friends of Greenfield Dance

Events

Events hosted by Friends of Greenfield Dance (contra prom, pub sing, and fall frolic) use this safety policy. Different dances in Greenfield Mass use different policies or no policy at the organizer’s discretion. 


Come to a dance! Dances at the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield are run by eight different dance organizers who offer a variety of contra dances each month, on Friday and Saturday evenings. Occasional workshops are offered through the year, and special dances are held on selected Sundays. 

Complete dance information is available by checking the Guiding Star Grange Calendar of Events. An overview of all monthly dances in Greenfield is also available for download (PDF, on Facebook (Greenfield Contra Dance is Awesome and other dance series pages) and PVCD via email.

Upcoming FGD Events

May182025

Pub(lic) Sing with Amanda Whitman

2:30-4:30pm

Saturday May 18th, come sing along with us! No experience necessary. Bring your own songs, or just sing along!

2:30 to 4:30.

Suggested donation: $10–no one turned away for lack of funds.

May192025

FGD Annual Meeting

Join us for our annual FGD meeting!

 

Discussion items:


Here are the minutes from the 2024 Annual Meeting:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ttmG3MI-a2fvMfxVVbiVWLasMCKaIpYLlpgqUiNDbmw/edit?usp=sharing

 
Here is our safety and behavior policy, which you’re welcome to review. This item will not be up for vote, but is something FGD has accomplished in the past year. 

Questions under vote:

Voting will take place at the Zoom meeting (If you will not be attending the meeting and wish to vote, you can submit your votes via email to secretaryofthefriends@gmail.com) with this tentative ballot:

Do we accept the minutes from the 2024 Annual Meeting?  (Yes/No)

There are three candidates for election to the Board. Do you vote to appoint each of the following candidates to the Board of Directors? (Yes/No for each)

  1. Chris Culpepper: eligible for first three-year term (Yes/No)

  2. Debbie Arch: eligible for first three year term after serving a one year term (Yes/No)

  3. Monya Relles: eligible for second three-year term (Yes/No)

 

There are also vacancies that can be nominated and seconded from the floor with 5 people in support of the candidate, as written in the bylaws.


Instructions to access Zoom meeting

You can join the Zoom meeting from a computer (video or just audio) or from any telephone (audio). If joining by computer, click this link:

https://zoom.us/j/8545976827?pwd=Y3JNWFluaTZjYitoZXFHV2U0NDY2dz09

Meeting ID:  854 597 6827

Passcode: 767749

Past FGD Events

Mar222025

FGD’s Contra Prom Spring 2025

2:30-5:30pm and 7:00-10:00pm

The Friends of Greenfield Dance excitedly present the 2025 Contra (and ECD) Prom!

Saturday, March 22rd, 2024

2:30 to 10:00 pm

Guiding Star Grange #1

401 Chapman St, Greenfield MA

 

Once again we’ve lined up a fabulous double feature:

 

-2:30-5:30 pm English Country Dancing

Music by Sarah-Hadley Yakir and Karen Axelrod

 

-5:30-7 pm Dinner break (dining area will be open for use)

 

-7-10 pm Contra Dancing

Music provided by Good Company (Rohan Weeden, Cecily Mills, Helen Kuhar)

 

Calling for both sessions is Alex Deis-Lauby, an NYC-based folk dancer, caller, teacher, and organizer. Alex will be using Larks and Robins role terms during the contra and positional calling for ECD.

 

It’s a pretty stellar line-up, so mark your calendars now!

 

Suggested admission (wristbands purchased at the door):

English Country Dance: $15-20

Contra Dance: $15-20

Combo (ECD and Contra)- $30-40

 

All ages and experience levels welcome!

Fun and fancy dress encouraged but not required.

 

Please wear clean, smooth-soled shoes to protect our dance floor.

We strive for a scent-free/substance free event.

 

COVID Policy Highlights:

Vaccinations optional (always encouraged).

N95 series or similar masks required while dancing/during dance hours (no cloth or surgical). Children age 2 and under may be unmasked. Performers on stage may be unmasked at their discretion.

Masks optional during the dinner break for those eating in the dining area.

