This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Time: 7:30 - 11:00 pm 7:30 - 8:00 Dance Basics Lesson 8:00 -11:00 Live Music Cost: $10 general admission /$8 for Tapestry members / $7 students / Free to ages 13 and under (must be supervised by an adult)
In a contra dance, a leader known as a caller teaches for 30 minutes before the music for the dance begins at 8pm. During this introductory “walk-through” period, participants learn the dance by walking through the steps and formations, following the caller’s instructions.
The dance figures are similar to those of Old-time square dancing except the figures are made up of lines of leaders and followers facing each other. These dances are lively social, easy to learn, and because each dance may last 5min, they can be aerobic. Although you will dance with a partner, it isn't necessary to come with one. All dances are taught and are usually done in "long-way sets" (partners facing in long lines down the hall). Please check out the calendar for a listing of Contra bands and callers. Many of the regular Tapestry contra bands play Old-time music (similar to bluegrass), but the music on any given Saturday contra may reflect music traditions from New England, French Canadian, Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and modern compositions.
May
Saturday, 5/18/13 – Tapestry: "Fabulous at 30" Anniversary Party
Come party on Saturday, May 18th from 7:00-11:00pm to celebrate 30 years of Tapestry Folkdance Center! There will be a Contra Dance featuring Pat O'Loughlin, Patrice Pakiz, and Tim Reese with caller Beau Farmer, plus International Dance. Enjoy a variety of sampler "join-in" sessions, such as Bollywood and English Country, in the small studio, showcasing various Tapestry dances.
Come and shop at the annual Bizarre Bazaar, play some board games, have some birthday cake and wish Tapestry a happy birthday!
(Admission: $10 members; $12 others. No passes)
Saturday, 5/25/13Guest band and caller!
From Bloomington, Indiana, we welcome Ken Gall calling with Entwyned, a young band who has had great success on tour in the east and midwest, mixing traditional and new sounds for contra dancing. Entwyned is Twy Bethard on fiddle and foot percussion with John Paolillo on mandola, bouzouki and other mandolin-family instruments. They say "We've worked hard to arrange our tune sets to complement and enhance the energy of the dance." This is their second appearance at Tapestry.
English Country Dance events are co-sponsored by Woven Ring English Country Dance.
1st Sunday English Country Dance Time: 6:00 pm - 9: 00 pm Cost: $7 (no passes accepted) First Sundays feature live music with an earlier star. Check the calendar for a listing of and teachers and First Sunday musicians.
2nd, 3rd & 4th Sunday English Country Dance Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Cost: $5 (no passes accepted)
English country dances are elegant social dances from the 17th and 18th Centuries that are danced to Baroque and Early Music. Beginners are welcome and no partner is necessary. The first Sunday of the month includes a live music ensemble.
We have a variety of programs at all levels for International Folk Dance. Discover heritage and dance roots! International folk dances teach ethnic dances from around the world including Eastern Europe, Greece, Israel, Turkey, Armenia, Scandinavia, Brittany, and a little English Country. We encourage dancers to try out most dances by following the leader. The dance instructors rotate every few weeks with a wide variety of talented and experienced teachers.
International Folk Dance Time: Fridays 7:30-9:00pm in the large dance hall Cost: $8 general / $6 members/ $5 students/ free to ages 13 & under (must be supervised by an adult)
International Request Dance Time: Fridays 9:00-11:30pm in the large dance hall
Cost: $8 general / $6 members/ $5 students/ free to ages 13 & under (must be supervised by an adult) FREE to those who attend either intro or regular International lessons at 7:30
Dancers can choose dances taught both recently, or any time since the beginning of Tapestry, since they are alphabetically listed in a notebook available to dancers - so what gets requested is a mix of old and new. There are dances from every continent, and the most-requested dances are from eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece. We also do Israeli dances, and couple dances from (western) Europe and the Americas - but you don't need to bring a partner.
Advanced International Folk Dance Time: Every second Tuesday of the month from 7:30-10:30pm Cost: $8 general / $6 Tapestry members / $5 students
Here is a clip from a Friday Night International Folk Dance:
Join the fun! The glorious dance and music of the Scandinavian countries are celebrated each 2nd Sunday of the month. Dances cost $5. Dance the whole range of Scandinavian dances including the vals, polka, schottis, hambo, snoa, mazurka, polska, springar, and more. The music is awesomely beautiful and the dances are both wonderful and accessible. Beginning lessons will enable all levels of dancers access to this beautiful and fun dance form.
