “scat”. Sing together as a group first, doubling up on the harmony parts. Later you will be placed into duos, trios and/or quartets for more intensive and individual practice.
When/WHERE: Mondays from 7:00 - 9:00 p m, Jan 28. - Mar 5 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on 5301 Ponderosa NE, near San Mateo and Montgomery.
OR: Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 p m, Jan 30 - Mar 7 at First Presbyterian Church on 215 Locust NE near I-25 and University.
PRICE: $75.00
REGISTRATION: Call Katie at 505-228-6250 or email her at: katiesongs@cybermesa.com
Katie Gill graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a bachelor of music degree with a vocal emphasis. She has performed in New Mexico, New York, Arizona, Texas and Colorado as well as in Europe. She has been in many various professional vocal groups and is currently in the Buckarettes, who feature great harmonies in their performances. Her musical styles include pop, folk, blues, western swing and country. For more info on Katie go to www.katiecaingill.com

This & That
Folkmadness 2008 is fast approaching with fantastic talent. Send in your registration for camp in Socorro, NM May 23-26, 2008. Lisa Greenleaf and Bill “Doc” Litchman calling, Groovemongers and Alice/Al White playing. Details at: www.folkmads.org/2008Folkmadness.html

Colorado’s Stellar Days and Nights Camp, Feb. 21-24, 2008 in beautiful Buena Vista, CO is still accepting dancers. You can join the bunch of NM dancers who have already signed up to cheer on New Mexico’s Merri Rudd and Hands Five, as well as nationally known Notorious (Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger) AND to eat gourmet meals prepared by Annie Johnston. Visit www.stellardaysandnights.org/ for details.

Happy Hearts to Everyone,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com

Enchanted Error?

Mark and I just got home from seeing the movie ENCHANTED. Amy Adams’ earnest princessness was delightful, despite the overly swelling score and rather abundant product placement of New York icons such as McDonald’s (I haven’t eaten there since I saw SUPERSIZE ME) and Coca-Cola.

However, I noticed a glaring error in the movie. The plot builds to a climax at the King and Queen’s Ball in New York City. People dress in medieval costumes and dance what appears to be a spastic version of an English country dance (think Jane Austen meets a robot). The Ball’s announcer says, “And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for…the King and Queen’s Waltz.” Partners are gathered, the music begins, and a rather long “waltz” ensues.

Now I’m no musician, although I have spent 100’s of hours on stage with them. And I am 99.9% sure that the King and Queen’s Waltz is not a waltz. Instead it’s something in 4/4 time. The fantastical pyrotechnics that follow, Godzilla-style, may have banished this observation from many viewers’ heads, but surely some musician took note?

What say ye, bloggers?

January 2008 Folk Enews

Howdy, Folkies,

Well, no one was more surprised than I to conduct my 10th folk wedding at the break during the Albuquerque dance on December 15. Longtime dancer Margie Colberg’s daughter Jennifer Potrykus married Levi Hatter. Levi’s dad Edward was best man, and Jennifer’s sister Jessamyn was maid of honor. The event vied for ‘world’s most easily planned wedding,’ although I think Ken and Michele may have set that record at Folkmadness Camp in 2006. The wedding party stayed and danced the whole second half, and Katherine Bueler did a great job adapting to the wedding cheer lighting up the dance hall. Dancers and the Megaband enjoyed the cakes and coffee provided by the wedding folks, and I think the crowd revelled at being insta-wedding guests with a few moment’s notice. I can also report that the groom did not quit grinning the whole night. I’m not sure how much I LIKE marrying off the kids of my friends, but I had fun anyway.

Photo by Jim Boros

AND no one was more delighted than I to pass the reign of “bulk mail queen” on to the next benevolent monarch: Deb Campbell. After 11 years as BMQ, I was thrilled to be dethroned. The passing of the crown occurred at 8:20 p.m. on December 20, 2007. Loyal bulk mail crew, Melissa Wilson, Lew Suber, Tim Shaffer and Carol Langer immediately pledged loyalty to the new queen, as Merri embraced her newfound moniker of “has-been.”

Photo by Mark Justice Hinton

Corrales Sing, Friday, January 4
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’ll sing songs about FRIENDS, BUDDIES & PALS.
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Each participant in the circle may lead a song, do a solo, request a song, or pass. Bring enthusiasm, songbooks, instruments, beverages/snacks, kids, and friends.
Contact: Laurie McPherson 898-6978
Email: lauriemcpherson@hotmail.com or lmcpherson@salud.unm.edu
114 Coronado Road, Corrales, 87048
(Directions: From the intersection of Alameda and Coors, go 1.8 miles north on Corrales Road. Pass the Chevron station, go several blocks. Just past the Horseman’s Supply store, turn left on Coronado Road. Post office is too far. They’re the second house on the right, come in past the barns to park.)

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, January 5
Richard Wilson calling and Hey! playing dance tunes (Linda Vik on fiddle, Tim Shaffer on guitar, Jane Phillips on fiddle and bass, Chris Carlson on fiddle and banjo). 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Durango Contra Dance, January 5
The Contra Dance is having three events at the VFW, 1550 Main St, in Durango.
5:00 is a community potluck that is open to all. Bring a dish to share.
6:00, the Albuquerque band Hands Five will present a concert.
7:00 is beginner dance instruction
7:30, the Contra Dance starts, with Durango caller Wendy Graham and more music from Hands Five. All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Admission is $10. First-time get a pass to come back for free. For further information, call 970-385-9292, or see the website groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Old Time Music Circle, Albuquerque, Sun., January 6
Come jam from 2-4 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. There will be 2 groups playing in 2 separate rooms. Bluegrass music will be in the front room (entry room) and Old Time music will be in the west room (where concerts are held). Email Judy Muldawer at inquiry@siliconheights.com for more details.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, January 12
Note new dance time of 7:30 -10:30 p.m. (same as ABQ dances now) Donna Howell calling with Hey! playing dance tunes (Linda Vik on fiddle, Tim Shaffer on guitar, Jane Phillips on fiddle and bass, Chris Carlson on fiddle and banjo. 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $6 members, $7 others. There will be a potluck beforehand starting at 5:00 at the Oddfellows Hall so dancers and musicians can get to know each other better and discuss ways to help out the dances. Bring a dish to share.

Albuq. Concert, Saturday, January 12
Band of Heathens
Puccini’s Golden West Saloon, 620 Central Ave SW
$15 advance, $20 day of show.
Buy tickets on-line through Brown Paper Tickets
or by phone: 1-800-838-3006
8:00 PM, 21 and over (or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian)
Originally conceived as a loosely-knit collective showcasing four of Austin’s best up-and-coming artists, The Band Of Heathens quickly discovered that something special happened when they played together. Each artist has a unique voice, but there is also an amazing group voice of the whole band. Known for their dramatic live show that easily switch gears from Classic Country to Progressive Folk to Americana and R&B, they immediately became an Austin favorite, winning the Best New Band award in 2006/2007. I saw this band at Neal’s 100th house concert and they were highly entertaining. Visit www.abqmusic.com for more info.

Second Sunday Dance, January 13
Noralyn Parsons and Kit French calling elegant English and zesty contras; Bo y Yo (Gary Papenhagen on fiddle, Bo Olcott on guitar) playing. 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, January 15
Join the Megaband in a jam in its new location at O’Niell’s Pub, 4310 Central Ave SE (Central at Washington in East Nob Hill), 7:00-10:00 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729.

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, January 18
Lewis Land and Lonnie Ludeman calling with SNMMDS House Band playing.
Location: La Mesilla Community Center, 2251 Calle de Santiago, Mesilla NM. It’s actually the adjacent town of Mesilla, and hall is 2 blocks west of the plaza. For info, contact 505-522-1691. 7:30 p.m. beginner lessons & dance to follow to 10:30 p.m., Cost: $5

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, January 19
Donna Howell calling and the Albuquerque Megaband playing. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Taos Contra Dance, Saturday, January 19
Dance at the San Geronimo Lodge, at 7: 00 and wind down at 10:30. Call 776-1580 with questions about the dance.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, January 26
Katherine Bueler calling, The Hot Tops (I don’t know who is in this band, but they sound fun) playing dance tunes. Dance 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:00 p.m. $6 members, $7 others.

Santa Fe Concert, Sunday, January 27
College of Santa Fe Contemporary Music presents
KITKA Women’s Vocal Ensemble
Sunday, January 27, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Greer Garson Theater, College of Santa Fe
Tickets: $15 advanced / $20 @ the door
For tickets and information call the Contemporary Music office at (505) 473-6196. KITKA specializes in pure, unaccompanied vocal techniques from Eastern Europe that have been distilled over centuries. Their material ranges from ancient village duets to complex choral works, from early music to contemporary theater. The sound of their voices is exotic, both elegant and eerie. The many languages in which they sing are largely unfamiliar to American ears — Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian, Georgian, Hungarian, Ladino, Latvian, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Yiddish, with the occasional Latin, medieval Gallician, or ancient Greek. KITKA’s sensitive precision lifts their work out of the merely musical into a universe beyond words.

