Promoting traditional English and American music and dance

South Bay Woodshed

2nd or 3d Wednesdays in Los Altos ending Aug 2025
4th Tuesdays in Sunnyvale starting September 2025

The woodshed series lets callers (or would-be callers) and musicians (or would-be musicians) try out new (or new-to-them) material. Callers present dances - typically English or contra - and ask the dancers for feedback on particular or general points. When not calling, they also dance. In addition to some experienced dance musicians, the band is open (best for players who can sight-read or learn by ear quickly and play up to dance tempo). BACDS donates the rental expense because this serves a valuable function, so everybody gets in free. This is a working session, and dance geeks enjoy it very much. There's a high proportion of discussion and experimenting to try things different ways. This is a great opportunity to see works-in-progress and influence old and new dance (re)creations.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, August 20

Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena, Los Altos.

Caller: Maybe you?

This is the last Woodshed dance at Los Altos. Starting in September, we will move to Sunnyvale and fourth Tuesdays.

7:30pm–9:30pm

Tuesday, September 23

Sunnyvale Community Center Dance Studio, 550 E. Remington Drive - in the Theatre Building, Sunnyvale.

Caller: Maybe you?

Now on fourth Tuesdays in the Dance Studio at Sunnyvale Community Center: Experiment with new material and material that's new to us to improve choreography and calling. Sunnyvale prohibits street shoes and doesn't allow food in the hall.

7:30pm–9:30pm

Tuesday, October 28

Sunnyvale Community Center Dance Studio, 550 E. Remington Drive - in the Theatre Building, Sunnyvale.

Caller: Maybe you?

Now on fourth Tuesdays in the Dance Studio at Sunnyvale Community Center. We experiment with material that's new, or new to us, to improve choreography and calling. Sunnyvale prohibits street shoes and food in the hall.

7:30pm–9:30pm

Tuesday, November 25

Sunnyvale Community Center Dance Studio, 550 E. Remington Drive - in the Theatre Building, Sunnyvale.

Caller: Maybe you?

Now on fourth Tuesdays at the Dance Studio in Sunnyvale Community Center. We experiment with new and new-to-us material to improve choreography and calling. Sunnyvale prohibits street shoes and doesn't allow food in the hall.

7:30pm–9:30pm

Tuesday, December 23

Sunnyvale Community Center Dance Studio, 550 E. Remington Drive - in the Theatre Building, Sunnyvale.

Caller: Maybe you?

Now on fourth Tuesdays at the Dance Studio in Sunnyvale Community Center. We experiment with new and new-to-us material to improve choreography and calling. Sunnyvale prohibits street shoes and doesn't allow food in the hall.

7:30pm–9:30pm