audio sample (Deliciosa Polka; more samples on each CD page)
for booking, email or call Bill at 413-442-9172
Spare Parts has performed for period events, contradances, English dances, weddings, parties, concerts, and dance camps from Alaska to Maine. Our historic dance music has been used worldwide in motion pictures (Bright Star) and theater productions as well as television programs including Mercy Street (PBS), Antiques Roadshow and numerous programs on the History Channel (even SpongeBob SquarePants!).
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, Ruthie Dornfeld, George Wilson, Naomi Morse, Frank Orsini, Mark Bagdon, Cathie Whitesides, Susan Conger and Rebecca McCallum ... and bassists Mark Murphy and Larry Unger.
2024 schedule:
January
- Saturday, Jan 20, Lenox MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Contradance at the Lenox Community Center, Liz and Bill with fiddler Eric Buddington and caller Maggie McRae, 7:30-10:30 pm (intro lesson 7:15)
February
- Friday Feb 16 through Sunday Feb 18, Saratoga Springs NY (www.flurryfestival.org/)
DANCE FLURRY! schedule for Spare Parts:
Bare Bones Dance Music Friday 7 pm Hilton Travers 4
Waltz Book Jam Friday 8:15 pm Hilton Pavilion
Ragtime Tango Workshop Friday 9:30 pm City Center Mtg Rm 1
Late Night Tango Friday 10:30 pm City Center Mtg Rm 1
Intro to English Saturday 10 am City Center Mtg Rm 2
Communication on the Fly Saturday 5:15 pm Hilton Whitney
Waltz Music Styling Saturday 7:45 pm Hilton Whitney
Making Others Sound Better Sunday 3:15 pm Hilton Alabama
March
- Saturday, March 9, Berlin MA
(https://facone.org/programs/victorian-ball.html)
Victorian/Civil War Ball in the 1870 Old Town Hall, 7-10 pm
Dance workshop 1-4 pm
April
- Saturday, April 13, Williamstown MA (https://northberkshiredance.org/)
North Berkshire Contra Dance with Eric Buddington and calling by Jonathan Greene
May
- Sunday, May 5, Albany NY (www.danceflurry.org/series/capital-english-country-dancers/)
Ice Cream Sunday English Country Dance with Britany Orlebeke and calling by Melanie Axel-Lute, Elizabeth Stehl and Don Bell
August
- Saturday, Aug 17, Lenox MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Contradance at the Lenox Community Center, Liz and Bill with fiddler Eric Buddington and Mark Murphy on bass, caller TBA 7:30-10:30 pm (intro lesson 7:15)
September
- Saturday, Sept 28, Worcester MA (www.vintagedancers.org/)
Victoria and Albert Ball in the amazing 1857 Mechanics Hall, with Eric Buddington on violin; costumes from 1840-1860 requested, or modern formal attire; masks required
October
- Saturday, Oct 5
Vintage Wedding
November
- Friday, Nov 1, Cooperstown NY https://otsegodancesociety.weebly.com/
Contra Dance at the First Presbyterian Church Chapel in Cooperstown
- Saturday, Nov , Jamaica Plain MA (lcfd.org/harvest-ball.html)
25th Annual Harvest Ball: gender-role-free Victorian ball, with Eric Buddington on violin and calling by Chris Ricciotti; elegant, period, or festive attire encouraged but not required
masks required
elegant waltzes at 7, followed by chestnut contras, quadrilles, mixers and couple dances; all dances taught and called