DanceFlurry News & Calendar

Feburary, 2023

Corrections:

Please note an error in the original version of the dance calendar: The English Country Dance will take place on Sunday, February 5 from 2-5, not on the 12th.

Dorothy Cummings will call a program of dances especially selected to showcase old tunes played by an early music ensemble. Music will be provided by our special guests, returning after the Covid hiatus: Larry Wallach, harpsichord, Tricia van Oers, recorders, and Eric Buddington, violin.

Find caller and musician info here.

Also note some changes to our Flurry volunteer requests - crews that are especially in need are highlighted below!

Festival Season Has Arrived!

Winter Roots Flurry:

February 17-19 in Saratoga Springs

• Tickets at https://www.flurryfestival.org/tickets2023/
• Schedule at https://www.flurryfestival.org/winter-roots-schedule/
• Performers at https://www.flurryfestival.org/performer-list/
• Note the recent change to our vaccination requirement found here
• Lodging options at https://www.flurryfestival.org/lodging/
• Your questions answered at https://www.flurryfestival.org/2023questions/

Advance ticket sales end on February 12, and prices go up at the door!

Pssst - The Hilton still has a few rooms open, at the Flurry block rate - find them here!

Volunteers Are Our Heroes!!

Six hours of help earns you a free festival ticket!

Many volunteers still needed for:

• Festival Sales
• Sound/Stage Support
• Onsite Ticket Sales
• Workshop Rooms
• Setup/Cleanup

We especially need help in these crews:

• Covid Test Screening
• Site Services
• Flooring

If you love our wooden floors, please consider helping us put them down on Thursday and/or pull them up on Sunday evening.

Having wooden floors is so much work but dancing on them is delightful!

Volunteers have always been essential to the smoothly-running festival we all value, and this year we're extremely short. Consider being a first-time volunteer: Learn more at https://www.flurryfestival.org/volunteer/!

Homestay Hosts Needed

The Flurry is still in need of homestay lodgings for festival performers and sound pros, for both Winter Roots and Spring Bloom. In appreciation for being a host, the Flurry will provide you with free admission to the festival. Please reach out to Annie Haller, the Flurry Homestay Coordinator, at Anniehaller@aol.com, if you can help.

🎆 New Year's Eve Was a Blast! 🎆

Nearly 12 hours of music and dance brought together DFO regulars and Saratoga revelers for New Year's Fest, introducing many locals to dance types they'd never encountered before. Find photos of the night here, and view the playlist on YouTube. Thank you to all our volunteers and attendees, and to Saratoga Arts for grant support for this event!

Share the Excitement...

We need your help promoting Flurry, coming up in just a few weeks. Download and share the poster and flyer with your communities, digitally or in print.

Safer Spaces Ambassadors



In January we provided an initial online training for our new Safer Spaces Ambassadors program, and we're now ready to get it up and running for our local events! Ambassadors are current event attendees who volunteer to help to welcome new dancers, facilitate the comfort and participation of all involved, and uphold our Culture of Consent policies. If you're interested in volunteering as an Ambassador, please fill out this form and we'll get in touch with next steps.

New Contra and Swing Carpooling Groups

If you attend/want to attend the local Albany Contradance or 1st Friday Swing

dance, you can now join a Google email group to arrange carpools!

You'll be able to send messages to all group members, requesting or offering rides. Group members are responsible for arranging their own rides and assessing the comfort and safety of their carpool arrangements. Email carpool@danceflurry.org to be added directly if you don't have a google account or are having trouble joining a group.

The DFO Board: Where It All Begins

With 10 local events, outreach and grant programs, and 3 (!) weekend festivals in 2023, DanceFlurry has a lot of balls to juggle!

Our Board members, both local and remote, keep it all in the air by initiating, promoting, and overseeing all these programs, and we're proud of their work.

There's room for more, and many hands make lighter work! Learn about the DFO Board and how you can be a part at https://www.danceflurry.org/get-on-the-board/, or view/download the nomination materials right here. Applications due April 1 for the cycle beginning June 2023.

Connect Online Join a Facebook group to chat about local dances, arrange carpools, and share your photos and videos:

• Capital Region Contras 
• DFO Swing Dancing
• Capital Region English Country Dance.
• Friends of the Flurry Festival

Please renew or begin your DFO Membership! The membership year runs from January through December.

Benefits include:

• discounted admission to dances
• opportunity to attend board meetings and serve on committees
• reduced-price tickets to the Flurry Festival
• the joy of supporting your local dance community and supporting our grants programs!

Choose your level of support, or make a donation.

Thank you!