VERNAL'S
March
23-25,
2012
O'Leno
State
Park
High
Springs,
Florida
featuring
Montage
On the Fly
Beth Molaro
and more
contra
dancing,
mostly,
all
weekend
long
...
no-walk-through contra dance ... late-night dancing ... early
morning waltzing ...
contra, square and couple dancing ...
saturday night ball ... more
Registration is now
open!!
Montage, an
eclectic band from Western New York and Pennsylvania, plays an
innovative mix of European-based music, rooted in tradition and
strongly influenced by modern styles. This trio weaves together
everything from swing to Parisian café to rootsy Breton
folk styles, as well as more traditional contra dance styles like
Quebecois, Scottish, and English. Montage is in demand as a contra
dance band and has played in California, Massachusetts, Maryland, West
Virginia, Ontario, and beyond.
On the Fly is
a
four-piece
string band that plays music for traditional American folk
dances. The band plays for contra and square dances throughout the
great state of Florida. On the Fly derives its sound
from a variety of
musical traditions, including old-time fiddle tunes, swing, jazz,
waltz, Irish music, and bluegrass. Weaving these styles
into inventive
dance medleys, On the Fly continues to keep dancers stepping
lively.
Chuck, Jim and Ted blend creative melodic
improvisation with the solid
foundation of the double bass, as On the Fly drives the dances
with their energy, enthusiasm and unique style.
Beth Molaro has a vocal style
that is unique in the dance world. Her ability to sing the calls makes
for an exciting blending of music and calls which she accomplishes with
both clarity and musical integrity. You will hear elements of the blues
and jazz in her voice as she sings you from one figure to the next,
weaving together the various elements of dance, music and dancers into
a positively charged room of inspired enthusiasm.
Plus others...
W E E K E N D S C H E D U L
E
(watch for updates)
4 pm
7 pm
8 pm
11 pm
|
FRIDAY
Afternoon Tea (refreshments)
check-in table opens
Dinner
No-Walk-Through Contra Dance
Bollywood Techno Contra
|
7 am
8 am
9:30-12:30
1 pm
2-4 pm
4-5:30 pm
|
SATURDAY
DAY
Early Morning Waltzing
Breakfast
available till 9:15
Morning Workshops TBA
Picnic Lunch overlooking the Santa Fe
Square Dance with
Beth
and
On the Fly
Afternoon Workshops TBA
|
7 pm
8 pm
|
SATURDAY
NIGHT
Dinner
Saturday Night Ball with Beth and Montage
Contra Dance
Pretty-Near-To-Midnight Feast at 11 pm
Late-Night Dancing till ??
|
8 am
9 am
11 am
|
SUNDAY
Early Morning Waltzing
Brunch
available till after 1 pm
Farewell Contra Dance with Beth and Montage
ends at 1 pm
|
O'Leno State Park is on US 441 six
miles north of High Springs, just about 45 minutes north of
Gainesville. The group camp facilities include several dormitory style
cabins (with four bunk beds each to sleep eight) and two centrally
located bathhouses. Group cabin accommodation or shared-site
campground camping is included with admission to the weekend. To
make your own reservations for tent or RV camp sites in one of O'Leno's
campgrounds go to
Reserve
America or call
800-326-3521.
Come early,
stay late!
O'Leno's
group
camp
is
reserved
for
Vernal's
from
Thursday
afternoon
through
Monday
morning,
so you can extend your stay and enjoy what the park
itself has to offer -- bring your bike, canoe, fishing pole, a good
book...
(Canoes and bicycles are also available for rent)
Located along
the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee,
O'Leno State Park features sinkholes,
hardwood hammocks, river swamps
and sand hills. It was first developed by the Civilian Conservation
Corps in the 1930s --
the porch of the dance hall built by the CCC
overlooks the Santa Fe and the CCC suspension bridge that still spans
it.
The weather is likely to be dry with
temperatures ranging from the high 70s during the day down to the low
60s 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 $145 for dancing adults,
$130 for students / under 25s and $75 for under 14s and non-dancers. It
includes tasty and substantial meals and refreshments for the entire
weekend, from Friday Afternoon Tea through Sunday Brunch. Group cabin
or shared-site campground camping is also included.
Some parital work scholarships are available -- email for more info.
Register by Valentine's Day
(Tuesday, February 14) and take $10 off per person!
Everyone pitches in at
some
time over the weekend -- 20 to 30 minutes of light duty
during non-dance times (possibly a little longer for set-up on Friday
afternoon or final clean-up on Sunday). Please pick three times that
will work for you -- you will be assigned the one where you are most
needed. Choose from:
Friday
- 4, 5, 6, 7:30 or 11 pm
Saturday
day - 7:30 or 8:30 am; 12:30 or 1:30 pm
Saturday
night - 5:30, 7:30 or 10:30 pm
Sunday
- 8:30 or 9:30 am; 1 pm
-or-
just say "anything Friday", "anything early morning", etc
There is no registration form. To register simply email
your complete registration information** and either request an email
invoice to pay online or send a check or money order made payable to
Tara Bolker to:
Vernal's
c/o Tara Bolker
PO Box 1211
Lewiston, NY 14092
**
Please
include the following info for each person:
1)
name
2)
address
3)
email
4)
choice of accommodation (include any cabinmate / campmate
preferences):
group cabin -- men's / women's /
co-ed / family or
shared-site campground -- tent,
car, RV or
other
5)
pitch-in job choices
tara(AT)tarabolker(DOT)com