2024 Flurry Festival Performers
Currently confirmed 2024 artists are below, with more to come!
Check back to find new additions over the course of the winter.
The Engine Room is a brand new contra dance band hailing from both coasts and places in between. Featuring Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, mandolin, foot percussion), Kelsey Wells (fiddle, banjo), and Alex Sturbaum (guitar, button accordion), the Engine Room will lay down a driving, nonstop groove that is sure to get you moving.
www.facebook.com/theengineroommusic
Lisa is a well-loved dance caller specializing in contras, squares, family programs and leadership workshops.
River Road delivers beauty, power, and groove to contra dances with a highly revered mixture of contemporary and traditional tunes with strong influences from Quebecois, New England, & maritime traditions, featuring Sarah-Hadley Yakir on fiddle, Kristen Planeaux on piano, flute, and accordion, and Jesse Ball on mandolin, guitar, accordion, and foot percussion. While they are geographically divided by the Connecticut river, an aptly named River Road connects them to create an energy that is highly sought after in the contradance scene.
Caller of contras and squares for all levels
Countercurrent is an acoustic folk music duo based in Olympia, Washington, composed of Alex Sturbaum and Brian Lindsay. They have achieved nationwide acclaim for their high-energy style, which draws on deep traditional roots from Ireland and North America while incorporating new influences to create a sound that is at once unique and timeless. Alex’s driving guitar and gifted songwriting, Brian’s lyrical fiddle and rock-solid foot percussion, and the duo’s lively interplay, tight vocal harmonies, and unstoppable groove make a Countercurrent performance an event unlike any other. Wherever they go, the question remains the same: “How does that much sound come out of just two people?”
https://countercurrentmusic.com
Adina Gordon calls dances throughout the US and Canada, creating joy and minor chaos wherever she goes. Combining a voice that makes you want to do what she says with a commitment to using that power for good and not evil, Adina calls contra, squares and English country dances old and new that cause spontaneous eruptions of joy on dance floors throughout North America.
Sam Bartlett and Eric Schedler of Bloomington, Indiana are a tour de force of traditional dance music and the finest accordion/banjo duo in the Midwest. Though they are steeped in the subtle intricacies of the old Irish and New England tune traditions, they play with a groove and persistence that is timeless. Bartlett grew up in the contra dance world of rural Vermont and was an early member of Wild Asparagus and the Clayfoot Strutters, two bands that reshaped the sound of contra dance music. He has played for community dances for the past 40 years, and also performs with the Stringrays and Notorious. As an Oberlin Conservatory harpsichordist, Schedler began learning and composing tunes on the accordion, finding his training to give him an unusual facility on that instrument. He is also a member of Chicago’s favorite contra dance band, the Cosmic Otters. Teaming up with Boston-based fiddler and guitarist Dave Langford, Supertrad, becomes SUPERTRAD. Langford, the fiddling fire behind The Latter Day Lizards and Stomp Rocket, has played for countless dance weeks and weekends all over the US and beyond, combining multiple styles of fiddle playing with fierce energy and drive.
Liz Nelson is a dance caller residing Western Massachusetts. She is well-known for her clear, concise teaching and warm, welcoming presence. She knows that everyone can dance, and firmly believes “if you’re having fun and being safe you’re doing it right!.” Nothing delights her more than working with a group of enthusiastic, joyful dancers (no matter what age or experience level).
www.facebook.com/liznelsondancecaller
Demi Remick is a NYC-based tap dancer, choreographer and burlesque artist who performs and teaches internationally. Demi has toured worldwide as the tap dance soloist with Postmodern Jukebox, has danced with Dorrance Dance, Caleb Teicher & Co, Jason Samuels Smith, Bill T. Jones, and alongside American Ballet Theatre and NYCB dancers. She has also performed in Quixotic Fusion’s Sensatia Cabaret, Company XIV, the New York Burlesque Festival and for Susanne Bartsch. She has performed at venues such as The Sydney Opera House, NY City Center, The London Palladium, Radio City Music Hall, The Kennedy Center, and the Hollywood Bowl to name a few. She was Dance Magazine’s Top-25-To-Watch 2014, a YoungArts Gold winner, a Presidential Scholar in the Arts nominee, a Capezio Athlete, and is currently an Artist in Residence at the American Tap Dance Foundation. Demi has taught all levels of tap dance internationally and earned her BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance.
