GOTTA DANCE
The Portland Country Dance Community is presenting the new, annual Portland Raindance the first weekend in May, 2008. Version 1.0 will kick off Friday, May 2nd and run through Sunday May 4th. It will be held at the beautiful (air conditioned) Norse Hall. Headlining will be the stars of stage and screen, Hotpoint Stringband, getting their feet wet for the first time in Portland.
Mark Burhans on fiddle and Hilarie Burhans on banjo, who have been playing together for over 30 years, are the driving central force of this dynamic group. Rounding out the instrumental fireworks are Marlene Shostak on piano, Mark Hellenberg on doumbek, kanjira, djembe, bodhran, snare, cymbals, other percussive toys and feet, and Nick Welland on bass.
Hotpoint, from Athens, Ohio, is a band that’s expanding the contra style through their inventive use of percussion, fascinating arrangements and catchy snippets of well-known tunes from far afield, such as the Rolling Stones, Bob Marley and Jerry Garcia. This is not your parents’ contra music. Sneaking in through your ears, Hotpoint will take control of your body and run it at red line speed till the tank is empty.
Doubling up on you will be the McKassons. This hot band from Seattle has been melting the sneakers off unprepared dancers. Ryan McKasson, on fiddle and viola, was last playing for us at Dusk till Done 2006 when he came with his other band, the Syncopaths. Twice US National Scottish Fiddle Champion, he has also played with Bobby McFerrin, Elvis Costello and the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra.
Ryan’s sister, Cali McKasson, plays piano with the power of a thunderstorm--vibrating the floor boards. On drums and percussion is Matt Jerrell whapping the beat that tells the feet when to meet. If we told you the fourth member of the band you wouldn’t be able to contain yourself so for your own protection that information will be released when it’s safe.
Calling with these two great bands will be Susan Kevra. Coming to us from Nashville, Tennessee, Susan calls and plays music on both coasts and both sides of the Atlantic. She began calling dances in 1991, appearing in New England Grange halls in tiny, snow-covered villages as well as major festivals and dance camps throughout America. Susan is noted for her charm and wit. Happy dancers all around the country appreciate her clear teaching and diverse repertoire.
Also calling will be Marlin Prowell from Bellingham, Washington. Marlin has an easy going way of sliding complex dances out on the floor so that your feet know what to do before your mind has time to worry about it. Marlin’s ability to match the dances with the music doubles the enjoyment of both.
As an extra added attraction we will be doing a full court press, double intensive, you’re gonna get it this time, Hambo teaching series in the upstairs dance hall at Norse Hall.
This is our first “urban dance weekend.” That means no camping, no food. You sleep in your own bed and eat your usual breakfast. Just come dance from Friday evening thru Sunday afternoon. No wet tents no hard bunks. All fun all the time. Of course if you’d like to offer a spare bed to a Raindancer coming from out of town, we can guarantee they don’t bite or shed.
Now the best part: the cost is only $105 for general admission, $100 for PCDC members and $80 for students. These rates are for registrations postmarked by February 29th. After that the cost increases by $20. There will be a lottery for those postmarked by February 29th and the weekend will be gender balanced.
For any further questions, email raindanceinfo@portlandcountrydance.org
or call Kim at (503) 293-1248