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NEW WEBSITE


We are no longer posting details about our monthly dances here. 

Please go to our new website:
http://otsegodancesociety.weebly.com

You'll find details about our dances and much much more!
Thanks!





March 1st Contradance

Our next contradance will be held on March 1st and have music by Traverse and Ed Bugel calling.
Traverse is a locally-based band featuring Liz Brown on flute, Carol Mandigo on guitar,and Bernd Neumann on fiddle. Together they play traditional music from the various Celtic cultures and contemporary American contra dance tunes.
Ed Bugel is a local caller from Oneonta and a longtime contradancer. He calls a mixture of traditional and contemporary contradances and has a clear and friendly teaching style which is fun for dancers of all skill levels.
All ages are welcome and no dance partner or experience is needed since the caller teaches all dances.
Dancing begins at 7:30 PM and continues until 10:30 PM.
And newcomers can come at 7:15 for an introduction to some basic steps.

February 1st Contradance


Our next contradance will be on Friday February 1st at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown. Music will be by Erik House and Friends and Peter Blue will be the caller.

Erik House is the leader of this month's band and a life-long fiddler from Springfield Center. He will be joined by “Friends” Kathy Shimberg and John Potocnik. Kathy plays piano and several other instruments in a variety of styles and has played with Erik at dances for over 30 years. John's fiddle playing is rooted in traditional sounds and rounds out the trio for this dance. Together, they combine their years of musical experience to bring us (as Erik says) a 'rousing good time'!

Peter is well known throughout New York, New England and beyond as a musician, caller, and organizer of the Pine Lake dances at Hartwick College. His easy-going calling style and sense of humor make for an evening full of surprises. 

With winter in full swing, it's a great chance to warm up and have loads of fun. So come on over and join us!

January 4th Contradance



We'll kick off the New Year on January 4th with a contradance featuring music by Eleemosynary and Casey Mullaney calling.

Eleemosynary members are all local musicians, led by Peter Blue on nyckelharpa and accordion. Other members are Carol Mandigo playing guitar and Danny Birnbaum on bass.
Each of the musicians plays with other area bands but as Eleemosynary, they play traditional and new contra dance music, with emphasis one tunes composed by Peter Blue.
And in keeping with the nane of the band, a portion of their proceeds from each performance is donated to a local charity

Casey began her calling career while attending Hartwick College and has expanded her experience to other dances in the upstate NY area. Since leaving the area, she has continued her interest in contradancing and with her friendly calling manner and clear instructions, we're happy to welcome her back to our dance!

Have a happy New Year...hope to see you Friday!

December 7th Contradance


Our last contradance for 2018 will be held on Friday December 7th at the Presbyterian Church Chapel in Cooperstown. Music will be by Ms Marty & SGB and Peter Stix will be calling.


Marty Blodgett brings her fun-loving music from Ithaca and leads her “Smokin' Good Band” on fiddle. She is joined by regular Jess Youngquest playing guitar and harmonica and for our dance, guest musician Jon Dember will play accordion. 
They play a combination of great fiddle music with a ragtime style and their repertoire includes traditional contra tunes as well as swing tunes and vocals like 'It's a Sin to Tell a Lie'.

Peter Stix is a well-known caller and teacher of New England contradances. He has been the featured caller at events all over the country and currently oversees the Albany Contradance series as well as leading dances in and around the Capital District. 

With Peter's wide range of dances and SGB's lively and creative music, it's sure to be a great dance! 

November 2nd Contradance


We'll be holding our monthly contradance on Friday November 2nd at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown. Music will be by Tailwind and Hilton Baxter will be calling.

Tailwind, a band formerly known as Fancy That, is still made up of the same members. Leader Curt Osgood is well known for his skill on the hammered dulcimer which he has played for over thirty years. 
Joining him are fiddler Henry Jankiewicz and John Wobus on keyboard, both of whom are talented contradance musicians, playing with numerous groups in a wide range of styles.
Together they play a mix of traditional, folk, and old-timey music, including both modern, Celtic and Americana tunes.

Hilton Baxter has called contradances for 20 years at dances throughout central New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and beyond. His dance instructions are clear and his calm gentle style and light sense of fun make the dances easy and enjoyable for everyone, especially when he adds a square or triplet to spice things up


The combination of the dulcimer and fiddle make a unique sound in contradance music so join us on the 2nd and hear for yourself.

October 5th Contradance



Our October contradance will be held Friday October 5th at the Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown. The band Rosetree will provide the music and Ted Crane will be the caller.

Rosetree consists of Amy Shapiro on fiddle and nyckelharpa (a Swedish folk instrument) and Allen Lutins on guitar. Both are well-known musicians playing with various groups in New York's central and southern tier areas. 
Playing together since 2003, their duo performances feature European folk music (especially Celtic, Eastern European and Scandinavian) as well as Old Time, Bluegrass and other 'Americana' classics..

Ted Crane has been a contradance caller in the Ithaca area since 1979 as well as playing bodhra (a Celtic frame drum) with several bands during that time. In addition to organizing many contradance events, he is well known for his dance database, a main Internet reference for national dance scheduling. 
Ted calls a lively program of traditional, contemporary, and original contras and an occasion square or circle dance.

Now that the summer is over and the weather has cooled off, hope to see you on the 5th!