www.demiremi.com
Dancer, ethnochoreologist, and queer theorist, Nic Gareiss (he/they) has been hailed by the New York Times for his “dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance” and called “the most inventive and expressive step dancer on the scene” by the Boston Herald. They reimagine movement as a musical practice, recasting dance as a medium that appeals to both eyes and ears. Gareiss engages many percussive dance traditions, weaving together a singular dance practice marked by his love of clog, flatfoot, and step dance footwork vocabulary; improvisation; and musical collaboration. Nic’s graduate thesis was the first piece of scholarship to center the experience of LGBTQ Irish step dancers. Gareiss brings surprisingly lyrical, musical, and jaw-droppingly deft steps of Irish, Canadian, Appalachian percussive dance to the Flurry.
www.nicgareiss.com
Playing Cuban Jazz standards.
Versatile and multi-talented, this 6-member ensemble performs pan-Balkan music which is fresh, exciting and perhaps somewhat new to dance audiences. Along with well-loved standards, the group also includes arrangements and original compositions by group members, accordion/violin duos written by Ivan Milev and Bulgarian pop songs, as well as some “off-the-beaten-track” Balkan tunes which work really well for dances most Balkan dance enthusiasts already know.
https://turtleledge.wixsite.com/balkan-fields-band
ALBANY TANGO SOCIETY
KEVIN MAGEE and MANDY VALIN
Albany Tango Society is a community group in New York’s Capital Region, presenting weekly tango socials since 2007. Kevin Magee and Mandy Valin teach group classes and private lessons in tango, vals and milonga throughout the Capital Region.
https://www.albanytangosociety.org/
JONATHAN GREENE AND THE GRAND BOUBOUSSE
Grand Boubousse or “Big Blowout” is an early 20s and 30s jazz group led by Jonathan Greene. The Flurry sets will feature pianist Gordon Webster and vocalist Georgia Heers.
DJ FRANKIE RAMOS
DJ Frankie F1 has served the Capital Region since 2009. DJing has been his passion since he was a teenager, and became a reality through his love of dancing Salsa. He enjoys mixing a variety of genres and is best known for his Latin Dance Mix. He’s DJed at several Wedding Venues, Albany Latinfest, Capital Region Salsa Social, The Mine of Saratoga, Newberry’s of Saratoga, and a few other local venues in the Capital Region. He currently DJs at Ritmo Room Albany, NY, Friday Nights Bachata Room Dance party, and/or Saturday Nights Salsateca dance party.
EMILY ADDISON
Emily Addison is passionate about creating vibrant dance communities. A dancer, organizer, musician, caller, and researcher of traditional dance for 20 years, she looks for all opportunities to learn with others.
CAPITAL DISTRICT MEGABAND
Capital District’s large community contra dance band
www.danceflurry.org/series/megaband
CASEY CARR
Casey Carr began dance calling in the 1970s, and calls zesty contras, squares and grids. She enables beginners to feel at ease and confident, while also calling dances that are compelling for experienced dancers who are seeking that magical flow.
ISAAC BANNER
A long-time contra dancer and Washington transplant, Isaac is known in the Pacific Northwest for his particular blend of humor and dance instruction. He focuses on dancer comfort and safety, striving to build a safe and inclusive community for all dancers. Originally a Flurry native, Isaac carries a fusion of northeast and northwest folk dance community and culture.
isaacbanner.com/calling
LYDIA IEVINS
lydia ievins plays nyckelharpa and five-string fiddle for Scandinavian and English Country dancing. Her absolute favorite thing about playing in either genre is the opportunity to improvise rich harmonic lines. As an avid dancer herself, she infuses her playing with rhythmic clarity and sensitive phrasing to make it irresistibly danceable. lydia has been attending the Flurry since 1990 and heading up its Scandi contingent since 2012.
lydiamusic.org
TOM ROBY and LAURA STERN
Tom and Laura have each been involved in Scandinavian dancing for close to 35 years and taught regularly for the pre-pandemic Scandia Boston monthly dance series. Dancing together they earned Bronze and Silver medals in traditional Swedish polska dancing and are continuing their training annually at camps in Sweden and the US.
