The LATTER DAY LIZARDS are a New England-based dance band that bring excellent musicianship, playfulness, and unrelentingly infectious rhythm to their performances. With Kate Barnes on piano, guitar and flute, Bill Tomczak on clarinet, sax and drum, Dave Langford on guitar and fiddle, and Mark Murphy on bass, they blend swing, rock-and-roll and jazz influences with traditional foot-stomping dance music to make an innovative, spontaneous and rhythmically inflammatory sound.
RIVER ROAD is a vibrant trio rooted in New England, blending the timeless spirit of traditional folk with a fresh, contemporary energy. Their music flows with the elegance of Sarah-Hadley Yakir's fiddle, the rich textures of Kristen Planeaux's piano, flute, and accordion and the anchoring of Jesse Ball's mandolin, guitar, and foot percussion. Whether drawing in dancers or enchanting listeners, River Road's music is a captivating journey, steeped in tradition.
Will Mentor
Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph weekends with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprises but always delivers, all the while keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about the dancers!”
Alex Deis-Lauby is based in New York City and has called at numerous festivals and dance camps/weekends around the Northeast and beyond. In recent years, she has begun exciting crowds in California with her strong repertoire and confident energy. As a choreographer and caller, she favors dances that are compelling and natural: "The coolest dance in the world isn't worth anything if it doesn't flow well enough for people to get the hang of it."
Sponsored by the Bay Area Country Dance Society