audio sample (Josefin's Waltz, with Donny MacLean; more samples on each cd page)
for booking, email or call Bill at 413-442-9172
Spare Parts has performed for dance camps, concerts, period events and social dances from Alaska to Maine. Bill Matthiesen on piano and Liz Stell on flute combine with one or more "spare parts du jour." Some of our favorite "spare parts" include fiddlers Frank Orsini, Eric Buddington, Ruthie Dornfeld, Mark Bagdon, Eden MacAdam-Somer, Anne Hooper, Lissa Schneckenburger, Jane Rothfield, Cathie Whitesides, Donny MacLean, Susan Conger, Dave Langford, Hanneke Cassel, George Wilson, Rebecca McCallum, Britany Orlebeke and Matt Glaser ... cornetist Peter Ecklund ... and bassists Corey DiMario, Carol Hamm and Larry Unger.
(photo: Liz with George Wilson in Brasstown, NC)2008 Performing schedule for Spare Parts:
January 2008
- Saturday, Jan. 5, New York City
Ragtime dance party (private); duo Liz and Bill
- Sunday, Jan. 13, Concord, MA (info: 781-272-0396 or caldance@gis.net)
32nd Annual Concord Christmas Cotillion
(rescheduled from Dec. 16) featuring classic contras, quadrilles (formal squares) and couple dances, all in an 1890s atmosphere, with dancing master Tony Parkes and music by Spare Parts with fiddlers Eric Buddington and Dave Langford, and Cal Howard on bass
reception and hors d'oeuvres at 6:15
dancing from 6:45 to 10:30
(period, formal or festive attire requested)
- Saturday, Jan. 19, West Point, NY (for information: gonzalez-blanco@ieee.org)
Civil War Ball and dinner at historic Hotel Thayer on the campus of the U.S. Military Academy
6 to 11:30pm; dinner at 7 pm (reservations and Civil War-era dress required)
February 2008
- Saturday, Feb. 2, Bill Miller's Restaurant, Branford CT
(for information: Terry at 203-453-9900 or Carl & Annie at 806-526-3618)
Grand Midwinter Civil War Ball cosponsored by Terry & Jim Historical Dance with the 7th Tennessee Infantry and 16th Iowa, preceded by a sit-down dinner; Eric Buddington on violin, precepting by Terry Brettman and Jim Strein
- Friday Feb. 15 through Sunday Feb. 17, Saratoga Springs, NY (www.danceflurry.org)
DANCE FLURRY!
Waltzes with Eric Buddington on violin: Friday 7 pm Room B/C
Tango 101 with Eric Buddington and instructor Hsueh-tze Lee: Friday 8 pm Room B/C
Tango 201 with Eric Buddington and instructor Hsueh-tze Lee: Friday 8:45 pm Room B/C
Tango Milonga workshop with Mark Bagdon on violin and instructor Hsueh-tze Lee: Saturday 12:30 at Casino
Victorian/Ragtime workshop with Rebecca McCallum on violin and instructor Marc Cassler: Saturday 3:45 at Casino
Learn to Play a Tango workshop with Eric Buddington: Saturday 6:30 in Broadway
Wind Styles Workshop (Liz): Sunday 10 am in Broadway
Tango Milonga workshop with Eric Buddington and instructor Hsueh-tze Lee: Sunday 11:30 at Casino
Contra Farewell Party in Main Hall
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Friday, Feb. 22, Saratoga Springs, NY (www.saratogasavoy.com/)
Tango Milonga at The Grotto Nightclub (388 Broadway, 518-584-CAVE), 8-11 pm. Tangos, vals, and milongas with Eric Buddington on violin
March 2008
- Saturday, Mar. 8, Holliston, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/events.html)
Returning Heroes Ball: Civil War (1860s) ball sponsored by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, with Susan Conger on violin, 7:30-11 pm (Civil War-era dress required)
afternoon workshop on period dances, 3-5 pm
- Saturday, Mar. 29, New Haven, CT (www.elegantarts.org)
1880s Victorian Bustle ball sponsored by The Elegant Arts Society. An evening of waltzes, polkas, and schottisches, plus the intricate Polo Quadrille and the lively Star cotillion, with Eric Buddington on violin and precepting by Susan de Guardiola, 8-11 pm. Costume of the 1880s is admired but not required; formal wear is requested. Delicious Victorian refreshments will be served.