WAYNE FUGATE
Wayne Fugate is one of the New York area’s most versatile mandolin players. He makes his musical home in the space in, around, and between the American roots styles of Bluegrass, Blues, Swing, and Old Time music, and can move gracefully from these styles to any of his other musical loves in the worlds of Classical, Quebecois and Scandinavian music. Wayne has authored instruction and tune books, arranged and performed for films, and teaches privately and at festivals and music camps throughout the country.
www.waynefugate.com
TRISH MILLER, JOHN KIRK, and JOEL ROSENBERGER
Fiddle tunes, folksongs and fancy footwork from John Kirk, Trish Miller and Joel Rosenberger. Americana and Celtic styles are featured in their repertoire with harmony singing and splashes of humor sprinkled in their dance calling and music workshops.
https://johnandtrish.com/
KIM HAWKEY and DAN GABEL
Kimberly Hawkey’s voice is a time machine. Jazz, Broadway, folk – she effortlessly blends genres, transporting audiences to worlds of beauty with each crystalline note. Whether solo, fronting her band, or singing with an orchestra, her captivating and cinematic voice offers a vintage soul-nourishment that transcends the modern age. Kimberly Hawkey isn’t just a singer; she’s a weaver of timelessness, a storyteller with a voice that bridges generations and genres. Dan Gabel (hailed by the Boston Globe as “the real deal, [a bandleader] that looks and sounds like the 1940s” and by the Syncopated Times as “the champion of Big Bands and vintage jazz”) is a trombonist, arranger, bandleader, historian, professor and educator. His popular big band, Dan Gabel and The Abletones, has played throughout the northeast and is featured on numerous recordings and video/television programs.
www.kimberlyhawkey.com
https://gabelmusic.com
ALAN MCCLINTOCK
Storyteller from the NY Capital District area.
PICK’N’ & SING’N’ GATHER’N’
The Pickin’ & Singin’ Gatherin’, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization, in the New York State Capital District, dedicated to playing, singing, and sharing of folk and traditional music as a group and family activity.
www.pickingandsinging.org
Pianist Gordon Webster is one of the most sought after musicians in the lindy hop world. His tremendous musicianship and passion, supported by his first-hand knowledge of social dancing, have inspired lindy hoppers at hundreds of dance events worldwide. Drawing on influences as diverse as Fats Waller, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, Webster serves up a smorgasbord of styles unified by one characteristic: irresistible danceability.
Gaby Cook is an esteemed, active professional in the global lindy hop community. For nearly 20 years, she has established her career performing and teaching for major swing dance festivals worldwide — including Camp Hollywood, Beantown, Swing Out New Hampshire, Herräng Dance Camp, Lindy on the Rocks, Paris Jazz Roots, Stompology and Lindy Focus. On stage, she is a principal dancer for the acclaimed “SW!NG OUT”, which premiered at the Joyce theater (2021) and tours regularly. Other stage credits include: “Macy’s Day Parade Live Broadcast” for Nickelodeon’s Blues Clues (2022), “Swing’s the Thing” with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (2023), “Decades of Dance” at the BET Soultrain Awards (2021), “Don’t Mean a Thing” with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center (2021) and many appearances in film and TV. She regularly advocates for lindy hop in industry dance communities and is consistently “on-call” with university dance programs (past: Julliard, Marymount, NYU, Columbia). In class, she is playful, informative and honest. She prioritizes equality for followers and leaders in the classroom space — and has championed a movement first approach to teaching partnered dance content. Online at @gaby_cook
With nearly 10 years of experience, AJ Howard takes the influences from Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Lindy Hop scenes to bring his own unique style and energy to the Swing Dancing community. He burst into the scene in 2016, winning competitions throughout the US with his partner Jennifer, showing the dance world what Sacramento really had to offer! Competing at international events such as Camp Hollywood and the International Lindy Hop Championships, AJ became well known for his generous use of aerials paired with his energetic dancing.
AJ has also had the honor of performing on stage for the debut run of “SW!NG OUT” in addition to dance groups such as HellaBlackLindyHop and the Midtown Stompers, along with the privilege to spread his love of dance through teaching at Lindy Hop events across the US, on a Carnival Cruise ship, and overseas in countries such as Denmark and Sweden.
