audio sample (Deliciosa Polka; more samples on each CD page)
New CD! Returning Heroes
New book!
Civil War Dance Manual
for booking, email or call Bill at 413-442-9172
Spare Parts has performed for social dances, concerts, period events and dance camps 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 Eric Buddington, Frank Orsini, Ruthie Dornfeld, Naomi Morse, Mark Bagdon, Eden MacAdam-Somer, Anne Hooper, Cathie Whitesides, Susan Conger, George Wilson, and Rebecca McCallum ... cornetist Peter Ecklund ... and bassists Ben Davis, Corey DiMario, Cal Howard, Mark Murphy and Larry Unger.
(photo: copyright Bryan Krauthamer)
Performing schedule:
January 2012
- Friday, Jan. 6, Bennington, VT (www.benningtondance.org/)
Contradance with Eric Buddington and caller David Kaynor
- Saturday, Jan. 21, 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 and precepting by Marc Casslar, 6 to 11:30 pm; dinner at 7 pm
Note: reservations and Civil War-era dress required
February
- Saturday, Feb. 4, New Haven, CT (blank.org/susan/valentine/)
Soldiers and Sweethearts: A Civil War Valentine Ball with Eric Buddington on violin, precepting by Susan de Guardiola, 8-11 pm
- Friday Feb. 17 through Sunday Feb. 19, Saratoga Springs, NY (www.danceflurry.org)
DANCE FLURRY! tentative schedule for Spare Parts:
Argentine Tango Lesson: Friday 8:15 pm City Ctr Mtg Room 1
Tango Milonga: Friday 9:15 pm City Ctr Mtg Room 1
Waltz Jam with Liz and Bill: Saturday 9:45 am Hilton Pavilion
English Dance with Robin Hayden: Saturday 3:30 pm Saratoga Music Hall
English Dance with Robin Hayden: Sunday 11:30 am Saratoga Music Hall
Farewell Contra/Flurry Roots Band: 4-6 pm in Main Hall (room D)
March
- Saturday, March 10, Holliston, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/)
CD Release Party! Returning Heroes Ball: commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War with an evening of 1860s contra-dances, quadrilles, waltzes and polkas from the new Spare Parts CD. Sponsored by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, with Eric Buddington on violin and dance instruction by Barbara Pugliese, 8-11 pm
Note: historical dress is required for this event
- Saturday, March 24, New Haven, CT (blank.org/susan/fancydress/)
1880s formal fancy dress (costume) ball with waltzes, polkas, quadrilles and schottisches; Eric Buddington on violin and precepting by Susan de Guardiola, 8-11:30 p.m.
- Saturday, March 31, Lenox, MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Welcome Contra at the Lenox Community Center, Liz and Bill with fiddler Eric Buddington and caller TBA, beginner's workshop 7:30, followed by more dancing 8:30-11:30 pm
April
- Sunday, April 1, Albany, NY (www.danceflurry.org/capital-english)
English Country Dance with Eric Buddington on violin and calling by Tom Amesse, 2-5 pm, sponsored by Capital English Country Dancers
- Saturday April 14, 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 Eric Buddington 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 15, Scranton, PA (www.ScrantonCivilWarDay.com)
Concert and Tea, details TBA
- Saturday, April 21, 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 and Sunday, April 28-29, Cape May, NJ (www.capemaymac.org/)
Victorian Dance Weekend in Cape May's beautiful Victorian setting