Contra Dance in Historic Downtown Bristol to feature Roy Andrade and Adam Tanner with Caller Anne Marie Walter
 
Contra dancing is a form of American dance in which the dancers form a set of two parallel lines that run the length of the hall. In each dance, couples dance a sequence of moves that take them up or down the set. As the sequence is repeated, a couple will eventually dance with every other couple in the set and through the course of an evening, with nearly every other dancer. Many of the basic moves in contra dancing are similar to those in traditional square dancing (swings, promenades, dos-à-dos, allemandes). A square dance set comprises only four couples whereas the number of couples in a contra dance set is limited only by the length of the hall. A caller, working with a group of live musicians, guides new and experienced dancers through a variety of dances. The caller teaches each dance before it is actually done to the music.

The musicians performing for the dance will be Roy Andrade and Adam Tanner.  Originally from the mountains of Asheville, NC, Roy Andrade plays old-time Appalachian music on the banjo, guitar and voice.  A former member of the Reeltime Travelers stringband, Roy has performed on stages across the country and more recently has been teaching in the Bluegrass, Old-time, and Country music program at East Tennessee State University.  
As a teenager raised in Northern California, Adam became interested in traditional Appalachian music, learning to play the guitar, fiddle and mandolin.  Adam was a co-founder of the electronic/rock fusion band, Grotus, sharing the stage with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Swiss Industrial Rockers The Young Gods, New Jersey Rockers, Monster Magnet, and Korn. Following the break-up of the band, Adam refocused his energy on acoustic American roots music and dove head first into studying and playing pre-Bluegrass southern Appalachian string music. Adam relocated to Western North Carolina to be closer to the geographical origin of his musical passions and sought out older masters of the Appalachian traditions. Tanner played with the Crooked Jades, a California based progressive acoustic band with roots in pre-war southern styles before embarking on a solo career focusing on early country blues vocal and instrumental styles.

 
The caller for the January 9 dance will be Anne Marie Walter who has been calling contra dances for a number of years, working with beginning and experienced dancers alike. Her concise teaching style will have you on your feet and dancing in no time. 'I think of myself as a fun enabler. I only call dances that I want to dance. The dance has to flow so you can stop thinking and just dance. Even the simplest dances must have that quality." Anne Marie has lived in Asheville since 2001 and has called throughout the Southeast and beyond. When she's not dancing, Anne Marie spins her own yarn, dyes all kinds of fiber, designs patterns and knits - a lot. She also teaches education technology classes at Mars Hill College and in the community.

 

COME ON AND TRY IT!

 

The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, Believe in Bristol's Main Street Program, and Bristol Ballet will partner to host a monthly contra dance on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Bristol Ballet studios, located at 628 Cumberland Street (corner of Cumberland Street and Piedmont Avenue).  The Contra Dance will run from 7:30-10:30 pm, with a dance class for newcomers held from 7:00-7:30pm.  Admission to the dance is $7 adults, $5 students, and $15 for a family.