Six Weeks of Harmonizing Workshops with Katie Gill in ABQ
With Katie Gill’s Harmony Workshops, designed for 6 to 10 people. 6 week commitment. Learn what the different harmony parts sound like around the melody and how to find them. Train your ear to listen and learn how to improvise or “scat”. Sing together as a group first, doubling up on the harmony parts. Later you will be placed into duos, trios and/or quartets for more intensive and individual practice.
When/WHERE: Mondays from 7:00 - 9:00 p m, Jan 28. - Mar 5 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on 5301 Ponderosa NE, near San Mateo and Montgomery.
OR: Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 p m, Jan 30 - Mar 7 at First Presbyterian Church on 215 Locust NE near I-25 and University.
PRICE: $75.00
REGISTRATION: Call Katie at 505-228-6250 or email her at: katiesongs@cybermesa.com
Katie Gill graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a bachelor of music degree with a vocal emphasis. She has performed in New Mexico, New York, Arizona, Texas and Colorado as well as in Europe. She has been in many various professional vocal groups and is currently in the Buckarettes, who feature great harmonies in their performances. Her musical styles include pop, folk, blues, western swing and country. For more info on Katie go to www.katiecaingill.com

This & That
Folkmadness 2008 is fast approaching with fantastic talent. Send in your registration for camp in Socorro, NM May 23-26, 2008. Lisa Greenleaf and Bill “Doc” Litchman calling, Groovemongers and Alice/Al White playing. Details at: www.folkmads.org/2008Folkmadness.html

Arizona’s Peg Hesley Goes to Texas: 2nd Annual Contra Dance Weekend in Post, Texas (about 5 hours from ABQ). March 7-9, 2008, 8 p.m. Friday until noon Sunday. Caller will be Peg Hesley of Phoenix, AZ with two bands playing, Flagstaff’s Traditional Blend and Texas’s Mimi & Allison. Cost is $70, which includes three meals. Lodging additional, $50-$80 per person, includes 2 nights. Cost: $65 for the weekend of dancing. For information, visit www.thegreatdanceescape.org

Colorado’s Stellar Days and Nights Camp, Feb. 21-24, 2008 in beautiful Buena Vista, CO is still accepting dancers. You can join the bunch of NM dancers who have already signed up to cheer on New Mexico’s Merri Rudd and Hands Five, as well as nationally known Notorious (Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger) AND to eat gourmet meals prepared by Annie Johnston. Visit www.stellardaysandnights.org/ for details.

Czech Republic in October, Anyone? Caller David Millstone is leading a trip to Prague and Bohemia next October, specially organized for dancers. In addition to seeing beautiful sights and learning more about Czech music and dance and related traditions, the main focus of the dancing is American contras and squares; this year they’ve added a little more traditional Czech dancing into the mix. At the big festival that marks the end of the tour, there’ll also be English country, vintage, Irish, Mexican, and more. One of the hallmarks of the dancing on this trip is that people will be dancing with Czech dancers both as they travel and at the culminating festival. In some cases, these are dancers who do traditional Czech dances, and they’ll teach each other some dances from our respective cultures. In other cases, they are Czech dancers who share a love for Anglo-American country dances. The 2008 tour also gives dancer/travellers an opportunity to visit Cesky Krumlov, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Bohemia. Here’s the website address with all the details: dvorana.cz/dance/2008/country/index.php

Happy 2008 to Everyone,

Merri Rudd
Albuquerque, NM
www.merridancing.com

December 2007 Folk Enews

No matter what your religious belief, here’s a feel-good animated holiday song for you… I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…. badaboo.free.fr/merryxmas.swf

Howdy, Folkies,

As the winter solstice approaches, go forth into the dark to play, sing, dance and laugh. December has many events to entice you in between holiday feasting. And several winter dance camps are available for your enjoyment (see end of blog entry for more info).

