Taghhannuck Grange will experience the flowing swirl of skirts and the keeping of the beat as they sponsor a Contra Dance on Saturday, October 8th, 8:00 PM, at the Grange Hall in the Ellsworth section of Sharon, Connecticut.

Dancers of all ages are welcome to fill the floor with square, contra dancing and waltzes to the music of "Still, the Home Grown Band" from Cornwall.  The band consists of local musicians including Taghhannuck Grange member Debra Tyler (piano), Jane Prentice (fiddle), Kathy Lyon (guitar), Rachael Gall (fiddle), Mike Prentice (bass), Shaila Chowdhury (drums), and Jim Prentice (concertina).  The caller for the evening will be David Kaynor, who is a member of Guiding Star Grange in Massachusetts. Taghhannuck Grange is sponsoring the dance to raise interest in the organization and their numerous community service efforts.  A suggested donation is $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids.  

Contra Dance originally became popular at the end of the 17th century.  The style of dance is derived from the “country dances” that were held in England and France.  Several family-friendly partnered folk dance styles are combined in which couples dance in two facing lines led by a caller.  Contra Dance is similar to Square Dancing, and can also be described as New England Folk Dance. The Contra Dance tradition in North America is to change partners for every dance, while in the United Kingdom typically people dance with the same partner the entire evening. 

For more information on the Contra Dance event, call Chris 860-672-0261 or Margaret 860-672-0229.  Taghhannuck Grange Hall is located on Dunbar Road, just off Route 4 between Sharon & Cornwall Bridge, behind Ellsworth Hill Farm.  

For more information on Taghhannuck Grange, and their upcoming events and projects, please visit their page on the Connecticut State Grange website at http://www.ctstategrange.org.