Swingin' Tern: DOUBLE DANCE Luke Donforth & The Star Charters

Saturday, June 1st 3:45pm—10:30pm

DOUBLE DANCE: LUKE DONFORTH & THE STAR CHARTERS

Cecilia Vacanti--fiddle, Jess Newman--fiddle, Mark Price--guitar 

3:45 – 5:45 pm **Afternoon Advanced Contras $20 adults/$5 students*

5:45 – 7:00 pm Dinner Break at the many walkable Chatham restaurants

7:00 – 7:30 pm Beginners’ Workshop

7:30 – 10:30 pm All-Level Evening Dance $20 adults/$5 students*

*Combo ticket for Afternoon & Evening Dances $35 adults/$10 students

Tickets will be available at the door

All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to Larks & Robins

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 200 Main Street, Chatham, NJ

Vaccination and Masks Optional

Find your North Star as The Star Charters go supernova as Donforth calls forth a constellation of contras. Leo Luke brings Andromeda allemandes and Betelgeuse balances in Cassiopeia contras. A syzygy of sound occurs when twin fiddles, Castor and Pollux, and the Gemini guitar align to pair celestial chords for a galaxy of tunes. You’ll fall to Pieces and join Canis Major and Minor in the doghouse if you get sucked into the black hole of inaction. Fasten your Orion’s belt as your Taurus or Vega attains warp speed for a cosmic experience.

CALLER: LUKE DONFORTH

Luke Donforth is a contra caller and choreographer based in Burlington, VT. He brings a warmth to the mic and focuses on facilitating everyone in the hall joyously moving to the music. He’s a founding member of the Mad Robin Callers Collective, and calls everything from family dances to festivals. Luke is a prolific writer of dances, and you can expect new and classic compositions to keep your feet flying. Video of Luke Donforth

BAND: THE STAR CHARTERS

Cecilia Vacanti (of Kingfisher) and Jess Newman and Mark Price (of Cojiro) have teamed up to play contra dances in a high energy, dynamic trio known as The Star Charters. With Cecilia and Jess on fiddle and Mark holding down rhythm on guitar, The Star Charters bring to the stage a rock-solid groove and level of technical prowess that is complimented by their combined versatility, lyrical twin fiddle harmonies and joyful, off-the-cuff improvisation. This bopping team-up will send dancers over the moon! Video of The Star Charters

Full calendar for Swingin' Tern Dances.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

• Newcomers are welcome to come at 7pm for an introductory lesson on the basics of contra dancing before the evening dance. No partner is necessary. All dances are taught with a “walk-through” by the caller.

• **The Afternoon Advanced Contras session is for Experienced Contra Dancers only. You should be familiar with heys, petronellas, Rorey O’More, pass the ocean, orbits etc., with minimal prompting. If not, please join us for the evening dance.

• For the dinner break visit one of the 17 walkable restaurants within two blocks of the dance: Restaurant List.

• Vaccination and Masks Optional.

• All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins. Dance whatever role you’re comfortable in.

• We are in an air-conditioned hall along with the option for open windows on all four sides.

• Our dance is two blocks from the Chatham station on the Morris/Essex line out of Penn Station, NYC.

• We welcome contributions of home-baked [or not] goodies to share at the break.

• Please bring your own water bottle. Water bottles may be filled at the orange Igloo cooler.

• Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.

• We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!