Afternoon workshops on 1880s era dances
April 2008
- Saturday, April 5, Cromwell, CT (information:(860) 635-0501 or cromwellhistory@aol.com)
Juleps & Viragoes: Ball of the Rebellion, a formal Civil War ball in the Cromwell Town Hall sponsored by the Cromwell Historical Society, with Susan Conger on violin and precepting by Terry Brettman and Jim Strein
- Friday, April 18, Bennington, VT
Private wedding at Beth El Congregation
- Saturday April 19, Scranton, PA (www.ScrantonCivilWarDay.com)
Grand Civil War Ball sponsored by the Delaney Delacy Guard, Sons of Veterans Reserve and the Lackawanna Historical Society. Note: this event sold out the last two years, so advance registration is highly recommended
1-3 pm: vintage dance workshop (no prior experience necessary)
8 pm ball (period dress and dress blues greatly admired but not required)
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Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, Cape May, NJ (www.capemaymac.org/)
Victorian Dance Weekend in Cape May's beautiful Victorian setting, with Mark Bagdon on violin and teaching by Chris Imershein.
May 2008
- Saturday, May 3, Montpelier, VT (www.contracopia.net/sites/montpelier/)
Contradance with fiddler Frank Orsini
- Sunday, May 4, East Greenbush, NY
Ice Cream Social English Country Dance with Eric Buddington on violin and calling by Judy Rivkin, 2-5 pm at the Masonic Temple, 710 Columbia Tpk.
- Sunday, May 18, Colonie, NY (www.danceflurry.org/new/buhrmaster)
Buhrmaster Barn Contradance with Eric Buddington on violin and calling by Rich Futyma
June 2008
- Sunday, June 1, East Hartford, CT (www.hcdance.org/)
Mostly Waltz: Liz and Bill perform an afternoon of waltzes and other couples dances
3-6 pm; free beginner workshop at 2 pm and more advanced workshops during both breaks - Friday, June 7, Lenox, MA
Private wedding at Ventfort Hall, with a Victorian ball performed by Spare Parts - Saturday, June 28, New York City (www.elegantarts.org)
Regency Assembly sponsored by The Elegant Arts Society at the 92nd St. Y
An evening of country dances, quadrilles and the scandalous waltz of the era of Jane Austen, Beau Brumell, and Napoleon. Light refreshments in the style of the early 19th century will be served. 7-8 pm workshop; ball begins at 8:30
July 2008
- July 4, Old Chatham, NY
Cancelled for this year: the Strawberry Shortcake Breakfast at the Shaker Museum and Library will not be happening, so we get to sleep in for a change...
- Saturday, July 12, Nahant, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/events.html)
Nahant Victorian Day Ball: 1860s ball sponsored by the Nahant Historical Society
- July 20-26
Northern Week at Ashokan
August 2008
- Monday, Aug. 11, Newport, RI (www.vintagedancers.org/newport/index.html)
Welcome dance for the 21st Newport Vintage Dance Week, an old-time cotillion with calling by Tony Parkes; Eric Buddington on violin
- Saturday, Aug. 16, Lenox, MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Contra Dance at the Lenox Community Center with fiddler Eric Buddington and caller Chris Weiler, 8-11:30 pm
- Saturday, Aug. 23, Stockbridge, MA
Private wedding at Chesterwood, with music by Liz and Bill - Thursday, Aug. 28, Concord, MA (www.neffa.org/Thurs.html)
Contradance at the Scout House, Spare Parts with Eric Buddington on violin and Cal Howard on bass, calling by Lisa Sieverts, 7:30-10:30 pm
September 2008
- Saturday, Sept. 6, Boston, MA
Private party Liz, Bill and Eric Buddington
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Friday, Sept. 12, Seattle, WA (www.tangoseattle.com/)
Waltz Night at Sonny Newman's Dance Hall with waltzes and other romantic couples dances; Ruthie Dornfeld on fiddle. Couples dance workshop at 7:30 pm followed by dancing from 8:30 to 11:30
- Thursday, Sept. 18, Seattle, WA (seattledance.org/contra/lake.city.community.center.html)