Rafal Pustelny is a vibrant dancer and instructor who is passionate about traditional dances from all around the world! Rafal moved to NYC in 2010 and there studied American Jazz dance forms, including Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa. He quickly established himself as one of the top dancers in NYC, and has since earned acclaim in the international swing dance community. Rafal continues his own dance education by studying Tap, Clogging, Hungarian folk dances, and Polish folk dances. As a performer, he works with several regional groups, including “Gatsby Entertainment,” “The Vanaver Caravan,” “Project Connect”, and “Harvest Moon Hoppers”, as well as community events and corporate parties. A Frankie Manning Foundation Ambassador, he teaches and performs locally with “You Should Be Dancing” studios and in New York City. You can also find him at international events where he works with dance communities across the globe.
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason are masters of music and storytelling, who are perennial Flurry favorites. Jay’s fiddling brims with playfulness, drama, soulfulness and technical verve, as he explores the many musical styles and idioms he has internalized and made his own, while Molly’s mastery and inventiveness on piano and guitar supports the tunes and follows the flow of the melody, and her rich and expressive vocals reveal the deep emotions that flow in the duos veins.
https://jayandmolly.com/
MetaMovements is an entrepreneurial artist collective dedicated to using the arts as a tool for positive transformation of self and community, creating bonds, fostering meaningful relationships and creating lasting social change. Inspired by the trips they design to Cuba and the Dominican Republic with artists on the ground, MetaMovements creates inclusive environments for high-quality performing arts programming (workshops, classes, master classes, large community events, fundraisers and gatherings) for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to actively participate in.
https://www.mmculturalconnections.com/
A native of Guinea, West Africa, M’Bemba Bangoura began playing the djembe drum at the age of seven. By the age of twenty-one, he was acclaimed as a master drummer and was invited to play for Ballet Djoliba, the national company of Guinea. He has traveled the world as a performer and teacher of the djembe, and is revered for his high level of mastery. In addition, he has personally created choreography and developed repertoire for dozens of dance companies worldwide.
Steve Kotansky, known widely as a versatile dancer and teacher, has made many research trips to Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary and Greece. He has taught at major folk dance camps all over North America and Europe and has performed and choreographed for many performing ensembles throughout the U.S. and Europe. Steve is active as a teacher and researcher of dance in North American Albanian and Macedonian Roma communities. Steve brings a lively, in-depth knowledge to his teaching, and an intense joy to his dancing.
Alexis Chartrand is a fiddler from Montréal who has been active in the Québécois traditional music scene for several years. He is known for his energetic accompaniment of stepdancing and social dances. His interest in Québécois, Irish and Scottish fiddle styles informs his musicianship, along with his study of classical, contemporary and baroque music.
Le Winston Band is a one-of-a-kind Zydeco band from Montreal fusing rich musical traditions of Louisiana with their own French-Canadian roots. The result – music that’s exhilarating and performances that are musically enriching and high energy, leaving people dancing deep into the night.
www.lewinstonband.com
ZYDEGROOVE
ZydeGroove is a powerhouse Zydeco band from the Northeast with deep roots in Louisiana. When ZydeGroove’s in town there’s a zydeco party goin’ on.
Doug Chatman, Laren Droll, Gary Graef, Maggie McManus, Francisco Reyes, Roger Weiss
https://zydegroove.com/
STRAWBERRY HILL FIDDLERS
Strawberry Hill Fiddlers is a unique program based on learning traditional music by ear. Open to violin, viola, cello and bass players, the Fiddlers offer exposure to various non-classical styles, improvisation, singing, dancing and body percussion. Directed by Chelsea Needham.
https://stringendomusic.org/
GEORGE WILSON
Veteran contradance fiddler specializing in Quebecois, Cape Breton, New England & Old time styles. Lead Belly expert on 12-string guitar, Uncle Dave Macon expert on banjo.
www.georgewilsonmusic.com
TAMARACK
Tamarack plays traditional fiddle music for barn dances, wedding receptions, reunions or community events. Fiddle, flute and guitar weave their way through smooth waltzes, foot-tapping reels and lively jigs. Traditional tunes mixed with original creations round out the group’s repertoire.
www.tunefolk.com
SPARE PARTS
Lovely contras, romantic waltzes and couples dances, elegant English, really fun zwiefachers. Historic ballroom social dance from Jane Austen to Ragtime. Argentine tangos, milongas and tango valses a special passion.
www.bfv.com/spareparts
JOSHUA FIALKOFF and the ODDFELLOWS
Joshua Fialkoff fuses pop, funk, jazz, and soul, glues it together with smoky vocals, and sprinkles it with a variety of piano stylings that span the eras. The result: great music that moves your soul and body.
https://joshuafialkoff.com/
LOIS NEW
Lois New is a fully certified teacher with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS). She teaches a weekly Scottish country dance class in Clifton Park. Her class is affiliated with the Boston Branch of the RSCDS.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS
Scottish Country Dancers from the Capital District, Boston Branch, NYC Branch, New Haven Branch and Montreal Branch of the RSCDS.
