Danced into the New Year!

Playing for the dance in Troy last night was a lot of fun -- as it always is for all of the dances we play for! We arrived around 6 and got set up. The dinner started at 6:30. What a variety and abundance of food! The dancing started at 8. Tom Allen called for the first half of the evening and Ed Vincent took over for the second half.

Ed Vincent calling for the OCTDS dance in Troy to music of the Golden Griffon Stringtet

We learned that the floor in this facility is a floating wood floor, which makes it wonderfully comfortable for dancing. This is the same type of floor found in Lovett Hall in Dearborn. That hall was designed and built specifically for contra dancing.

There were several beginners at last night's dance. They quickly learned the basics and got on their way to hours of fun. A short break took everyone to the kitchen for the cornucopia of sweet treats. A waltz workshop followed and back to more contra dancing. Ed even led the Virginia Reel. We play for this dance very frequently, but usually only when we're playing for civil war balls.

Toward the end of the evening, Rosemary Kornacki led group singing that turned into rounds. This was a lovely surprise and addition to the evening of merriment.

We were served sparkling drinks and rang in the New Year with a toast, and singing and playing of Auld Lang Syne.  Thank you to the Oakland County Traditional Dance Society (OCTDS.org) for inviting us!

Golden Griffon is getting together a few times for practicing during January, but we only have one event scheduled so far for this month. That's the Frankenmuth Snowfest concert on January 28 at the
Frankenmuth Historical Museum, Fischer Hall, 613 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. There are multiple events going on at the same time. For ours, we'll be playing with many of our music friends, and then a couple of sets of just us. Dee Dee Tibbits organized this musical afternoon for the Snowfest (Dee Dee's site).

Come out to play some music for these fun dances, or try the dancing. Next Saturday, January 7, there are a couple of events in Ann Arbor, Michigan -- see the Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance events page (AACTMAD events)  for more information.

• Pittsfield Open Band jam (contradance music) Free open jam of contra dance music. All instruments welcome.3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (734) 994-9307. Pittsfield Grange (3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI).
• AACTMAD First Saturday Dance Drake Meadow calls to music by Twas Brillig and the Mazel Toves: Preceded by potluck at 5:30.  7:00 pm to 11:00 pm dancing.  734-769-1052. Pittsfield Union Grange (3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI).