Contra Dance w/Fiddle Tunas band in the Ballroom
Best Bet
Dance/Dancing
**Events may have been canceled or postponed. Please contact the venue to confirm the event.
Date & Time
Sun, Aug 18 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Address (map)
100 E Carrillo St.
Contra Dance with Fiddle Tunas band, Rich Goss calling
8/18 SB Carrillo Recreation Center 100 E Carrillo in the large ballroom with the sprung floor. $10 6-9pm
What do you like about Contra Dance?
“A friend asked me to go to contra dance. I asked, What the heck is Contra dance?” because I’m a really good ballroom dance, I’m a swing dancer. I know country dance. She said none of the above.
So I had to give it a try. It’s just a beautiful, high energy dance. I can’t explain it. A very, very happy dance. You just have to try it. You want a happy evening? Go to Contra dance!”
-Ellie, a recent new dancer.
“I like that there’s variety in the steps. I like that they instruct you very thoroughly. And then you have the chance to repetitively practice that step as you go through the entire line, and so I know it well by the end. I love the energy. Everyone’s just joyful. Yeah, That’s it.”
-Nina,another recent newbie
We’ve once again been able to hook the Fiddle Tunas to play for our Sunday contra dance, with a bonus catch of Rich Goss at the mic!
Fiddle Tunas is based in Santa Barbara / San Luis Obispo and is comprised of Michael Mendelson on fiddle, Amber Roullard-Mueller on fiddle/bass, Tom Wolverton on banjo and dobro, and Mike Mullins on mandolin.
After many years as a bluegrass guitarist and singer, Michael Mendelson switched to the fiddle because it was louder and easier to carry around. Over the years he has played a variety of styles, from old-timey and bluegrass to Texas-style and swing to New England and Cape Breton. Michael has composed many fine new fiddle tunes, and works with several contra dance bands. Amber Roullard-Mueller has been playing Appalachian music since 1985. She plays fiddle, bass, piano and guitar and also enjoys clogging and has taught at several camps. We’ve enjoyed her music often in Growling Old Geezers. Tom Wolverton has been playing old-time 5-string banjo for over 35 years. In addition to banjo, he also plays dobro and various steel guitars. His skills have been used in various central coast string bands including the Gap Tooth Mountain Ramblers and the Rattlesnake Creek String Band. Mike Mullins is widely regarded as a top-tier mandolinist and has been a regular fixture on the California acoustic music scene for over 30 years. He toured and recorded with notable bands and musicians including renowned fiddler Phil Salazar, The Acousticats, The Hay Dudes, The Tom Corbett Trio and The Cache Valley Drifters
CONTRA DANCE $10: co-sponsored by the SB Park and Rec Department
- Fun Spirited Social Dance
- A live band and a caller
- Playful and Enjoyable
- No Partner Needed
- Good for the body and brain
- Easy for Beginners
Contra Dance is also GREAT exercise while we are also having great fun. It is also great memory training because every dance is different all night long. We are walked through a couple simple moves that repeat, we help each other, and the only goal is to have fun dancing!
The band takes a break in the middle. At the end of each half, we can dance a waltz. And during the break (with snacks), recorded music is played for East and West Coast swing dance, Country Dance, and more.
For more info check out https://www.sbcds.org/contradance/schedule/
More info @ http://www.sbcds.org/contradance/
A big smile for your body, mind, and soul for $10.
(worth it just for the live music)