audio sample (Josefin's Waltz, with Donny MacLean; more samples on each CD page)
New book!
Habaneras, Maxixes & Tangos
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, Naomi Morse, Mark Bagdon, Eden MacAdam-Somer, Anne Hooper, Cathie Whitesides, Jane Rothfield, Lissa Schneckenburger, 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, Cal Howard and Larry Unger.
(Liz and Bill with Ruthie Dornfeld in Seattle; photo: Matti Mero)2009 Performing schedule for Spare Parts:
January 2009
- Saturday, Jan. 24, 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
- Saturday, Feb. 7, Bill Miller's Restaurant, Branford CT
(for information: Terry at 203-453-9900 or Carl & Annie at 806-526-3618)
13th Annual Grand Midwinter Civil War Ball cosponsored by Terry & Jim Historical Dance with the 7th Tennessee Infantry and 16th Iowa, dancing starts at 8 pm, Rebecca McCallum on violin, precepting by Terry Brettman and Jim Strein
- Friday Feb. 13 through Sunday Feb. 15, Saratoga Springs, NY (www.danceflurry.org)
DANCE FLURRY!
Tango 101 with Eric Buddington, Mark Murphy and instructor Hsueh-tze Lee: Friday 8 pm Room B/C
Argentine Tango 201 with Eric Buddington, Mark Murphy and instructor Hsueh-tze Lee: Friday 8:45 pm Room B/C
Tango Dance (Milonga) with Eric Buddington and Mark Murphy: Friday 9:45 pm Room B/C
Wind Styles Workshop (Liz): Saturday 10 am in Broadway 4
Victorian/Ragtime workshop with Eric Buddington, Pete Toigo and instructor Marc Cassler: Saturday noon at Preservation Hall
Tango Milonga workshop/dance with Mark Bagdon, Pete Toigo and instructor Hsueh-tze Lee: Saturday 3 pm at Casino
Piano Styles Workshop (Bill): Sunday 12:15 in Broadway 4
Tango Milonga workshop/dance with Mark Bagdon, Mark Murphy and instructor Hsueh-tze Lee: Sunday 1:30 pm at Casino
Contra Farewell Party in Main Hall
- Saturday, Feb. 21, Lenox, MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Contra Dance at the Lenox Community Center with fiddler Eric Buddington and caller David Millstone, 8-11:30 pm
- Friday, Feb. 27, New Haven, CT (www.lse.org/waltz/)
Elm City Waltz and Tango at the Yale School of Medicine Harkness Hall
Spare Parts with fiddler Eric Buddington - Saturday, Feb. 28, 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
March
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Saturday, March 21, Portland, ME (www.neabigread.org/events.php)
The Victorian Lady goes to the Ball! at the Portland Museum of Art Auditorium, sponsored by The Victorian Mansion, 1:00 pm.
Come watch performance artist Kandie Carle dress from corset to gloves as she prepares for a ball. Resplendent in an 1890s ball gown, follow this Victorian Lady to the ball where her dashing partner will Waltz, Polka, Two Step and Mazurka his way into her heart! She and dance partner Marc Casslar of the Vintage Dance Society will showcase popular dances of the Gilded Age. Liz and Bill will provide live music for the dance demonstration.
- Saturday, Mar. 28, Holliston, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/events.html)
Returning Heroes Ball: Civil War (1860s) ball sponsored by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, with Frank Orsini on violin, 7:30-11 pm (Civil War-era dress required)
afternoon workshop on period dances, 3-5 pm
April
- Saturday, April 4, Cromwell, CT (information: 860-635-0501 or cromwellhistory@aol.com)
Juleps & Viragoes: Ball of the Rebellion, 1865 Presidential Ball a formal Civil War ball in the Cromwell Town Hall sponsored by the Cromwell Historical Society, with Eric Buddington on violin and precepting by Terry Brettman and Jim Strein
- Sunday, April 5, Albany, NY
English Country Dance with Eric Buddington on violin, calling by Tom Amesse, 2-5 pm at Channing Hall, 405 Washington Ave
- Saturday April 18, Scranton, PA (www.ScrantonCivilWarDay.com)
5th Annual Grand Civil War Ball sponsored by the Lackawanna Historical Society and the Delaney Delacy Guard, Sons of Veterans Reserve, at the historic Century Club, with Anne Hooper on violin and precepting by Martha Griffin. This event sells out quickly, so advance registration is highly recommended
1-3 pm: vintage dance workshop with Martha Griffin (no prior experience necessary)
8 pm ball (period dress and dress blues greatly admired but not required)
- Sunday April 19, Scranton, PA (www.ScrantonCivilWarDay.com)
Dance & Dress in High Society: A Victorian tea, dance demonstration and lecture covering dance and fashion from 1860 to 1912, at The Scrantion Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, 1 pm. Several Victorian social dances will be demonstrated, with live music and period costumes; afternoon tea will be served at the break. Advance resgistration required; no tickets will be sold at the door
- Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, Cape May, NJ (www.capemaymac.org/)
Victorian Dance Weekend in Cape May's beautiful Victorian setting
with Naomi Morse on violin and teaching by Jan and Al Seabra
May
- Saturday, May 2, New York City
Ragtime dance party (private); duo Liz and Bill
- Saturday, May 16, Montpelier, VT (www.contracopia.net/sites/montpelier/)
Contradance with fiddler Frank Orsini
- Saturday, May 23, Olivebridge, NY (www.ashokancenter.org/civilwar)
Civil War Dance, part of Civil War Days at Ashokan; Liz and Bill join Jay and Molly
June
- Saturday, June 20, New York City
(www.92Y.org/harkness)
Ragtime Dance at the 92nd Street Y with Liz and Bill. Workshop with Marc Casslar (7 pm) followed by dancing to classic rags and songs from the early 20th century. Dance waltzes, tangos, one-steps, foxtrots, and blues from 8 to 11:30.