This event is being offered by Tapestry as a celebration of the music and dance traditions of the Scandinavian/Nordic countries. In order to make this event affordable and sustainable for the indefinite future Tapestry (a non-profit organization) will try to minimize its expenses by using recorded music and soliciting volunteer teachers. Any musicians desiring the opportunity to play for dancers should request playing time by contacting Chris, Tapestry's Scandinavian Dance Coordinator, at . Any dance teachers willing to donate their services are invited to do the same. Hopefully a collaborative effort will arise to keep the outstanding dance and music traditions of Scandinavia vibrant in the Twin Cities.
In the spirit of reviving the venerable Good Templar Scandinavian Dance event of years past we will provide exceptional music for a wide variety of dances. The dance evening will include both easy dances and more difficult dances and will be adapted to meet the dance wishes of the attending dancers. No one will be left out!
Location: Tapestry
Date: 2nd Sunday of every month Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm Beginning Lesson: 6:00 to 6:30pm Advanced Lesson: 7:30 to 8:00pm Cost: $5
All ages and skill levels are welcome! No partner necessary!
Time: Every Thursday from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in Tapestry's small space
Cost: $8 general / $6 members/ $5 students / free to ages 13 & under (must be supervised by an adult)
Bollywood Dance
Bollywood is a stylized freestyle dance form based on moves used in the Indian/Bollywood films. It's energetic, lyrical and aerobic, modeled on classical and folk dance forms (Bhangra, Raas, Kathak, and Lavani), and influenced by Western hip hop. You will learn short choreography of about a minute or two each week (4 dances in a month). We will also email a video of the dance, and the music, so you can dance anytime you are bored! In short, it's way too much FUN! Learn Bollywood dance in a fun and friendly environment!
Teachers rotate
Divya Maiya began teaching Bollywood workshops at Tapestry this summer. She's also taught for Zenon Dance Company and Four Season Dance Studio in Minneapolis.
Rashi Mangalick did Bollywood performances at birthdays, showers, weddings, and religious celebrations before starting college, when she started experimenting with dance forms like Bhangra, salsa, hip hop, and African dance and started the University of Wisconsin-Madison's first competitive fusion dance team, Wisconsin Surma.
Jinal Vakil completed elementary training at Shiamak Davar institute of performing arts (school for bollywood dance) in Mumbai, India. She choreographed and performed at group dancing competitions at the intercollegiate level, and did a group dance performance on a folk song in the annual bollywood concert choreographed by Abhishek Zaveri, in Mumbai.
Dance one of the world's most popular dances. Learn one of the world's most accessible couple dances. Move with grace to some astonishingly beautiful music. Enjoy the subtle but blissful pleasures that the waltz has to offer. Indulge your inner romantic. Embrace both elegance and edginess. Socialize with like-minded people. Eschew lethargy. Have fun. Get down and dirty...if you must! If any of the above appeal to you, then get dressed up (or down) and join us for an afternoon of waltz dancing to some of the best waltz music ever recorded. Additional couples dancing music may also be played for variety.
Dates: 4th Sunday of the month
Time of Lesson: Beginning waltz offered 3:30-4:00pm
Have a work schedule that gives you daytime flexibility? Don’t like to go out at night? This program is designed for both new and experienced dancers, adults college-age and up, who want a daytime option to dance and enjoy other people who also like to dance.
We’ll enjoy dances from around the globe. These dances originated as village and city celebrations for holidays, weddings, agricultural events, battles, and the like. They were designed to be picked up quickly, so people could concentrate on enjoying the occasion and social atmosphere. There will be a few patterns and figures – neither too fast nor too slow. You do not need to bring a partner, though you are certainly welcome to come with one person (or an entire group). You’ll learn several dances each week, and will also have time to share snacks (bring some to share). While you’ll enjoy it most if you come on a regular basis, each week newcomers are welcome.
Admission: $5
May: Daytime Dance with Terry McGibbon
Fridays, May 17, 24 and 31
Daytime Dance will be ending May 31- Come catch the last dances!
See below for a video clip of Daytime Dance. This dance in this particular video is from Tibet.
Tapestry Programs
Rashi Mangalick did Bollywood performances at birthdays, showers, weddings, and religious celebrations before starting college, when she started experimenting with dance forms like Bhangra, salsa, hip hop, and African dance and started the University of Wisconsin-Madison's first competitive fusion dance team, Wisconsin Surma.
Jinal Vakil completed elementary training at Shiamak Davar institute of performing arts (school for bollywood dance) in Mumbai, India. She choreographed and performed at group dancing competitions at the intercollegiate level, and did a group dance performance on a folk song in the annual bollywood concert choreographed by Abhishek Zaveri, in Mumbai.
