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
(photo: copyright 2010 Bryan Krauthamer)
2011 Performing schedule for Spare Parts:
January
- Sunday, Jan. 2, Albany, NY
(www.danceflurry.org/capital-english)
English Country Dance with Eric Buddington on violin and calling by Mary Jones, 2-5 pm, introductory workshop on request at 1:30 PM, sponsored by Capital English Country Dancers
- Saturday, Jan. 15, West Point, NY (http://westpointball.org/)
Civil War Ball and dinner at the historic Hotel Thayer on the campus of the U.S. Military Academy with fiddler Frank Orsini, 6 to 11:30pm; dinner at 7 pm (reservations and Civil War-era dress required)
February
- Saturday, Feb. 5, New Haven, CT (http://www.kickery.com/)
Midwinter Civil War Ball with Frank Orsini on violin, precepting by Susan de Guardiola (canceled for weather)
- Sunday, Feb. 6, Wethersfield, CT (www.hcdance.org/waltz)
Mostly Waltz: waltzing and other couple dances from 3 to 6 pm with Frank Orsini on violin;
free beginner workshop 2:30 pm - Friday Feb. 18 through Sunday Feb. 20, Saratoga Springs, NY (www.danceflurry.org)
DANCE FLURRY!
Intro to Argentine Tango: Friday 8:15 pm City Ctr Mtg Room 1
Cross-Step Waltz lesson/dance with Susan de Guardiola: Saturday 10:45 am City Ctr Mtg Room 2
English Dance with Orly Krasner: Saturday 3:15 pm Saratoga Music Hall
Dance Around the World performance: Saturday 6 pm Saratoga Music Hall
Victorian and Ragtime lesson/dance: Sunday 11:30 am Saratoga Music Hall
Tango Waltz lesson/dance: Sunday 2 pm City Ctr Mtg Room 1
Farewell Contra/Flurry Roots Band: 4-6 pm in Main Hall (room D)
March
- Friday, March 4, Bennington, VT (www.benningtondance.org/)
Contradance with Eric Buddington and caller David Kaynor. Come celebrate the return of this wonderful community dance in the newly renovated Masonic Lodge.
- Saturday, March 5, Holliston, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/)
Returning Heroes Ball: commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War with an evening of 1860s contra-dances, quadrilles, waltzes and polkas, sponsored by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, with Frank Orsini on violin and dance instruction by Barbara Pugliese, 8 pm
Note: historical dress is required for this event
- Friday, March 25, Peterborough, NH
(www.peterboroughhistory.org/)
Civil War Ball sponsored by the Peterborough Historical Society, with calling (and a bit of dance history) by David Millstone, 7:30 p.m. Beginners welcome; period costume encouraged but not required.
April
- Friday, April 1, New Haven, CT (www.lse.org/waltz/)
Elm City Waltz hosts a Special Waltz Party at the Center for the Arts Undercroft at Christ Church (note new location); waltzes, tangos and other couples dances from 8:30-11:30 p.m. with Spare Parts and fiddler Eric Buddington (lesson at 7:45 p.m.)
- Saturday, April 2, New Haven, CT (www.kickery.com)
A Scandalous Ball in Bohemia: formal fancy dress (costume) ball of the 1880s with waltzes, polkas, and schottisches, Eric Buddington on violin and precepting by Susan de Guardiola, 8-11 p.m.
- Saturday, April 9, 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 Town Hall sponsored by the Cromwell Historical Society, with Frank Orsini on violin and precepting by Terry Brettman and Jim Strein
- Saturday April 16, Scranton, PA (www.ScrantonCivilWarDay.com)
7th Annual Grand Civil War Ball sponsored by the Lackawanna Historical Society, in the beautiful ballroom at the Century Club, with Anne Hooper on violin and precepting by Martha Griffin. Formal dress for men and ladies is required; period dress or dress blues/grays admired but not required. Advance registration highly recommended.
- Sunday April 17, Scranton, PA (www.ScrantonCivilWarDay.com)
The Century Club Centennial Concert and Tea, 1-3 p.m., turn-of-the-20th-century concert and Edwardian tea in honor of the Century Club's 100th birthday!
- Saturday and Sunday, April 30-May 1, Cape May, NJ (www.capemaymac.org/)
Victorian Dance Weekend in Cape May's beautiful Victorian setting with Naomi Morse on violin; instruction and precepting by Jan and Al Seabra
May
- Friday, May 13, Albany, NY (www.danceflurry.org/albanycontradances)
Contradance with Frank Orsini and caller Katy Heine
- Saturday, May 14, Hartford, CT
Playford Ball rehearsal in the afternoon
- Saturday, May 14, Essex, CT (www.sailingmasters.org/)
Regency Ball sponsored by the Sailing Masters of 1812, part of the annual Burning of the Ships commemoration
- Sunday, May 15, Lanesborough, MA (www.lanesborough-ma.gov/)
Community Social and Civil War Ball at Lanesborough Elementary School, 3-5 pm, part of Lanesborough Reads
- Saturday, May 21, Montpelier, VT (www.contracopia.net/sites/montpelier/)
Contradance with fiddler Eric Buddington and caller TBA
July
- Saturday, July 16, Nahant, MA (vintagevictorian.com/)
Nahant Victorian Day Ball: 1860s ball to benefit the Nahant Historical Society, with Ben Bishop as Prompter. Dancing from 7-10:30 pm; on the program will be selections from Spare Parts' CD, Dancinng by the Shore.