- June 27-28, Altamont, NY (www.oldsongs.org/festival/)
Old Songs Festival
July
- Sunday, July 12, Philadelphia, PA
Victorian Wedding with Liz, Bill and Frank playing period music
- July 19-25
Northern Week at Ashokan
August
- Saturday, Aug. 1, Fort Ticonderoga, NY (fort-ticonderoga.org)
Officers' Dinner (fundraiser). Liz, Bill and Mark Bagdon play music 1900s to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fort Ticonderoga being open as a museum and historical site.
- Saturday, Aug. 15, Nahant, MA (vintagedancers.org/events)
Nahant Victorian Day Ball: 1860s ball sponsored by the Nahant Historical Society, with Rebecca McCallum on violin. On the program will be several selections from Spare Parts' CD: Dancinng by the Shore.
- Saturday, Aug. 22, New Haven, CT
Victorian Wedding with Liz, Bill and Eric playing period music
September
- Thursday, Sept. 10, Seattle, WA (seattledance.org/contra/lake.city.community.center.html)
Lake City contradance with fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld and calling by Mike Richardson
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Friday, Sept. 11, Seattle, WA (www.tangoseattle.com)
Waltz Night at Sonny Newman's Dance Hall with romantic couples dances including waltzes, tangos and blues; Cathie Whitesides on fiddle.
Couples dance workshop at 7:30 pm followed by dancing from 8:30 to 11:30
- Friday, Sept. 18, Seattle, WA (seattledance.org/contra/emerald.city.html)
Emerald City contradance with fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld and caller Marlin Prowell
- Saturday, Sept. 19, Takoma, WA (www.tacomacontradance.org)
Septemberfest: annual September bash with Cathie Whitesides
7:00 waltz workshop with Tony Mates
8 to 11 contradance with calling by Tony Mates
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Fri. Sept. 25 through Sun. Sept. 27, Silver Bay, NY (www.danceflurry.org/hmtd.silverbay/html)
Adirondack Dance Weekend on beautiful Lake George featuring contras, English country dance and swing. Spare Parts plays English and couples dances with Eric Buddington
October
- Saturday, Oct. 3, Montpelier, VT (www.contracopia.net/sites/montpelier/)
Contradance with fiddler Rodney Miller and caller Rachel Nevitt
- Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11, Cape May, NJ (www.capemaymac.org/)
Victorian Dance Weekend in Cape May's beautiful Victorian setting (part of the 37th annual Victorian Week) with Eden MacAdam-Somer on violin and Larry Unger on bass; teaching by Susan de Guardiola
- Thursday, Oct. 15, Williamstown, MA (www.imagescinema.org)
Mini concert with Liz, Bill and Eric playing selections from The Regency Ballroom at Images Theater before the 7:30 pm showing of Bright Star (with our music in the soundtrack!)
- Saturday, Oct. 17, 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)
- Saturday, Oct. 24, Glens Falls, NY (www.www.danceflurry.org/new/glensfalls.html/)
Glens Falls contradance with Frank Orsini on violin and calling by Ridge Kennedy.
Please note the dance is not at its usual location but at Christ Church United Methodist, 54 Bay Street (park on Washington St.; check link for directions)
- Thursday, Oct. 29, Concord, MA (www.neffa.org/Thurs.html)
Contradance at the Scout House, Spare Parts with Eric Buddington on violin and Stuart Kenney on bass, calling by Chris Ricciotti, 7:30-10:30 pm
November
- Monday, Nov. 9, Pittsfield, MA (www.thecolonialtheatre.org/)
Spare Parts at the Colonial Theater! no, not on stage but in the lobby from 5:30 to 6:15 or so,
part of FILM TECH: An Evening with Eugene Mamut and the Animagic Museum
An Exhibition and Cinematic Showcase of the Digital Arts in the Berkshires
- Saturday, Nov. 14, Jamaica Plain, MA (www.lcfd.org/jp/)
Gender-Free Harvest Ball, "An Evening of Golden Memories" with Naomi Morse 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
December
- Wednesday, Dec. 2, North Adams, MA
Tango chat and concert for Spanish class at MCLA, 6:30 pm
- Sunday, Dec. 6, Albany, NY (more info: 518-477-5684 or capitalecd@att.net)
English Country Dance with Eric Buddington on violin and calling by Alisa Dodson, 2-5 pm at Channing Hall, 405 Washington Ave.
Workshop at 1:30
- Friday, Dec. 11, New Haven, CT (www.lse.org/waltz/)
Waltz and Tango Holiday Party sponsored by Elm City Waltz at the Yale School of Medicine Harkness Hall
Spare Parts with fiddler Eric Buddington play waltzes, tangos and other couples dances from 8:30-11 p.m.
(no 8 pm lesson this month)
- Sunday, Dec. 13, Concord, MA (info: 781-272-0396 or caldance@gis.net)
34nd 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 Naomi Morse, 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. 19, Lenox, MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Holiday Contra Dance at the Lenox Community Center with fiddler Eric Buddington and caller Jim Fownes, 8:30-11:30 pm, preceded by afternoon contra session and potluck