Brad Foster, from Amherst, Massachusetts, has been dancing and teaching English country, contras and squares, and morris and sword for over 40 years. He is well known for sharing the joy found in dance, and has taught throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, including at Berea, Pinewoods, Mendocino, John C. Campbell Folk School and Augusta. He is Executive and Artistic Director of the Country Dance and Song Society, a post he has held for over 25 years. He is also a founder of the Bay Area Country Dance Society as well as co-founder of their Mendocino English and American dance weeks.

Tara Bolker, your host, is a contra and English dance caller, teacher and organizer in Gainesville, Florida. She calls for community dances and private events all over the state and is especially keen on keeping walk-through time to a minimum without losing the dancers--"50% more dancing!" as one dancer put it. And she loves to throw great parties.


Hogtown Fancy is the magnificent and dedicated house band for Monday Night English Dancing in Gainesville. Bob Reynierson, a founding member of the Center for Old Music in a New World, Lexington KY., plays theorbo, archlute and baroque guitar. John Monkus plays the full range of recorders, from soprano to bass, and krummhorn too. Ben Bolker plays fiddle.

Kumquat Kapers was formed to play for a Vernal's dance weekend several years ago and has been one of Florida's most sought-after contra bands ever since. The group features three veteran contra musicians: New England fiddle virtuoso Ben Bolker; flute, hammer dulcimer player, and percussionist Sarah Mitchell: and guitarist and former Squirrel, Bill Dudley. Between them, these players have starred in upwards of 30 or more bands!



O'Leno State Park (on US 441, six miles north of High Springs) is located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River, the park features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps, and sandhills. As the river courses through the park, it disappears underground and reemerges over three miles away in the River Rise State Preserve. One of Florida's first state parks, O'Leno was first developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The suspension bridge built by the CCC still spans the river.

The group camp facilities include several dormitory style cabins (with four bunk beds each to sleep eight) and two centrally located bathhouses. Group cabin camping for the Halloween Dance Weekend is just $10 per person--expect to have a maximum of four people per cabin unless otherwise requested.

To make your own reservations for tent or RV camp sites in one of O'Leno's campgrounds outside the group area go to Reserve America or call 800-326-3521.


The weather in north central Florida in October/November is likely to be dry with temperatures ranging from the high 70s during the day down to the mid 50s at night. Only the main buildings of O’Leno’s group facilities are heated; campers may bring electric radiant heaters and electric blankets for use in cabins.

Admission to the weekend is $110 per person (or $80 under 21s/limited income) and includes tasty and substantial meals and refreshments for the entire weekend, from Friday Afternoon Tea through Sunday Brunch. Group cabin camping is available for an additional $10 per person (see above). Several work scholarships are available.

To register please print and fill out a registration form (when printing select Landscape in Page Set-Up for best results) and send it with a check or money order, payable to Tara Bolker, to:


Or, email registration info, including volunteer preferences (see the form), and then mail payment.