On Saturday, March 14, it’s the green and popular St. Patrick’s Contra dance down at the Big Yellow Merville Hall.
Led by foppish fiddler “Paddy O’Furniture,” the Funtime Fiddlers will preen, pirouette and pump out the jigs and reels for the highly popular contra dances.
Dance caller June “O’Cannon,” dressed in an elfishly elegant fern gown, will get you frolicking about the dance hall with laughter and a light heart. All are welcome to attend this family-friendly function.
O’Cannon will lead a brief contra dance workshop right before the dance. Then, at 7:30, lips peckishly puckered from kissing the Blarney Stone, the Funtime Fiddlers leap onto the stage, strike the first notes, and the gaiety begins. Singles can pair up with anyone during the contras and the contra sets last about 15 to 20 minutes. In between the called contra dances, the band will play waltzes, polkas and swing tunes.
Wear a green costume, win a spot dance prize, click your heels. The luck of the Irish will be with all at this kitchen party! Green music, green beer, green gills and green pickled eggs. This is also a fundraiser for the great, green Cumberland Community Forest Society.
So, Saturday, March 14, join the Irish fiddlers at the Big Yellow Merville Dance Hall, right on the Old Island Highway, between Campbell River and Courtenay. Doors open at 7 p.m.; dance starts at 7:30. Cost is $10/adults, $5/youth (6 and under free) and you can come as a family for $22. Free workshop starts at 7. FMI: 339-4249; seabankmars@shaw.ca