PETER DAVIS
Peter Davis is a Saratogian, former Program Director of the Flurry and an eclectic multi-instrumentalist musician.
abouttheman.com/wp/the-musicians/peter-davis/
TIM LAMM
Tim has been dancing and teaching historical forms of couple dancing since about 1980. He was co-director of the Lexington (KY) Vintage Dance Society from 2000-2017 and taught waltz at Christmas Country Dance School in Berea KY between 2018 and 2022. After moving to Worcester, he taught Ragtime tango at NEFFA and teaches a weekly line dance class. His long-term dance partner retired in 2021, but he continues teaching and performing with various partners as Steps In Time Historical Dance.
StepsInTime.us
TOSS THE FEATHERS
Toss the Feathers presents traditional Irish music and songs in events throughout the greater Capital/Upstate region.
www.tossthefeathers.band
CEDAR STANISTREET
Cedar has been playing fiddle at the Flurry for many years, and can be found playing for contra dances, leading workshops, and jamming. He has played with the groups Quickstep, Nor’easter, and Cloud Ten, among others.
NICOLA MARAE ALLAIN
Of mixed Celtic and Polynesian ancestry, Nicola Marae Allain was born in England and raised in Tahiti, French Polynesia. She is a former dancer and choreographer specializing in Oceanic traditions. Her performances, poetry, and creative works have been featured at arts and cultural festivals in the United States and Mexico. Nicola is the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at Empire State University.
http://nicolamarae.com
JOE and JESSE BRUCHAC
Joe and Jesse Bruchac are a father and son duo who share the traditional stories, songs, and dances of their Abenaki ancestors, performing with drum, rattle and Native American flute.
https://www.ndakinnacenter.org/
ELIZABETH MARIYAH
Classic cabaret and fusion bellydance performer and teacher.
www.bellydancernewyork.com
SHAWN HERSHEY
Shawn, a classically trained trumpeter from Eastman School of Music, embraced lindy hop in 1999 and has since become a prominent instructor and performer, both nationally and internationally. Partnering with various artists, including his sister Betina Hershey, he teaches a unique blend of traditional blues, lindy hop, and tango, emphasizing musicality and enjoyment. Shawn boasts accolades in numerous blues competitions like Enter the Blues and BluesSHOUT!. He’s been teaching blues since 2005 across the US and Europe, collaborating with notable dancers like Amanda Gruhl and Julie Brown.
PETER MACFARLANE
Peter has performed Scottish music for over three decades, discovering it through Scottish dancing which informs and infuses his playing. He played in many Scottish dance bands in southern England, learning from master musicians and performing in large parts of England, Wales and continental Europe. Since immigrating to Vermont in 2003, he has been teaching fiddle privately, and plays with Atlantic Crossing and Frost & Fire, and other combinations for Scottish and English country dancing. He co-founded and is musical director of the Champlain Valley Scottish Fiddle Club, and is the music director of the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra.
www.petermacfarlane.net
Hubby Jenkins is a talented multi-instrumentalist who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American music. Born and raised in Brooklyn he delved into his southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through America’s traditional music forms. As an integral member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and later Rhiannon Giddens band, Hubby has performed at festivals and venues around the world, earning himself both Grammy and Americana award nominations. Today he spreads his knowledge and love of old-time American music through his dynamic solo performances and engaging workshops.
www.hubbyjenkins.com
Constellation is Susan Kevra (clarinet and vocals), Rachel Bell (accordion)- and a star pianist; at the Flurry, that will be the amazing Jacqueline Schwab! With years of combined English dance experience, as musicians, dancers and dance leaders, the three of them also provide enchanting couple dance music with a mix of styles spanning the globe – fast French waltzes, sultry Argentinian tangoes, jaunty schottisches. They are also joining forces for a few bal folk sessions.