Lake City contradance with fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld and caller Darlene Underwood
- Friday, Sept. 19, Seattle, WA (seattledance.org/contra/emerald.city.html")
Emerald City contradance with fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld
- Saturday, Sept. 17, Takoma, WA (www.tacomacontradance.org)
Septemberfest: annual September bash with Cathie Whitesides featuring contradance preceded by workshops
6:30 couples dance workshop
7:45 contras for newcomers
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Fri. Sept. 26 through Sun. Sept. 28, Silver Bay, NY (www.danceflurry.org/hmtd.silverbay/html)
Adirondack Dance Weekend on beautiful Lake George featuring contras, English dances, and swing. Spare Parts plays English dances with Eric Buddington
October 2008
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Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, Cape May, NJ (www.capemaymac.org/)
Victorian Dance Weekend in Cape May's beautiful Victorian setting, with Eden MacAdam-Somer on violin and Larry Unger on bass; teaching by Martha Griffin
- Saturday, Oct. 18, New Haven, CT (www.elegantarts.org)
Sixth annual Regency Assembly: formal Jane Austen-era ball sponsored by The Elegant Arts Society, with Eric Buddington on violin and precepting by Susan de Guardiola, 7:30-11 pm
preceeded by afternoon workshops on Regency dances (cost is included in price of ball)
November 2008
- Saturday, Nov. 1, Altamont, NY (www.oldsongs.org/dances)
Old Songs contradance: Bill with Donna Hebert and caller Ted Crane
potluck supper 6:30 p.m.; beginner workshop 7:30 p.m.; dance starts at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 2, East Hartford, CT (www.hcdance.org/)
Mostly Waltz with Eric Buddington on violin: an afternoon of waltzes and other couples dances
3-6 pm; free beginner workshop at 2 pm
- Friday, Nov. 7, Cambridge, MA
Private reception at Biogen with Liz, Bill, Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Ungar, 4:30-7 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 8, Jamaica Plain, MA (www.lcfd.org/jp/)
Gender-Free Harvest Ball, "An Evening of Golden Memories" with Eden MacAdam-Somer on violin and calling by Chris Ricciotti; period, vintage, or festive attire encouraged but NOT required
elegant potluck supper 5-7 pm and dessert break 9:15-9:45 pm;
waltzes from 7:00-7:30, followed by chestnuts and other dances until 11 pm
- Saturday, Nov. 15, Glens Falls, NY (www.www.danceflurry.org/new/glensfalls.html/)
Glens Falls contradance with Frank Orsini on violin and calling by Rich Futyma
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Sunday, Nov. 23, Smithtown, NY (www.litma.org/)
Ragtime workshop and dance with Liz and Bill, teaching by Marc Casslar, 2-5 p.m.
December 2008
- Friday, Dec. 12, New Haven, CT (www.lse.org/waltz/)
Elm City Waltz presents a special Waltz and Tango Holiday Party at the Yale School of Medicine Harkness Hall
Spare Parts with fiddler Eric Buddington; lesson at 8 followed by dancing from 8:30-11 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 14, Concord, MA (info: 781-272-0396 or caldance@gis.net)
33nd Annual Concord Christmas Cotillion featuring classic contras, quadrilles (formal squares) and couple dances, all in an 1890s atmosphere, with dancing master Tony Parkes and music by Spare Parts with fiddlers Eric Buddington and Dave Langford, plus Cal Howard on bass
reception and hors d'oeuvres at 6:15; dancing from 6:45 to 10:30 (period, formal or festive attire requested)
- Saturday, Dec. 23, New York City
(www.92Y.org/harkness)
Pre-New Year's Eve Celebration of Ragtime and Jazz Era Dance at the 92nd Street Y, workshop with Marc Casslar followed by dancing to the music of the early 20th century played by Liz and Bill. Dance waltzes, tangos, one-steps, foxtrot, and the blues from 8 to midnight.
view 2007 schedule
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