Registration / Performers / Venue / About Bozeman

January 24-26, 2014

Dancing and Workshops at the elegant Emerson Center
for the Arts & Culture
111 South Grand Avenue
Bozeman, Montana

The Retrospectacles

ANDREW FOSTER - fiddle
JOSIE SOKOLOFF-TONEY - fiddle
ETHAN JODZIEWICZ - bass
SCOTTY LEACH - piano

The Retrospectacles are tearing up dance floors all over the Northwest. And their arrangements are as good on the concert stage as they are on the dance floor. They grew up at music camps and festivals and they've taken that early imprint and made it into an eclectic, contemporary music experience.

Propelling dancers across the dance floor are the twin fiddles of Josie Sokoloff-Toney and Andrew Foster leading the band through twisting, turning tune medleys (while harmonizing beautifully). Scotty Leach's infectious piano playing and Ethan Jodziewicz's burning bass lines make up the other half of the band. Though inspired by the music of the modern contra dance scene, they also draw from Irish, Scottish, French-Canadian and old-time traditions along with playing many of their own compositions, some of which are available on their CD - 5 Miles From Town.

Here's a sample:

Out of the Wood

KATHY BOWMAN - fiddle
VICKIE MARRON - piano
PAT MARRON - mandolin, fiddle, banjo

Out of the Wood is a “dancers” band. They even have a slogan: “We make your feet happy!” All three band members are experienced contradancers so they know about how the dance and music work together to create the “dancers high” and they love to create that energy! From Sandpoint, Idaho, they've played for hundreds of contradances, dance festivals and dance camps from Washington D.C. to Vancouver B.C. in the last ten years. Playing a delightful blend of traditional Celtic, New England, Quebecois, and Southern Old Time music they keep upping the energy and passing it on.

Kathy (yes, Bowman is her real name) is a "lifelong fiddler." She skillfully weaves in and out of the melody with delightful improvisational patterns that keep the tunes fresh.

Vickie provides excellent, clear rhythm and her dynamics give a strong foundation freeing Kathy and Pat to create layers of colorful sound on top. She has been a caller for 15 years and is skilled at choosing just the right tunes to match the particular dance. 

Pat is known for his clear, crisp mandolin picking and broad intrumental repertoire. Also, his sense of humor never fails to add to the fun!

David Kaynor calling

Master caller and fiddler, David Kaynor will preside at Wintergreen 2014. He's been a caller and organizer of the Greenfield, MA Guiding Star Grange Hall dances (3 per week!) since the 80's. But, his insight, experience, and love of fun have secured him as a member of the "greater contra dance community."

As a regular contributor to Northern Week at Ashokan and Contra Dance Musicians' Week at the John C. Campbell Folk School, he's taught and mentored dancers and musicians alike. And he's shared the same in this part of the country performing at Lady of the Lake in Idaho, Suttle Lake in Oregon, Wannadance in Seattle and Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend to name a few.

A prolific writer, David sums up his dance philosophy like this "...I see myself mainly as a teacher and facilitator. I've been described as a mechanic in artist clothing. Whether playing tunes, teaching and calling dances, or working at a camp, or even running in a road race, I tend to be more interested in the process than the product. Experience wins over expedience every time. Most of "real life" isn't like this, but music and dancing can be."

Venue

All dances and workshops will be held at the elegant Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture (www.theemerson.org/) located at 111 South Grand Avenue. Within walking distance of historic downtown Bozeman shops and galleries, the Emerson features a spacious ballroom with a beautiful new wood floor. It is also home to art galleries, a restaurant, and several other performance venues.

More About Bozeman

Bozeman is a beautiful and historic town with fantastic scenery, great places to eat, friendly people, best enjoyed on foot. Elevation is 4,810 feet above sea level and population is 32,000 plus 10,000 college students (home of Montana State University). If you want a lot more details ask the Chamber of Commerce or Bozeman Net.

Schedule some extra time to ski Bridger, Bohart Ranch, Moonlight Basin or Big Sky. Or go south a couple hours to Yellowstone Park, the first and oldest national park in the world. Take in a geyser in winter glory by ski or snowcoach or the Boiling River, a natural hot springs (if you're willing to take your clothes off in sub-zero weather and can find a nice river rock to sit on - bathing suits required).

Bozeman winter weather can be unpredictable. Find out more at travel.state.mt.us/whatsnew/roadsandweather. Bozeman is located in south central Montana between Butte and Billings, Montana along Interstate 90. The airport serving the area is Gallatin Field and is located ten minutes west of Bozeman and just east of Belgrade. It provides service for major airlines including Delta, Northwest, United, Horizon and Frontier. Daily flights to Salt Lake City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver and Seattle provide convenient connecting service to domestic and international airports.