Regularly-Scheduled English Dance Series

BACDS operates five regularly-scheduled English country dance series on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. If you live in the greater San Francisco bay area, one of our regular English dances is close to you.

Peninsula (Palo Alto) / Berkeley Wednesday / Palo Alto / San Francisco / Berkeley Experienced / San Jose Community Dance

The first regular English country dance series in the San Francisco area probably started on October 18, 1970, when Chuck Ward arranged for the use of a dance studio in exchange for providing music at Scottish country dance lessons. Attendees during that first night found Chuck playing and calling, and were greeted by dance manager Norah Hughes. Little did they know that that evening would be the beginning of over thirty years of local tradition.

Peninsula (Palo Alto) English Dance (1st/3rd/5th Tuesdays)

Pianist Kay Thorne and callers Bruce Hamilton and Bob Fraley started this dance series in the late 1970s. During the early years, Bob and Bruce were the programmers and primary teachers. Musicians included Kay, Liz Dreisbach, Greg & Jere Canote, Gary Breitbard, Stan and Susan Kramer, and Vaughan Wolff. Bob writes "In the early years we did a mix of English Playford, English Community Dance Manuals dances, Southern Squares and Big Set, and an occasional contra. As the Playford Balls got more people interested in that dance form, and as the Old Timey musicians headed north, we settled in on just the English dance."

Jody McGeen, whose background in Baroque dance and music inform her lively instruction style, became programmer not long after her arrival in California in 1985. This dance became a BACDS dance in September 1992.

After many years at San Jose's First Christian Church, sometimes happening informally at Joyce and Dave Uggla's house, and five years or so at Flex-It Aerobics Studio in Mountain View. Jody continued to program the dances, with Alan Winston, Lise Dyckman, and Sharon Green calling frequently and occasional guest callers like Mary Luckhardt, David Newitt, and Bruce Hamilton, until fall 2007 when she left the area. Alan Winston filled in as interim programmer until mid-2008, when Bruce Hamilton became available; he was appointed programmer in May 2008.

The dance continued to move north when in September 2010 it moved to All Saints Episcopal in Palo Alto (as Flex-It was to be demolished). At the same the regular dancers agreed to switch to Tuesday nights. Bruce Hamilton is the house caller often joined by Ric Goldman, with occasional guest callers. Stan Kramer and Bill Jensen are the regular musicians, accompanied by a different guest each time.

Berkeley Wednesday English Dance (2nd/4th Wednesdays)

One of the oldest dances in the BACDS roster, this dance started at St. Clement's Church in Berkeley in 1974. During the years, this dance had made its home at Berkeley's John Muir School, Oakland's Glenview School, and Berkeley's St. Joseph's School before relocating to its current home at Berkeley's Grace North Church (now Christchurch Berkeley) in 1995.

Beginners that arrive early can get a quick lesson, usually from longtime dance manager Mary Luckhardt; even without a lesson, everyone is encouraged to take a partner and join in. Unlike the Peninsula and Palo Alto English dances, this dance doesn't feature a house caller or band. Instead, dance programmer Debra Tayleur(whose predecessors include Alisa Dodson, David Newitt, and Charlie Hancock) draws from a number of local and regional dance leaders, with folks like Alan Winston, Bruce Hamilton, David Newitt, Mary Luckhardt, Ric Goldman, Sharon Green, and North Bay favorite Kalia Kliban making regular appearances. The fine bands that Debra selects regularly feature such local notables as Shira Kammen, Danny Carnahan, Jon Berger, Charlie Hancock, Noel Cragg, Craig Johnson, and Judy Linsenberg. On occasion, Debra has been known to take a seat behind the piano. This dance is also the only local English dance to feature a regular Open Band evening.

Palo Alto English Dance (1st/3rd/5th Fridays)

Started in 1982 by two women whose names have been lost, this dance was originally a monthly event with no primary leader. After a year or so, Bob Fraley was asked to be the regular programmer; not long after that, the dance became a semi-monthly event, featuring many well-known musicians including local favorites Stan and Susan Kramer. This dance has been located at the Palo Alto Masonic Temple for many years.

Today, Jody Distler-Dill handles the programming responsibilities for this dance. Bob Fraley continues as the house caller and the Nonesuch Country Dance Band (founded by Stan & Susan Kramer in 1985) as the house band. Bob runs a very novice-friendly dance, and aims towards an evening with a high ratio of dancing to teaching.

San Francisco English Dance (2nd Saturdays)

This dance, which made its first home at the Children's Day School across from Mission Dolores, was founded by Alisa Dodson, Anise Feldman, and Craig Johnson in 1993. From 1996 to mid-2008, it called Bethany United Methodist Church in San Francisco home, with Craig continuing as programmer. In July of 2008 the dance found its current home at Danceground Keriak (1805 Divisadero at Post), still under Craig's stewardship.

Like the Berkeley English series, the San Francisco English dance draws from the exceptional pool of talented callers and musicians that the bay area is blessed with.

As of July 2008, the series occurs on second Saturday evenings from 7:00-10:00 pm

Berkeley Experienced English Dance (4th Saturdays)

Bruce Hamilton started this dance in 1988 as a regular English dance based at Oakland's Glenview School, with Jenny Beer joining as co-teacher in early 1989. David Newitt became the dance's programmer in late 1989, succeeded by Alisa Jensen (now Dodson) who held the post until 1998. Mary Luckhardt became programmer, followed by Lise Dyckman. Current programmer Sharon Green programs this series with an emphasis on extraordinary music. This dance has made its home at Christchurch Berkeley (previously) Grace North Church since the mid 1990s.

Unlike the other regular English dances that BACDS operates, this dance assumes that dancers are already familiar with the basic vocabulary of English country dance figure. This implies that dancers will have a more enjoyable time at this dance if they have attended a couple of regular English country dances beforehand. (However, the "holiday" dances - November and December - are typically open to all.)

Special thanks to Bruce Hamilton, Bob Fraley, Alan Winston, Nick Cuccia, and Ric Goldman for providing the historical information above, and to Vanessa Schnatmeier for collecting the initial information.