Merrie Pryanksters's topics - tribe.net

Gold Rush Days Dance

2008-08-18T22:43:07Z

Dear Merrie Pryanksters:

The Sacramento Ballroom Society will be part of the Gold Rush Days festival in Old Sacramento on Labor Day weekend and we are inviting guest organizations and dancers to be part of the event. Two hundred tons of dirt cover the streets of Old Sacramento and a historical recreation of the 1849 tent city rises as all twenty-eight acres of Old Town is transformed into its former wild west glory. There is a multicultural village, dozens of historical organizations and merchants with additional booths fund raising for the local museums. This free event is one of the largest events the City of Sacramento produces with around 120,000 people who come to view the Civil War cavalry and artillery, stage coaches, bands, gun fights, steam train rides and various activities for both entertainment and education. This 28 acre urban state park is largest intact example of a mid-19th century town in the United States and is surrounded by large and notable museums as well. This year we will set up our portable wood parquet dance floor and present an old fashioned town dance along with lessons, public interactive dances and performances done in period clothing and characters.

We are all entirely volunteer based for this activity and we hope to provide a fun and insightful view into early ballroom forms of the 19th century and folk dancing for the public to enjoy. This is also an excellent opportunity to promote not only our club and instructors but similar organizations related to these pursuits to support the dance community in Sacramento. We are proud affiliates of the California Folk Dance Federation and the National Fast Dance Association, but also support several other folk dance groups in our community. Some people simply enjoy portraying a historical character and interacting with other group's (some gigs need to be scheduled) while getting a rare chance to dance on an open air dance floor in the center of Old Sacramento. If the Merrie Pryanksters would like to perform in period day wear costume circa 1850s (even jeans and western shirts will do in a pinch if necessary for our guest performers) or national costume, this would be a great time for everyone.

Your society is welcome to put fliers and business cards on our table, and otherwise promote yourselves without charge as part of the performing groups or as individual guest dancers at our stage. We also hope to use the time to allow people to sample vintage and folk dance resources in Sacramento. A performance show would typically run 15-30 minutes. Other groups are then rotated in for performances with general dancing open to the public that last for hour long intervals in between. If any of your dancers would like to be dance hosts to the public patrons this would be much appreciated. Groups that have daily performances are given first priority of scheduling along with the preferences of bands. It could be arranged to have a recording of your group's preferred music played or you could bring your own musicians for your performance. No one group of dancers is expected to dance for prolonged periods enabling everyone to enjoy the event at their leisure. You may bring recorded music or give us notification of what dance you would like played by one of the local bands at the stage and we will see if they will be able to play an additional schedule section. You can of course simply arrive for the general dancing.

This is directed to the Davis Pryanksters geographically, but all are welcome. Amtrak runs through Old Sacramento and stops two blocks outside of it. It is linked with Bay Area city transit systems. The round trip ticket cost should be a little less than gas and bridge tolls for a solo driver.

Please let me know if your organization or any of its members are interested as soon as possible. It would be a great treat and honor to have your organization dance with us. For more information about us, please visit our website at http://www.sacballroomsociety.org . For information regarding the Gold Rush Days event, please visit
http://www.discovergold.org/initiatives/goldrush/ .

Regards,

Leilani Howard
Sacramento Ballroom Society
www.sacballroomsociety.org

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

Hello from a Dinosaur

2008-07-08T16:25:10Z

Hello Pryanksters! My name is Morgan and I founded this dance troup with Patti Blanco way back in1979, and I am so glad to see it still going.I wanted to take this opportunity to say hello, and see if there are any old dinos still upadoubling amongst you.

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 8 replies

BAERS Great Regency Shipwreck Ball - June 21, 2008, Kensington, CA

2008-06-10T02:07:07Z

The Bay Area English Regency Dance Society (www.baers.org) Presents:
The Great Regency Shipwreck Ball (or "Regency Survivor")

We can't get off this island, so we might as well entertain ourselves!
Caller Alan Winston (who led the Pride and Prejudice Ball this March) with
The Divertimento Dance Orchestra (who'll play at the Emerald City Ball in July)
Saturday June 21, 2008 8:00-11:30pm
Arlington Church (52 Arlington Ave, Kensington, CA)

The Divertimento Orchestra will provide jolly music. The marooned elite, in
any remaining finery, are invited to dance arm-in-arm with the ships'
captain and crew. Meet up at 8PM sharp aboard the ruins for dance, drink
and good company!