August
- Saturday, Aug. 6, Mt. Washington, NH (http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/)
Black Tie Gala Celebration honoring the 150th anniversary of the Mt. Washington Auto Road, 1800s dinner plus vintage dancing (with prompting by Marc Casslar), ending with fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Tickets required; black tie or vintage attire requested.
- Thursday, Aug. 18, Concord, MA (www.neffa.org/Thurs.html)
Contradance at the Scout House, Spare Parts with Eric Buddington on fiddle and Ben Davis on bass, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 20, Lenox, MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Contradance at the Lenox Community Center, Liz and Bill with fiddler Rodney Miller and caller Sarah VanNorstrand, 8:00-11:30 pm
September
- Friday, Sept. 2, Bennington, VT (www.benningtondance.org/)
Contradance with fiddler Eric Buddington and caller Steve Howland
- Sunday, Sept. 4, Brattleboro, VT (www.dawndance.org/)
Labor Day Dawn Dance with fiddler Eric Buddington, Mark Murphy on bass, and calling by Tony Parkes, 8-midnight
- Saturday, Sept. 10, Orcas Island, WA
private wedding
October
- Sunday, Oct. 2, Wethersfield, CT (www.hcdance.org/waltz)
Mostly Waltz: Liz and Bill will preview tunes from Waltz Book 4 along with some of our flute-and-piano favorites. Waltzing and other couple dances from 3 to 6 pm; free beginner workshop 2:30 pm. - Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8-9, Cape May, NJ (www.capemaymac.org/)
Victorian Dance Weekend in Cape May's beautiful Victorian setting (part of the 39th annual Victorian Week) with Naomi Morse on violin and teaching by Martha Griffin.
- Saturday, Oct. 15, Salem, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/)
Salem Light Infantry Levee and Ball: In 1861 members of the Salem Light Infantry held a ball on their return from serving in the Civil War. For a brief moment before returning to battle, they celebrated friends and fellowship. Join us in recreating this historic event in Salem's wonderful Old Town Hall, where they gathered 150 years ago.
Levee (formal dinner)at 6 pm, followed at 8 pm by
an evening of 1860s contra-dances, cotillions, waltzes, and polkas.
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers; Eric Buddington on violin, with dance instruction by Barbara Pugliese.
Civil War period dress or modern formal attire is required for this event.
- Saturday, Oct. 22 New Haven, CT (www.kickery.com)
Eighth annual Regency Assembly: formal Jane Austen-era ball, with Eric Buddington on violin and precepting by Susan de Guardiola, 7:30-11 pm. Note change from original date.
November
- Saturday, Nov. 5, Jamaica Plain, MA (www.lcfd.org/jp/)
14th Annual Harvest Ball: Gender-role-free Victorian ball with calling by Chris Ricciotti
period, vintage, or festive attire encouraged but NOT required.
candlelit potluck supper 6 pm; dessert potluck at 9:30 pm
warmup waltzes at 7 p.m.; dance features contras, quadrilles, mixers and couple dances
- Sunday, Nov. 6, Wethersfield, CT (www.hcdance.org/waltz)
Mostly Waltz:Liz, Bill, and Eric Buddington (violin) will preview additional tunes from Waltz Book 4. Waltzing and other couple dances from 3 to 6 pm; free beginner workshop 2:30 pm
December
- Saturday, Dec. 10, Salem, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/)
Fezziwig's Ball: an evening of Dance and Merriment from the Era of Dickens, sponsored by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, with Eric Buddington on violin. 7 pm lantern procession through the town of Salem; 8-11 pm ball with set dances mixed with elegant couples dances such as the waltz and polka
Costume from the lifetime of Dickens (1812-1870) or modern evening dress requested.
- Sunday, Dec. 11, Concord, MA (info: 781-272-0396 or caldance@gis.net)
36th 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 Eric Buddington (fiddler), Brian Bender (trombone), and Cal Howard (bass)
reception and hors d'oeuvres at 6:15; dancing from 6:45 to 10:30 (period, formal or festive attire requested)
- Thursday, Dec. 15, Pittsfield, MA (www.pittsfieldlibrary.org/)
Music from A Century Ago: Spare Parts (Liz, Bill and Eric Buddington) in concert at the Berkshire Athenaeum, 7-8 pm.