Erica Weiss has been sharing her love of dance, including Cajun and Zydeco as well as Contras, Squares and International for as long as she can remember. Known for her patience and enthusiasm, she has taught at camps, festivals, dance series, special events and more, up and down the East Coast and beyond.
https://www.ericaweiss.com/
Gene Murrow has been an English Country Dancer and musician since 1965 and has taught and called since 1988 at clubs, workshops, festivals and balls throughout the U.S. as well as Britain, Europe and Japan. As a dance musician he performs on recorders and concertina and has made four CD recordings.
Gene approaches English country dance as a medium in which dancers and musicians alike participate in the realization of works of art. His dance workshops strive to make their richness of structure, musical form, texture, and affect enjoyable and appreciated by dancers of all abilities.
Susan Kevra is a dance caller, musician and singer who now makes her home in Nashville, Tennessee, though she came of age as a caller during the 1990s in Western Massachusetts. In addition to contra, square and English Country dancing, Susan teaches French bal folk and leads French singing. She is fast becoming a new voice in English country dance choreography.
https://susankevra.com/
A multi-ethnic, multi-generational dance and music Company since 1972, touring internationally and throughout the US, collecting, performing and teaching global dance and music. Dedicated to helping create peace, appreciation and love of humanity and the Earth through dance and music. The Vanaver Caravan’s performance at the Flurry is made possible in part by funding from the New York State Council on the Arts Dance Program.
https://vanavercaravan.org/
The band interprets the songs of the great female blues artists of the ‘20s, 30s & 40s: Bessie Smith, Sippie Wallace, Memphis Minnie, Billie Holiday, Rosetta Tharpe, Blue Lu Barker, Ella Fitzgerald and others. Other styles include western swing, bluesy country, and roots Americana.
Peter and Mary Alice Amidon have been a mainstay of choral singing at major traditional music festivals, choral singing weekends and summer traditional music and dance camps for the last twenty-five years. The Amidons’ choral arrangements and compositions are being sung by choirs throughout the United States and the UK. The Amidons are nationally recognized leaders of traditional dance for children and communities.
Award-winning internationally renowned musical storytelling duo based in the Hudson Valley of NY.
Jeri Burns (storyteller/harp), Barry Marshall (storyteller/guitar/banjo/percussion), Zachary Marshall (singer)
http://www.storycrafters.com/
Jackie O’Riley spent her formative dance years in the Irish set dancing community in Boston, MA. Over the past two decades, she has ardently sought out old-style step, sean-nós, and set dancing and is now a respected performer and teacher, with a unique repertoire that includes older steps she’s collected from masters and field footage, and original material she’s composed. Jackie performs and teaches in the US, Canada, and Ireland, was an original member of the touring sean-nós dance show Atlantic Steps, and in 2018 performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin as part of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s production, “The Sound of Ireland”. She founded, directs, and teaches O’Riley Irish Dance, a unique, non-competitive dance program for kids and teens now in its 14th year, and most recently was a 2022 co-recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Choreography Fellowship. In 2019 she co-released a debut, first-of-its-kind “visual album,” From the Floor. Above all, she believes in prioritizing musicality in dancing, being a part of the wider musical and traditional community, and maintaining the joy that drew her to the tradition in the first place.
www.jackieoriley.com/
Since 1994 The Puppet People (Mark Carrigan and Michelle Smith-Carrigan) have performed in over 3000 shows and have delighted audiences young and old. They are known for incorporating many styles of puppetry into their performances, which makes each show distinctly different. The Carrigans have performed throughout the country, their travels taking them to countless schools, theaters, festivals, libraries, museums, community centers and churches. At Flurry they will be performing The Wizard of Oz, which features marionettes, shadow puppets, rod puppets, and more!
www.thepuppetpeople.org
Beloved songleader Brendan Taaffe has worked extensively with choirs throughout Europe and North America. A frequent teacher with Village Harmony and with the Natural Voice Network in Britain, he has also led masterclasses at the Royal Conservatory in Glasgow and at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Brendan’s original compositions (featured on four albums by The Bright Wings Chorus) are widely sung by choirs in North America, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In addition to his work as a teacher, Brendan has been an active student throughout his life, including two months of intensive study in Zimbabwe and recent work with choir leaders in Ghana. He looks forward to sharing the fruits of those studies at this Flurry.
