Meet our Festival Planning Committee! Each year, a volunteer committee of roughly 30 individuals works with Festival Managers to produce a welcoming event of traditional dance, music, instruction and entertainment for all ages.
Some positions involve organizing and supervising a volunteer crew before or during the festival, and others involve solo work to be completed before and/or during the festival weekend. The committee meets monthly from September to April (sometimes hybrid, sometimes only on zoom), and Planning Committee members receive free admission to the festival and lodging on site.
There are no current vacancies on the Planning Committee, but we welcome interest as positions do periodically open up. If you’re interested in learning more about committee work or joining in a future year, please contact flurryfestad@flurryfestival.org.
The 2024 Festival Planning Committee
Festival Staff:
Jonathan Greene, Program Curator
(5 years on the committee)
I hire presenters, put together the festival schedule as well as co-coordinate housing for all out-of-town performers and sound personnel.
programcurator@flurryfestival.org
Kathleen Crayne, Marketing Manager
(1st year on the committee)
My mission is to promote this beloved and longstanding festival by welcoming back annual attendees and introducing our diverse programming to new dancers and friends. I manage our social media campaigns, oversee Flurry Festival sponsorships, and coordinate with Street Teams to build relationships with other dance communities.
marketing@flurryfestival.org
Adam Goodman, Technical Manager
(around 13 years on the committee)
I hire sound pros and coordinate with the Program Curator to secure the needed venues. I coordinate and help with setup, and help troubleshoot issues during the festival.
flurryfesttd@flurryfestival.org
Noel Kropf, Acting Finance Manager
(2 years on the committee)
I lead the Finance Team AKA Cash Crew which handles seed cash, income and payments during the Festival, and bank deposits, accounting reconciliation, refunds and reimbursements afterwards. I help program the Zettle system for accepting credit cards and digital payments. I help develop the Festival budget.
Finance@flurryfestival.org
Shira Love, Administrative Manager
(2nd year on the committee)
I manage the administrative aspects of running the festival, including coordination with venues, food vendors, insurance, and staff housing. I oversee the Planning Committee and coordinate meetings and communications among the managers and committee members. I also maintain the festival website and send informational emails to our mailing list.
flurryfestad@flurryfestival.org
Sue Mead, Administrative Assistant, Festival Information
(23 years on the committee)
As Festival Information, I answer phone/email questions throughout the year, from attendees and general public regarding a variety of things related to attending the Flurry. Aid committee staff and Managers where needed (help with database, schedule, performer applications, website, etc), and work closely with the Program Curator.
info@flurryfestival.org
Volunteer Planning Committee Members:
Advance Tickets
Jared Whalen, Advance Tickets
(4 years on the committee)
I coordinate and process advance ticket sales and wristband pickup at the festival, and am an all around transaction problem solver and festival greeter.
advancetickets@flurryfestival.org
Database Maintenance
Jim Mead, Online Database Manager
(20+ years on the committee)
I designed, programmed, and maintain the Flurry database and its related web site.
Festival & Performer Sales
Janet Palmer, Co-Chair Festival/Performer Sales
(26 year on the committee)
I oversee all facets of Festival Sales for the sale of performer and festival merchandise and pitch in where needed.
janet@flurryfestival.org
Mo Hart, Festival Sales Co-Chair
(9 years on the committee)
I manage the volunteers running the Festival Sales booth including programming the cash registers, training the clerks and sales assistants prior to festival, overseeing operations of the booth during the festival and addressing any problems that arise.
Ann Pearce, Fest. Sales Register/Inventory
Nancy Jenks, Sales Table Set-Up/Tear-Down
(7 years on the committee)
I set up the sales table, inventory Flurry merchandise for sale, and display all merchandise for sale. I put it away at night, bring it out in the morning, and inventory and pack it up for storage at the end.
Alice Smolinsky, Festival Sales Scheduler
(10 years on the committee)
I’m the point of contact for the volunteers and create the volunteer schedule.