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, December 1
Marj Mullany calling and Nabobs playing festive dance tunes (Jim Mullany and Rob Pine on fiddle and guitar, Tom Christensen on banjo). 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Durango Contra Dance, December 1
Contra Dance, to be held at the VFW Hall (1550 Main Ave., Durango, CO). Merri Rudd from Albuquerque, NM will call the dance. Live music will be provided by Albuquerque’s Adobe Brothers. Beginner instruction is at 7:00 p.m. Dancing is from 7:30 to 10:30. All dances are taught and called. No partner is necessary, and dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Admission is $10. First-time get a pass to come back for free. For further information, call 970-259-6820 or visit groups.google.com/group/Durango-Contra-Dances

Santa Fe Concert, Sat., December 1
Music from the Mediterranean, Balkans and Middle East
at Gig Performance Space, 1808 Second St., Suite H
8:00pm, $10-15 donation.
Radio Free Bassanda! brings a wide range of repertoire and
instrumentation to their performances. Their use of both eastern and
western instruments affords them a broad timbral palette with which to
weave their sound pictures. Energetic and complex rhythms challenge the
ear and the feet! Roger Landes: Arabic Oud (lute), Arabic Buzuq, Turkish Lavta, Irish Bouzouki, Greek Laouto; Ben Wright: Double Bass; Mark Dudrow: Cello; with special guest Nakul Deshpande: (percussion) Arabic Dumbeq, Turkish Darabukka, Persian Zarb. For more information contact: Roger Landes (575)751-3512, rwlandes@taosnet.com

Old Time Music Circle, Albuquerque, Sun., December 2
Come jam from 2-4 PM at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM. There will be 2 groups playing in 2 separate rooms. Bluegrass music will be in the front room (entry room) and Old Time music will be in the west room (where concerts are held). Email Judy Muldawer at inquiry@siliconheights.com for more details.

Albuquerque Concert, Thursday, December 6
Boulder Acoustic Society at Windchime Champagne Gallery
518 Central Avenue SW, 7:30 PM
$15 advance, $20 day of show.
You loved ‘em in June at the Albuquerque Folk Festival. Maybe you went again to their house concert at Gretchen and Steve’s in August. If not, you get a THIRD chance to hear Boulder Acoustic Society, a four-piece band with a new take on American roots music. The members of BAS are accomplished multi-instrumentalists who captivate audiences with guitar, fiddle, string bass, marimba, ukulele, percussion, banjo and mandolin. Their deep respect for tradition, passion for innovation and intriguing instrumentation creates a remarkable and memorable listening experience. The music is modern and accessible, subtle yet virtuosic, and serious yet light-hearted. BAS is known all over North America for their genre-blending song writing, amazing improvisation and intimate, personal vocals. www.abqmusic.com has ticket info.

Corrales Sing, Friday, December 7
FOLK SONG CIRCLE. Newcomers welcome! They’ll sing songs about CAROLS AND GRATITUDE.
FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 8:00 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
Each participant in the circle may lead a song, do a solo, request a song, or pass. Bring enthusiasm, songbooks, instruments, beverages/snacks, kids, and friends.
Contact: Laurie McPherson 898-6978
Email: lauriemcpherson@hotmail.com or lmcpherson@salud.unm.edu
114 Coronado Road, Corrales, 87048
(Directions: From the intersection of Alameda and Coors, go 1.8 miles north on Corrales Road. Pass the Chevron station, go several blocks. Just past the Horseman’s Supply store, turn left on Coronado Road. Post office is too far. They’re the second house on the right, come in past the barns to park.)

Las Cruces Contra Dance, Friday, December 7
Lewis Land and Lonnie Ludeman calling this Holiday Contra Dance with featured band BRIAN & AMY & HIGHWAY 27, a lively, toe-tapping, dance-driving sound. Remember, this is the only dance in December, next dance is Jan 18, so don’t miss this one. Dress up in something sparkly, fun. Bring cookies or sweets if you have been baking or some healthy snacks.
Location: La Mesilla Community Center, 2251 Calle de Santiago, Mesilla NM. It’s actually the adjacent town of Mesilla, and hall is 2 blocks west of the plaza. For info, contact 505-522-1691.
7:30 p.m. beginner lessons & dance to follow to 10:30 p.m., Cost: $5

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, December 8
Artie Walsh calling with holiday tunes by Santa Fe’s own Fast Pesos. 8 p.m. -11 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:30 p.m. $6 members, $7 others. Dance Committee Meeting at 6 p.m. at the hall.

