May-Jun 2024 Footnotes

by Kathy Story, PCDC Board President I sat down with Syd recently to find out how she became involved in the contra dance scene. When and where did you begin playing the violin?  I grew up in Santa Rosa, California, where all public schools had music programs and orchestras. Even my grammar school had an …

When: Saturday, June 29, 3:00-6:00Where: Fulton ParkWhat: Picnic with some food provided by PCDC, as well as our usual awesome potluck, jam session, English dance sampler, games, and clothing exchange. This is a great event where you can get to know your fellow dancers and musicians off the dance floor. Please join us!

By Sharon Gavin  It’s been said that “Music is the strongest form of magic.” And while that may sound like Shakespeare, it was actually said by Brian Hugh Warner, the person known professionally as rock musician Marilyn Manson. While this heavy-metal heavy-hitter may be one of the most controversial figures in music, the power of …

By Kathy Story, PCDC Board President The election of new Portland Country Dance Community board members will take place around June 1st. David Macemon (PCDC Board member at large) and Sara Munz (English Country Dance Committee rep) have reached their term limits and will be retiring from the board. Thanks to David and Sara for …

By Stewart Hall As many of you know, PCDC has started a new series called “The Woodshed.” The Woodshed series encourages new callers and musicians to practice their skills and provides a place for new composers and choreographers to present and test their creations. The Woodshed had its inaugural meeting at the end of February, …

In this issue… From the Editor This month, we continue our web-based format. We are still in the development stages, but as a refresher, here are a few usage tips: More navigational aids (buttons for Print, Prev Article, and Next Article, for example) are in development. Please excuse our dust, and feel free to send …

By Bryce Holt, Contra Committee Member, and Lori Shaffer, PCDC Newsletter Editor Hello contra community! In our continued goal of looping more people into an activity we love, let’s look at some ways we can increase feelings of inclusion and encourage the rapid learning of contra dance skills. Most, if not all, of these observations …

By Adrian Mickel, Contra Committee member   In the rhythm of love and joy, we extend our appreciation to all who made the Portland Megaband dance a victorious return to PSU! Thank you to the many volunteers who ensured that the night ran smoothly, greeting and directing dancers with warm smiles and keeping us hydrated at …

By Kathy Story, PCDC Board President I am excited to report that the PCDC board has approved a Code of Conduct and a statement of Community Standards. These guiding documents continue the important work accomplished by the previous board, who created a Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals statement for our organization and substantially revised the …