Flooring
Tristen Wood, Crew Chief
Info Table & Snowflakes
Ceci Hayes, Info Table/Volunteer Check-In and Snowflake Scheduler
(7 years on the committee)
I organize the Info Table binders (Info, Volunteer Schedules, Snowflake Schedule), and update the list of “Where to eat within 5 block walk of the Flurry.”
Instrument Check
Emily O’Donnell, Crew Chief
(6 years on the committee)
Instrument Check is a coat check for instruments! Both Flurry performers and Flurry attendees alike can safely stash their instruments with us, so they can go forth to dance and enjoy the Flurry without worrying about their sweet baby instrument/s.
InstrumentCheck@flurryfestival.org
On-Site Tickets
Rich Futyma, On-Site Ticket Sales Co-Chair
(about 33 years on the committee)
Before the festival, I estimate the number of the wristband tickets needed and the colors to be used for the various sessions, and place an order for them. Along with my co-chair, Julia Pitkin-Shantz, I recruit volunteers for the on-site sales team, and create a schedule for them. We also share responsibility for instructing and supervising the team during the festival.
onsitetickets@flurryfestival.org
Julia Pitkin-Shantz, On-Site Ticket Sales Co-Chair
Performer Check-In
Christine Texiera, Crew Chief
(Second year on the committee)
I run lead for the performer check-in table.
Performer Hospitality
Annie Haller
(about 20 years on the committee)
I arrange for the housing of traveling performers and sound professionals in lodging donated by the industry and in the homes of local residents; coordinate with Discover Saratoga in soliciting lodging donations annually; seek out local hosts for homestays; arrange for our lodging partners to have their hotel information posted on the Flurry website; and communicate with lodging sponsors/hosts and performers/sound pros regarding the lodging arrangements pertaining to them.
Program Ads
Deb Meehan, Program Book/Sheet Ads
(5 years on the committee)
I solicit businesses, nonprofits and performers to purchase ad space in the program book. Collect the ads for the program designer.
ads@flurryfestival.org
John Nathan, Program Ads Sales
Quilts
Laura Perrault, Festival Quilts
(co-quilting by Karyn Dornemann)
Raffle Tickets
Jennifer Werfelman, Raffle Ticket Sales
(10 years on the committee)
I organize the volunteers who sell raffle tickets for the wonderful quilts and the coveted Hilton Room and Festival Passes.
Runners
Chris Parker, Crew Chief
Setup/Cleanup
Craig Palmer, SetUp/CleanUp Co-Chair
(decades on the committee)
The role of the SetUp CleanUp Coordinator involves actively dovetailing one’s “people and social” skills with an engineer’s awareness and “hands-on” skills in making things work. Then, with positive, focused coordination, I work with the service providers, site managers and staff, volunteers and Festival Staff to facilitate the timely assembly/placement of equipment and materials vital to the creation of a successful, world-class, Flurry Festival.
Jonathan Greene, SetUp/CleanUp Co-Chair
I work with Craig on everything set-up/clean-up for the festival.
Signs
Shanya Bentley, Crew Chief
Site Services
Tristen Wood, Site Services Co-Chair
Alice Smolinsky, Site Services Co-Chair
I update materials annually, manage volunteers and create their schedule, and coordinate any other pre-festival needs.
Sponsorships
John Nathan, Sponsor Outreach
Vendors
Sue Lecuyer, Craft Vendor Coordinator
(first year on committee)
I will be inviting and organizing craft vendors who will appeal to the Flurry community.
vendor@flurryfestival.org
Sue Mead, Training and Support
Volunteer Check-In / Nametags
Annie Haller, Crew Chief
Volunteers/Lost & Found
Harvey Raufman, Volunteer Coordinator, Lost & Found Crew Chief
(DFO/Festival organizer from the start)
I oversee the volunteer structure and coordinate volunteer assignments with crew chiefs. I also run the Lost & Found crew.
volunteer@flurryfestival.org
lostFound@flurryfestival.org
Workshop Rooms
Jason Grodsky, Co-Chair
Cindy Grodsky, Co-Chair
Youth Development
Beverly Lazar-Davis, Youth Outreach
Festival Support:
Paul Rosenberg, Founder
Peter Davis, Past Curator
Josh Snitkoff, Past Technical Manager