Come as you are, whether Passenger, Pirate, Native, Merfolk or member of Her
Majesty's Royal Navy. If your wardrobe was relocated to Davy Jones' Locker
during the fateful storm, fashion yourself new togs from local flora (grass
skirts are all the rage among the natives!).

We've made peace with the island inhabitants and the merfolk in the bay, so
we will feast with them on seafood, fresh fruits, springwater and provisions
salvaged from the hold. The contribution of exotic new delicacies from
forays inland are welcome - as long as *you* have already tried them first.

Subscriptions are $20 at the door, $15 in advance.
$2 discount for GBACG, and BACDS members.
Advance mail registrations must be received by us no later than June 18th.
Costumes admired but not required. All dances taught during the ball. No
partner required.

Make out checks to "BAERS", and send them to
BAERS c/o Vanessa Schnatmeier 1122 Hudson Street Redwood City, CA 94061

Name(s): __________________________________________________________
Street Address: ________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP: ______________________________________________
Phone: (____________) ____________ - ________________

Email: ______________________________________________

Mark if new address for mailing list: __ Number of admissions desired ______

See the flyer: http://flickr.com/photos/dancingisland/2490962848/sizes/l/

Preview the dances at the June 13 dance party in Palo Alto: http://www.baers.org/fridays.html

What is the English Regency? See http://www.baers.org

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

Barn dance (waltz/polka set-dance) in Oakland 5/30, 7:00 pm - beginner-friendly

2008-05-30T04:24:53Z

Looking for a bit of cheerful dancing this Friday night? Come over to the
barn dance in Oakland.

Community dance (also called "barn dance" or "ceilidh") is a dance style
from Great Britain that lets you dance not just with your partner of the
moment but with a room of happy people. Erik Hoffman and Alan Winston will
lead the dancing, with live music by Across The Pond (Dick Bagwell, Alan
Loughead, and Jody and Colette Veahman), a band steeped in the hearty
rhythm of English traditional music.

Comfortable waltzes and easy group dances (typically easier than Pryankster's
repertoire). Beginners welcome, all dances taught and called, casual dress --
wear comfortable shoes. You don't need to bring a partner. Dancing accessible for
children 8 years old and over.

Bring - or send - your previously non-dancing friends!

Admission $10, $5 for students/low-income/kids.
Family and group discounts available.

When: Friday, May 30th, 7 p.m.
What: Community Dance Party
Who: Erik Hoffman and Alan Winston calling, music by Across The Pond
(Dick Bagwell, Alan Loughead, Jody and Colette Veahman, Alan Loughead)
Where: Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94609
Info: Vanessa Schnatmeier - 650-365-2913, http://www.bacds.org/series/ceilidh/oakland/

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

Barn dance (waltz, easy country dances) with musicians from Bangers & Mash: Oakland, 10/26, Humanist Hall

2007-10-25T23:38:58Z

Get revved up for the weekend at the barn dance in Oakland!

Community dance (also called "barn dance" or "ceilidh") is a dance style
from Great Britain that lets you dance not just with your partner of the
moment but with a room of happy people. Alan Winston will lead
the dancing, with live music by Stan & Susan Kramer (the flute and fiddle from
Bangers and Mash, the band you know from Fezziwig's and PEERS dances.)

Comfortable waltzes and easy group dances. Beginners welcome, all dances
taught and called, casual dress -- wear comfortable shoes. You don't need
to bring a partner. Dancing accessible for children 8 years old and over.

Admission $10, $5 for students/low-income/kids.
Family and group discounts available.

When: Friday, October 26th, 8 p.m.
What: Community Dance Party
Who: Alan Winston calling, music by Stan & Susan Kramer
Where: Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94
Info: 650-365-2913, www.liveavatar.com/ceilidh

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

Friday 9/28 (and again 10/26): Barn dance in Oakland - Waltz/schottische/polka/easy set dance

2007-09-28T20:09:57Z

lay for an evening of community dancing.

(Alan is the house caller for the Bay Area English Regency Society,
and a frequent caller of modern-dress English Country and contra dance. You may
know him from his teaching for the PEERS Pyrates/Privateers, Three Musketeers,
or Vampire Balls, or his sessions at the Free Folk Festival. He says
"this stuff is waaaay easy, but you'll still end up sweaty.)

The dances will be the same kind of set dance that you get at Fezziwig's/PEERS/Gaskell
(and we may do Strip the Willow or Roger de Coverly, but also other easy dances
you probably haven't seen, like Nottingham Swing or Demon's Rant.)

No brainbenders, and these dances will typically run fairly short - you're not
stuck with your set or your partner for fifteen minutes.