Second Sunday Dance, December 9
Merri Rudd and Kris Jensen calling elegant English and zesty contras; One Good Turn (Gary Papenhagen on fiddle with other assorted friends) playing. 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Albuquerque Concert, Sunday, December 9
Jeff Scroggins & Fresh Horses, 7 p.m.
Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria Road NE
Presented by The Southwest Traditional & Bluegrass Music Association
$12.00 adults, $10.00 for Southwest Pickers Members, Kids Under 16 Free
Tickets available at the door. For more information visit Jeff Scroggins and Fresh Horses on MySpace at www.myspace.com/jeffscrogginsfreshhorses or The Southwest Pickers Website at www.SouthwestPickers.com/

Albuquerque Megaband Practice, Tuesday, December 11
Join the Megaband in a jam in its current location at Wild Oats, 11015 Menaul NE, Albuquerque, 7:30-10:30 p.m. More info: Bruce Thomson, 277-4729.

AMP Concert, Albuq., Wed., December 12
Marc Cohn with Amy Correia
El Rey Theater, 624 Central Ave SW
7 PM, 21 and over
Tickets are $28 advance, $35 day of show.
Singer/songwriter/pianist Marc Cohn burst onto the scene in 1991 on the heels of one of the most personal, resonant songs to make the Top 40 in the past 20 years, “Walking In Memphis.” The song’s remarkable power to move listeners while eluding precise explanation is a hallmark of the highest songwriting art and, just as remarkably, it was a monster hit that abides on radio playlists to this day. The Best New Artist Grammy for 1991 followed in its wake, along with two other albums, The Rainy Season and Burning the Daze. Cohn will be touring in support of his first new studio album in 9 years, Join the Parade.

Albuquerque Contra Dance, Saturday, December 15
Katherine Bueler calling and the Albuquerque Megaband playing. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others.

Annual Taos Holiday Ball, Saturday, December 15
The Ball will open this Saturday, December 15, at the San Geronimo
Lodge, at 7: 00 and wind down at 10:30. Dancers to arrive in Fancy Dress. And once again, Taos being Taos, the rule is, “Consult your Fancy and follow it” — so long as you honor the occasion. The admission price is $8 per dancer, or $15 per couple. Richard Wilson of Santa Fe will lead the dancing, and Taos’ own talented and dedicated Musicians of the Taos Contraband will provide music. The Grand March will start just after 8:00 Call 776-1580 with any questions about the dance.

Santa Fe Contra Dance, Saturday, December 22
Richard Wilson calling, Santa Fe Megaband playing holiday dance tunes. Dance 8 p.m. -11 p.m., IOOF Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Rd. Instruction at 7:30 p.m. $6 members, $7 others.

Fifth Saturday Dance, Albuquerque, December 29
Rock n’ Roll Dance, Kris Jensen calling, Movin’ Henry Band playing. 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., acoustic jam at 6:30 p.m. and newcomers class at 7 p.m. Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista SE (1 block east of University, south of Lead/Coal). Bring clean dance shoes. No shoes with nails or that leave black scuff marks, please. $6 members, $7 others. Details at www.folkmads.org/nov_dec_newsletter07.html (scroll down to last page).

This & That
Folkmadness 2008 has now locked in all of its fantastic talent. MARK your calendar to be in Socorro, NM May 23-26, 2008. I could leak the info here, but don’t want to spoil the surprise. Watch www.folkmads.org and your Jan./Feb. 2008 FOLKMADS mailing for details. (Lonnie and Julie better come to this one; we are way behind in hearts matches!)

2007 Boo Camp videos can be viewed on youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFPEoJa6yeE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbwe05yaeFo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca9ejuLWC8Q

Some fine Gene Hubert dances are available online. I blogged about it at: merridancing.com/wp/2007/11/gene-hubert-dances/

Richard Wilson’s in Arizona: Cottonwood Caper Contra Fest, January 18-20, 2008, 7:00 pm Friday through 3:00 pm Sunday. First ever Cottonwood Caper Contra Fest will take place at the old Cottonwood Community Center on Main Street, old town Cottonwood, with its slightly off-kilter hardwood floor. Three popular Arizona contra dance bands will play: the Privy Tippers and Round the House, both Tucson bands, and Updraft from Flagstaff. Callers will be Richard Wilson (NM) and Arizona’s own Deb Comly and Claire Zucker. Cost is $65, which includes one meal. Location: Cottonwood Community Center, Old Town Main Street, Cottonwood, Arizona. Cost: $65 for the weekend of dancing. For i