 

Brought to you by the Friends of Greenfield Dance, Inc

Questions? Email gro.e1746009081cnadd1746009081leifn1746009081eergf1746009081osdne1746009081irf@o1746009081fni1746009081

 

 

Feb022025

Pub(lic) Sing Winter ’25

2:30-4:30pm

The Friends of Greenfield Dance enthusiastically invite you to join us for another Pub(lic) Sing!

When: Sunday, February 2nd, from 2:30-4:30 pm

Where: Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield MA

Admission: $10 suggested donation.

COVID policy: Masks optional but recommended. Seating is flexible and spacious.

What to expect from a pub sing?

Songs led from memory with easily joined-in choruses. Pub songs, work songs, sea shanties, and other traditional song styles are welcome.Come listen, sing along, lead a song or two if you’re feeling bold. No experience or confidence is necessary!

The Friends are delighted to have Amanda Witman leading this event once again. Amanda is a singer, song leader, and event organizer in Brattleboro, Vermont. Her love of harmony infuses her singing and playing. She helps facilitate welcoming, community-based music opportunities where players, singers, and listeners at all levels are encouraged and supported.

While many people may enjoy a pint or two at other pub sings, per Grange policy no food or beverages other than water are allowed in the upper hall.

For more info, please contact gro.e1746009081cnadd1746009081leifn1746009081eergf1746009081osdne1746009081irf@o1746009081fni1746009081

Nov232024

FGD Fall Frolic Double Dance 2024

3-6 pm: Afternoon contra 6-7 pm: Dinner break 7-10 pm: Blacklight contra
Mark your calendars for the 2024 Friends of Greenfield Dance Fall Frolic, with an exciting new format and a stellar lineup!
Schedule
3-6 pm: Afternoon contra dance with Chimney Swift and Michael Karcher calling
6-7 pm: Dinner break
7-10 pm: Blacklight contra with Kingfisher and Michael Karcher calling
Admission:
With 2025 FGD Membership:
Free admission to both dances!
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/B8VV4mXrhah4z1D97
Without FGD Membership:
Afternoon contra ONLY: Sliding scale $20-$25
Blacklight contra ONLY: Sliding scale $20-$25
Combo ticket (both dances): Sliding scale $30-$35
COVID Policy:
KN-95 masks or similar will be required for this event while in the upper dance hall.*
Performers may be unmasked on stage with a negative rapid test.
Masks will be optional in the downstairs dining area during the dinner break.
Vaccinations are not required.
*Mask policy determined by:
-Current levels of viral activity in wastewater as reported by the CDC
https://www.newsweek.com/covid-map-cdc-virus-wastewater…
-The proximity of this event to a major national holiday
-Inclusivity of as much of the dance community as possible, including the most underserved percentage (those who need a mask requirement in order to attend)
We are going to light up the floor on November 23rd (literally and figuratively), and we hope that you’ll join us!

May082024

FGD Annual Meeting

6:45-8:45pm

Our Friends of Greenfield dance annual meeting will be May 8th at 6:45! All members in good standing are welcome to attend. Meeting link here: https://zoom.us/j/8545976827?pwd=Y3JNWFluaTZjYitoZXFHV2U0NDY2dz09

Mar232024

Contra Prom

3 to 10pm

Time- Afternoon 3-5 PM English Country Dancing; dinner break from 5-7 PM;
Evening 7-10 PM Contra Dancing
Music- Crossover Trio; English Caller- Bridget Whitehead; Contra Caller- Annie
Kidwell; Sound: TBA

Admission fee-
English- suggested price $15; sliding scale $10-15.

Contra- suggested price $20; sliding scale $15-20.
Attending both- suggested price $30; sliding scale $20-30.

 

KN95 or Equivalent masks required, no vaccination required

Due to the concerns of our community that include immunocompromised individuals, intergenerational folks, and at-risk workers, the Friends of Greenfield Dance reserve the right at any given time to set COVID policies for FGD events based on but not limited to: community exposure, wastewater numbers indicating the number of COVID cases in Greenfield, and environmental variables. 

2/14/24

Nov052023

Fall Frolic!!

2:00pm -6:00pm

Fall Frolic- November 5th, 2-6 PM. Caller- Julian Bee; Music- Cojiro. We’ll have loads of fun! We’ll see you soon!!!

