Winter is upon us so it is time for the ever popular Christmas Fiddle Community Contra Dance at the Big Yellow Merville Hall on Saturday.
Pop on your favourite Santa hat, attach your whitest full length stick-on beard, slide your sleigh up to the new timber frame entrance and prance into the warm and cozy Merville Hall where the Funtime Fiddlers are waiting to play your favourite Contra Dance tunes. Contra dances are family friendly community dances where a caller directs all the dancers, including Santa’s elves, around the dance floor with much laughter and happiness. The steps are simple, well organized, and the caller brings even the grumpiest elves onto the floor. Single dancers are most welcome as they can pair up with anyone during the Contras.
Before the dance, from 7-7:30 p.m., there will be a Contra Dance workshop as well as some instruction in basic waltz patterns. The workshops are free of charge so plan to come early. At 7:30 p.m., the Funtime Fiddlers start the music with Contra sets lasting about 15 to 20 minutes per dance. In between the called Contra Dances, they’ll play waltzes, foxtrots, swing tunes and polkas.
So on Saturday, Nov. 29, steer the Polar Express to the Big Yellow Merville Dance Hall, right on the Old Island Highway, between Campbell River and Courtenay. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., dance starts at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10/adults, $5/youth and $22/family.