The Monadnock Folklore Society presents the Nelson Second Saturday Contra Dance on September 11th, featuring caller Mary DesRosiers, fiddler Rodney Miller, Sarah Bauhan playing flute and whistle and Gordon Peery on piano.
Mary DesRosiers is an accomplished caller of old and new dances, an engaging teacher, and a veteran folk singer. She has taught the dance styles and singing games of New England to audiences of all ages in town halls, schools, and festivals across the country.
Rodney Miller is widely considered to be the foremost exponent of New England style fiddling. Over the past thirty years Miller has toured the United States, Canada, the British Isles, Australia and Denmark and he has recorded over ten albums. Many of his original compositions have gone on to become fiddle tune standards. In l983, Rodney was designated a "Master Fiddler" by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sarah Bauhan was born and raised in the Monadnock Region, and with strong ties to her mother’s native Scotland, Sarah picked up the tin whistle at the age of 12. Within two years she was performing at contra dances with Dudley Laufman’s Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra. In addition to Laufman, who is credited with a contra dance revival in southwest New Hampshire, Sarah was influenced by her godfather, Newt Tolman, a flute player and writer, and by Bob McQuillen, the Peterborough piano player and composer.
Dancing begins at 8:00 PM, with a short workshop beforehand. Beginners and singles are welcome and all dances are taught throughout the evening. Admission is $8 or $6 for students and seniors. The dance takes place in the historic Town Hall in Nelson, NH. For more information call 603.762.0235 or visit www.monadnockfolk.org.