Admission will be $20-$25 sliding scale with free admission to the Fall Frolic with membership!!!

Vaccinations are encouraged but not required; N95, KN95 or KF94 masks required.

2024 Membership Levels:
$25 Individual
$40 Family
$20 Students & Seniors (over 65)
$1,000 Lifetime membership (up to 1 person)

To renew your membership online, please fill out our online form, and pay your membership fee using PayPal. Please include your name and “membership” in the PayPal “Add a note” field.
Fill out the Membership and Donation Form and bring it with you to the Fall Frolic dance in November. Or, send the form with your check, via snail mail, to 401 Chapman Street, Greenfield, MA 01301.

Oct212023

Hambo Workshop

3:00-5:00pm

Friends of the Grange is excited to announce a Hambo Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 21st from 3:00 to 5:30 pm; Instructor- Tom Roby;  music provided by Ron Grosslein and Van Kaynor.

Vaccinations are encouraged but not required; N95, KN95 or KF94 masks required

Admission will be set at $15-$20 sliding scale

Aug132023

Special August Sunday Dance

2:00-5:00pm

August 13th 2-5 PM – Caller- Alex Deis-Lauby; Music- Cecily Mills (cello), Helen Kuhur (guitar), Rohan Weeden (fiddle)

Special Sunday Dance come one come all!!!

-Masks: N-95 series or similar required.
-Vaccination: encouraged but not required

May112023

Friends of Greenfield Dance Annual Meeting

6:45 pm

The Friends of Greenfield Dance Board of Directors has scheduled our Annual Meeting for Thursday, May 11, at 6:45 PM via Zoom. We value your input and urge you to attend. Instructions on accessing the virtual meeting are described below.

Questions under vote:
Voting will take place at the Zoom meeting, with this tentative ballot:

These three candidate up for election to the Board. Do you vote to appoint the following candidates to the Board of Directors? (Yes or No)

a. Provisional board member: Suzanne Patnaude, eligible for first 3 year term

b. Provisional board member: Kristen Falk, eligible for first 3 year term

c. New board member:: Matthew Perry

Other agenda items:

  1. Secretary’s Report (Maura)
  2. Treasurer’s Report (Kate)
  3. Events Committee (Raine)
  4. Safety and Community Culture
  5. Other topics suggested by members for discussion

Instructions to access Zoom meeting You can join the Zoom meeting from a computer (video or just audio) or from any telephone (audio). If joining by computer, click this link:

https://zoom.us/j/8545976827pwd=Y3JNWFluaTZjYitoZXFHV2U0NDY2dz09 and enter Meeting ID: 854 597 6827 and meeting Passcode: 767749 if prompted.

Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you on May 11!

Mar312023

Junior Contra PROMenade

8:00pm to 11:00pm
Contra PROMenade is back! Please join us for Junior Prom!
Music by the Greenfield Mega Band- including but not limited to Jesse Ball, David Cantieni, Gus Cantieni, Eileen O’Grady, Ann Percival, Kristen Planeaux, Cedar Stanistreet, Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin, and Sarah-Hadley Yakir and Calling by George Marshall
401 Chapman St, Greenfield MA
$15-$20 sliding scale ($2 discount FGD members)
Preregistration strongly encouraged- attendance will be capped at 150 attendees. Walk-ins accepted if cap is not reached.
https://forms.gle/Q9URanPVVRpCjnvi8
All ages and experience levels welcome!
Fun and fancy dress encouraged but not required!
In lieu of a dessert potluck, please feel free to bring snacks to enjoy outside during the break (cookies are always a delight).
Please wear clean, smooth-soled shoes to protect our dance floor.
We strive for a scent-free/substance free event.
COVID Policy Highlights: N-95 masks or similar required. Initial vaccination series required, plus booster received after September 1st, 2022. Medical exemptions for BOOSTERS ONLY will be considered on a case by case basis with pre-event approval (contact gro.e1746009081cnadd1746009081leifn1746009081eergf1746009081osdne1746009081irf@s1746009081tneve1746009081). Attendance will be capped at 150. For our full policy please see http://www.friendsofgreenfielddance.org/covid-19-policy/