Tiny dancers have big fun at contra dance

CORNWALL — On the first Saturday evening of each month, a crowd — sometimes large, sometimes small — gathers at Town Hall. No matter who or how many show up, they manage to have a grand time contra dancing. This past Saturday, the crowd was large, but the people were small, on average. It was the first Little Kids/Big Kids dance. Caller Tom Hanford, from Goshen, led about 75 children and parents in dances and dance games. It was followed by a potluck supper and the regular Family Contra Dance.The dances are organized by Motherhouse Inc., a nonprofit described by founder Debra Tyler as “a way to help individuals make connections with their deeper selves, their families, communities and Mother Nature.”Contra dancing is an old-fashioned type of folk dance, performed with partners arranged in lines. It is believed to be the origins of the more complex square dancing.Tyler said that the best part is that anyone can contra dance. “At almost any dance, we have a mix of beginners and experienced dancers who sweep them along,” Tyler said. “We are fortunate to have people who love to share their love of dancing.”The mainstay of the dances is Still the Homegrown Band. It features Tyler on Keyboard, Rachel Gall and Jane Prentice on fiddle, Michael Prentice on bass, Jim Prentice on concertina and Kathy Lyon on guitar.Tyler’s daughter, Margaret Hopkins, fills in on piano or guitar as needed. Music students occasionally jump in, such as Saturday, when Gall’s fiddle student Gloria Tatsapaugh joined the band.The kids’ dance was Gall’s idea. It attracted little dancers from the age of 1 to about 8, including her 3-year-old daughter, Darwin. It was such a hit plans are being made for future dances.Coming up is a an assortment of Motherhouse events.The third annual Family Cow Forum is Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. at the UCC Parish House. This is a spinoff from the hands-on workshop that teaches families how to keep a cow. It offers a panel of cow-keepers who will share their experiences and offer demonstrations, including cheesemaking. They will bring samples of the hay they use for feed for comparison. Tyler said it’s a good chance for people to improve their skills or for families to decide if keeping a cow is right for them. Admission is free.Serious Dough, a bread-baking workshop, will be held Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. in the Geer Village country kitchen. Nancy Berry will sponsor the workshop (led by Tyler) in memory of her mother, Nancy Griggs. It will include handgrinding of grains for making artisanal bread. There is no charge. All are welcome. For more information call Scott Zbell at 860-824-2637.Visit www.motherhouse.us for more information.

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