2009-2010 Old Sod Activities
2009-2010 marked the first year of the amalgamated contra dance groups in Ottawa as well as the running of dances by committee. It was a fun year indeed of many potluck meetings and great discussions! The 2009-2010 dance committee comprised of Emily Addison, John Argus, Catherine Burns, Brenda Butler, John Gusdorf, Neville Miller, and Roger Williams.
News on the dance floor included the fact that we relocated to a new hall in order to be in a more accessible location and to improve the sound quality of the room. We also hired Greg Brown as our sound tech -- he did an incredible job with all of his trad and dance music knoweldge! We held dances twice a month, up from one every three weeks and we also hosted two 'mostly waltz' sessions.
In the concert hall, we held three concerts: Enoch Kent, Crowfoot, and Finest Kind!
Below is a link to a few of our posters as well as the 2009-2010 dance schedule.
Examples of 2009-2010 flyers
2009-2010 schedule
Old Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band.
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/Crowfoot
Dancers go wild where ever Crowfoot plays! They are one of the hottest contra dance bands in North America.
Click here and here and here to see videos of Crowfoot in action.
crowfootmusic.comRachel Aucoin & Richard Forest
All the way from Quebec city, Rachel & Richard will lift your feet off the ground.
Garton-Ayles-Boulanger
Garton-Ayles-Boulanger is a driven' band from Montreal that play super lively Quebecois music. Sure to be a great night!
Joanne Garton David Boulanger Mike AylesTom Calwell
Living part of the year in the contra dance mecca of North Carolina, Tom is full of exciting and fun dances.
dancingthread.caOld Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band!
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/Genticorum
Genticorum is an incredible band that tours internationally impressing audiences as far as Australia. A great treat for us!
genticorum.comOld Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band!
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/Catherine Burns
Catherine Burns is the reason contra dancing exists in Ottawa. She is an AWESOME caller, working to make fun for all.
Three Dollar Bills
This is a fantastic local band that dancers will love. Made up of three experienced players who play in other bands, Duncan Gillis (whistles, flute, bagpipes), Paul Hawtin (guitar), and Greg Brown (fiddle, accordion, concertina...and everything else!) will rock the evening!
Catherine Burns
Catherine Burns is the reason contra dancing exists in Ottawa. She is an AWESOME caller, working to make fun for all.
Old Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band!
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/Catherine Burns
Catherine Burns is the reason contra dancing exists in Ottawa. She is an AWESOME caller, working to make fun for all.
Godknowswhat!
Godknowswhat! plays traditional music in non-traditional ways. This Wakefield-based quartet combines accordions, fiddles, standup bass, ukulele, drums, piano and horns to create new musical worlds where various forms meet: Clezmer frailachs, French-Canadian, Irish, Cajun, New Orleans marches, Cabaret-era swing, and Honky-Tonk all surface in this band's diverse repertoire. The guys promise to remain relatively tame for a night of fine contra dance music, but you never know what might happen!
Adina Gordon
The fantastic Adina Gordon is coming up from southern Vermont to call for us! Last calling in the spring for a really hot dance with the Figments, it's great to have Adina back this year.
Click here to watch watch a dance called by Adina.
Old Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band!
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/Maura Volante and local caller night!
Maura is an experienced community performer calling family dances, running choirs, and teaching singing... it should be a great time dancing to Maura! In addition, a few 'newish' local callers will each be calling a dance tonight. Come and support!
mauravolante.caRichard Forest & Martine Billette
Richard Forest is back a second time this season to play for us. A lovely fiddler from Montreal, he plays with Reveillions. Martine Billette is a great compliment on the piano. :)
myspace.com/richardforestRic Goldman
Ric Goldman coming up all the way from California to call some dances in the area including ours! A very experienced morris, English, and contra dancer, he calls throughout California and at festivals and camps such as Pinewoods!
rgoldman.orgOld Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band!
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/David Smukler
A true expert at calling, David has written much on contra dancing including its historical roots of dancing. Don't let that fool you - he's up on modern dances and delivers them with that added bit of detail that makes them special!
David SmuklerContrast
Contrast is a great local band that delivers a nice groove of Irish, Quebecois, and old time music. Super drive and disciplined feeling means a good night of dancing! We're glad to have them back :)
Catherine Burns
Catherine Burns is the reason contra dancing exists in Ottawa. She is an AWESOME caller, working to make fun for all. A guarenteed great night!
Old Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band!
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/Hannah Naiman
While still only in her 20s, Hannah Naiman is no newbie to contra dancing or calling. Coming from a long line of folk musicians and dancers, Hannah has much experience leading dances. She'll bring a great mixture of new and old dances to the floor.
hannahshira.weebly.comLaura Risk, Nicholas Williams & Rob Graves
Many Ottawa dancers know Nicholas Williams as one of the three musicians that make up the fabulous band Crowfoot! Nicholas will be playing with Laura Risk, a super-talented fiddle player originally from California, now living in Montreal.
Click here to listen to Laura play. Click here and here and here to watch Nicholas play with Crowfoot.
laurarisk.com nicholaswilliams.caNancy Turner
Nancy is coming to us from the mountains of Vermont for her first time calling in Ottawa. Some dancers who have travelled to Montreal may have experienced her amazing talents and lovely dances! A treat to have a Vermonter :)
Click here to watch Nancy call.
Old Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band!
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/Myra Hirschberg
Spending part of the year in the contra dance mecca land of N. Carolina, Myra works to bring in new innovative dances that are enjoyed by all levels! A favourite in Ottawa.
Click here to watch Myra call a dance.
www.dancingthread.caThree Dollar Bills
This is a fantastic local band that dancers will love. Made up of three experienced players from other bands, Greg Brown (fiddle, accordion, concertina, etc), Duncan Gillis (whistles, flute, bagpipes), and Paul Hawtin (guitar) will rock the evening.
Old Sod Band
Old Sod is a super talented band that lays down a most beautiful groove. We are lucky to have them as our house band!
Click here to watch the Old Sod Band.
ottawacontra.ca/oldsodband/Catherine Burns
Catherine Burns is the reason contra dancing exists in Ottawa. She is an AWESOME caller, working to make fun for all. A guarenteed great night!
Last dance of the season!