Alex Deis-Lauby and Qwill Duvall & Dead Sea Squirrels
DOUBLE DANCE!!
3:45 – 5:45 pm Afternoon Advanced Contras with Alex Deis-Lauby $15 adults/$5 students
5:45 – 7:00 pm Dinner Break at the many walkable Chatham restaurants
7:00 – 7:30 pm Beginners’ Workshop
7:30 – 10:30pm All-Level Evening Dance with Qwill Duvall $15 adults/$5 students
All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins. Masks and vaccinations are optional.
Alex and Qwill have dug up the Dead Sea Squirrels and translated the new Beatitudes:
Blessed are the women who wear skirts for they shall be uplifted
Blessed are the men who change shirts for they shall be embraced
Blessed are the callers for they shall lead us to the top of the set
Blessed are the musicians for they shall channel celestial chords
Blessed are the dance organizers for they shall strengthen the tradition
Blessed are the Swingin’ Tern dancers for theirs is the community of contra.
Alexandra Deis-Lauby will be the caller for the Afternoon Advanced Contra session. Alex began contra dancing in 2011 while at school in Chicago. After catching the contra bug, she began calling in 2014. Alex’s smooth voice, clear teaching style, and engaging dance selections delight dancers from coast to coast. When she’s not calling, you can find her on the dance floor twirling away!
Qwill Duvall will be the caller for the All-Level Evening Dance. In Qwill’s words: I am a contra dancer and caller from the midwest. I began contra dancing in 2015 shortly after moving to Chicago. A couple years later I began regularly traveling for dancing and I started calling in 2019. I called regularly in the Chicago area during 2019 and the beginning of 2020, and I was just thinking about going on tour when the pandemic hit. Since my work is now remote and dances have started back up, I am now on the road and touring! I’ve been at it since the beginning of 2023. I’ve called from the midwest to the west coast and will be heading east in the fall!
The Dead Sea Squirrels play widely for contra dances and are known for their danceable tunes arranged in medleys designed to closely match and enhance the movements of the particular contra dance being taught/called. They tend to push the boundaries of the southern style with fiddle and fiddle/guitar harmonies. Since all the musicians are also dancers, they understand the importance of the interaction between dancers and musicians, and how to use rhythm and dynamics to augment the feel and excitement of a dance.
Dead Sea Squirrels features
COVID PROTOCOL & OTHER INFO
- Masks and proof of vaccination are no longer required.
- We once again welcome contributions of home-baked [or not] goodies to share at the break.
- Please bring your own water bottle with your name on it. Water bottles may be filled at the kitchen sink.
- All dances are now called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins.
Hourly Schedule
Dance Schedule
- 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
- Beginner's Workshop
- Learn the basics or help the newcomers.
- 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
- Dance
- The main event.