Berkeley Barn Dance, featuring the Mad Maggies

Sun, Dec 4
6 p.m. doors open, 7-9:45 p.m. dance begins
$10, $8 for members, $5 for students/low-income/kids

Escape from the holiday music for just one weekend -- come to the
Berkeley Barn Dance for a taste of power polka and musical mayhem!

at Grace North Church
2138 Cedar (near Oxford), in Berkeley

**Sunday, December 4th**

Pre-dance Social Hour/Potluck: **6 p.m.**
(bring your knitting, come to learn more about the dancing, or just
relax over your takeout food before the dance)

Dance party: **7 to 9:45 p.m.**

BACDS members $8, non-members $10, students/low-income/kids $5
Family and group discounts available
(email for more info)

Dances led by Alan Winston

Music by special guests The Mad Maggies
(www.themadmaggies.com)
"World-inspired, power folk, tweaked traditional music"

Simple group and couple dances (waltzes! polkas! a bit of Balkan!),
good music, a great time!

- - - - - MORE ABOUT THE DANCE - - - - -

This month we're proud to feature The Mad Maggies, a big band that
includes accordion, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, guitars,
bass, drums, percussion, and more as the mood strikes them. Composer/
singer/accordionist Maggie Martin, who played for 12 years with
Polkacide, leads the group. Imagine Brave Combo meets a Gypsy-funk
brass band meets Gaelic renegades meets neo-polka enthusiasts.

Alan Winston, a series regular who packs a wry wit and an
encyclopedic repertoire, will blend the barn dance style with this
new band sound (with help from Victoria Williams on Balkan). Whether
or not you've been to the Berkeley barn dance before, you want to
come and check it out!


If you've never come to a barn dance before, be sure to arrive between 7
and 8 p.m. -- this is when the caller focuses more on teaching.
However,
all dances will be taught and called. Come with a group of friends
or come
by yourself. You don't need to bring a partner.

WHAT IS A BARN DANCE? -- Barn dance/ceilidh dance is a lively, bouncy
dance style where you interact not only with your partner but also
with other members of your set. The dances themselves often feature
uncomplicated yet vigorous stepping, such as step-hops, skipping, and
polka steps; we also do comfortable couple dances (especially
waltzes) and easy country dances.

Beginners welcome, all dances taught and called.

Contributions to the snack table are most welcome -- and we can
always use more chocolate.


Grace North Church
2138 Cedar St. (near Oxford), Berkeley
Admission: Adults $10, BACDS members $8
$2 off for students/low-income, kids $5.
Group discounts available, call for more information.

Next Month: The Berkeley barn dance series happens most First
Sundays. If you can't make it this month, try next month, January
1st, 2006. Yes, we'll be there on *New Year's Day* with a special
Hair of the Dog Party and Community Dance! We'll be hanging out and
talking or eating as much as dancing. Those who care to, bring songs
and instruments. Alan Winston and Lise Dyckman will lead the calling,
and the scheduled music will come from Ruth Temple and friends.

For more information visit liveavatar.com/ceilidh, or
www.bacds.org/berkeleyceilidh, or call 650-365-2913

Venue:

Grace North Church
2138 Cedar St. (near Oxford)
Berkeley



Public Transit: Take BART to downtown Berkeley station. From there,
catch the AC Transit 43 bus at the stop in front of Games of Berkeley
at the corner of Shattuck and Cedar. Get off at the corner of Cedar
and Shattuck, and walk 1-1/2 blocks up Cedar.

Driving:

* Take I-80 to University Avenue offramp. Follow signs for
downtown Berkeley and University of California.
* Continue on University Avenue to Shattuck Avenue; turn left
onto Shattuck.
* Continue on Shattuck Avenue to Cedar Street; turn right onto
Cedar.
* Grace North Church is 1-1/2 blocks up Cedar, between Walnut
and Oxford.

Parking: Street parking only.

Additional Info:

650-365-2913
http://liveavatar.com/ceilidh or http://www.bacds.org/berkeleyceilidh