www.brendantaaffe.com
DAVE LANGFORD and JACQUELINE SCHWAB
Jacqueline Schwab (Piano) and Dave Langford (Violin) are seasoned performers for English Country Dance (ECD) as well as other genres.
www.jacquelineschwab.com
DJ DARKSTAR aka EMILIO
DJ Darkstar has been a DJ for 20+ years and has DJed many different events across the country and the world! He is grounded in playing music that is diverse in sound and culture to help you find new ways to explore your dance. Dance is a conversation. Emiliano has a background in Lindy Hop, Blues, Hip-Hop, House, Tango, Zouk, and a host of movements from many other genres. He has been dancing since 2000 and continues to add new ideas and movements to his style. Emilio has taught weekly classes in Lancaster, PA, taught at national events such as the Fusion Exchange; Albany Lindy and Blues; Blues Recess, and workshops in many locations like Montreal; Seattle; Austin; and Philadelphia. He DJs at many events locally and nationally providing a groovy flavor of Blues, Lindy, and Fusion styles of music. He also organized an event called DJ Experiment which is an organization created to give DJs, musicians, and dancers a safe place to experiment and grow.
PAUL ROSENBERG
Caller/leader of traditional community dancing (contra, square, international folk) for all ages, especially for non-dancers.
https://homespun.biz
BETH ROBINSON
Beth Robinson is a cellist, cello teacher, and contra dance caller who discovered the Alexander Technique in 1997 when researching ways to deal with performance anxiety. In 2004 she received her certification from the Montreal Alexander Technique Teacher Training School, and has since taught lessons, classes and workshops on the Alexander Technique to a wide variety of people of all ages and abilities in a variety of venues.
MARCIE VAN CLEAVE
Marcie Van Cleave is the Executive Director of the Folk Arts Center of New England, an organization that promotes the participation in the traditional folk arts, particularly music and dance. Dovetailing with the desk job responsibilities, Marcie finds great joy in teaching international folk dancing, and calling English and American dances to any and all! She has a knack for making people laugh and forget that they don’t know what they’re doing!
POKINGBROOK MORRIS DANCERS
Performing traditional English dance seasonal dances since 1974, based in the Capital District of NY.
NICOLE BALL
Nicole Ball decided to become a musician and dancer after seeing clogging and flatfooting at a folk festival. She studied with director Megan Downes of City Stompers and now performs regularly with this high-energy NYC ensemble. While living in Brooklyn, Nicole became an integral part of the oldtime music community. Now living near Kingston, she teaches flatfooting and runs an old time song circle.
SUE KAUPELIS
Country Line dance instructor.
JASON PEW
Jason provides a fun and laid-back environment for his classes. He excels at making meaningful routines that are accessible to everyone. You can find Jason teaching at Heartspace in Troy, NY where he has taught his Sparkle Yoga class for over five years.
RHIANNA LEIGH
Rhianna is a local artist and yogi. She’s been attending the flurry since 1995 and is happy to share her love of yoga and movement with our spirited flurry family!
ALICE HELLER
Alice Heller is a Brown Belt Nia Instructor who has been teaching kids and adults for over 25 years. She has a varied dance background and brings in other healing arts like yoga and martial arts like Qi gong into her mindful movement practice. Her studio is in Williamsburg MA but she has zoom students from all over.
www.alicehellerdance.com
BETH MURRAY
Beth as an innovative dynamic pianist, known for rich chord progressions and melodic counter melodies and thrives on the comradery that comes with ensemble playing. Beth has taught piano for decades, and plays piano for American contra dancing, English country dancing, and regularly accompanies school choruses in Arlington, MA.
LORI FASSMAN
Lori Fassman moved to the Boston area from Connecticut in the late 1980s, armed with a math degree, and immediately became enchanted with the local folk music scene. She joined and later became a core volunteer for the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston (fssgb.org), helping to organize their concert series, singing parties and annual Fall Getaway Weekend. More recently she joined the Board of the New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA) and serves as their Treasurer and co-chair of the webmaster team. Lori has sung with numerous local performing groups including The Simones (named after her late cat), Acton Music Project, and Sisters in Song/SisterWolf, singing at weddings, private parties and local coffeehouses. Her repertoire includes traditional folk songs and covers of contemporary singer-songwriter material.