There'll be some polkas and waltzes and schottisches interspersed, but it's
not like Gaskell with one set dance to 8 couple dances; there's lots of set
dances. Many of the dances are Victorian in origin but this is a modern day event -
wear comfortable clothes and danceable shoes.

See the flyer: www.liveavatar.com/ceilidh

Friday, September 28th, at Humanist Hall in Oakland, 8:00 pm.
(Keep reading for details)

Community dance (also called "barn dance" or "ceilidh") is a dance style
from Great Britain that lets you dance not just with your partner of the
moment but with an entire room of happy people. Alan Winston will lead
the dancing, with live music from the Berkeley band Across The Pond.
Comfortable waltzes and easy group dances. Beginners welcome, all dances
taught and called, casual dress -- wear comfortable shoes. You don't need
to bring a partner. Dancing accessible for children 8 years old and over.
Admission $10, $5 for students/low-income/kids. Family and group discounts
available.

When: September 28, 8 p.m. (and again October 26)
What: Community Dance Party
Who: Alan Winston, with live music by Debra Tayleur and friends
Where: Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94
Info: 650-365-2913, www.liveavatar.com/ceilidh
po

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

English Ceilidh / Barn Dance (vigorous, easy set dances, trad live English music, waltzes, polkas) in Oakland 6/22

2007-06-29T04:10:36Z

Come on Friday June 22nd to Humanist Hall in Oakland for a modern-dress
evening of easy dances and friendly fun. Not Playford dances, but English
countryside dances.

(A Pryankster asked me to post this event on the MP tribe, since she attended a previous
one and thought you folks would enjoy it.l I apologize if I'm out of line in joining the tribe
to post - I'm not a team member.)

Alan Winston will call and Across the Pond (Dick Bagwell, Alan Lochhead,
Jody and Colette Veahman) will play for an evening of community dancing.

(Alan is the house caller for the Bay Area English Regency Society,
and a frequent caller of modern-dress English Country and contra dance. You
might know his calling from the Free Folk Festival, PEERS, or other venues.
He spent 20 years as a member of Deer Creek Morris, and currently dances
on Bufflehead Northwest Morris. He says "this stuff is waaaay easy, but you'll still
end up sweaty.)

The dances will be the same kind of set dance that you get at Gaskell (and
we may do Strip the Willow or Roger de Coverly, but also other easy dances
you probably haven't seen, like Nottingham Swing or Demon's Rant.)

No brainbenders, and these dances will typically run fairly short - you're not
stuck with your set or your partner for fifteen minutes.

There'll be some polkas and waltzes and schottisches interspersed, but it's
not like Gaskell with one set dance to 8 couple dances; there's lots of set
dances. Many of the dances are Victorian in origin but this is a modern day event -
wear comfortable clothes and danceable shoes.

See the flyer: www.liveavatar.com/ceilidh

The band is Across The Pond. They're deeply interested in the English
folk tradition, and will be playing tunes from the English countryside -
polkas, reels, waltzes, and a few jigs. Very different from the classical style
tunes that the Regency group plays. Members of Across The Pond play for
Deer Creek Morris and Bufflehead Morris. They'll give punchy, driving tunes
that get your heart rate up.

Next Friday, June 22d, at Humanist Hall in Oakland, 8:00 pm.
(Keep reading for details)

Community dance (also called "barn dance" or "ceilidh") is a dance style
from Great Britain that lets you dance not just with your partner of the
moment but with an entire room of happy people. Alan Winston will lead
the dancing, with live music from the Berkeley band Across The Pond.
Comfortable waltzes and easy group dances. Beginners welcome, all dances
taught and called, casual dress -- wear comfortable shoes. You don't need
to bring a partner. Dancing accessible for children 8 years old and over.
Admission $10, $5 for students/low-income/kids. Family and group discounts
available.

When: Friday, June 22d, 8 p.m.
What: Community Dance Party
Who: Alan Winston, performing with the band Across the Pond
Where: Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94
Info: 650-365-2913, www.liveavatar.com/ceilidh

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 3 replies

Hello beautiful people.

2006-10-25T21:13:57Z

Hi there. I was at Folsom this last weekend and I was pointed in this direction by a trio of lovely ladies. I've sent off my request to join your Yahoo Group, as that seems to be the real focus of your group, but I figured I'd interoduse myself here in the meantime.

I'm Valliant, one of the Criers, and I'm just getting into the Faire scene, with this last season at Northern being my first faire experience. I'm a friend of Bob and Maggie, and it just seems like you all have so much fun with your dancing that when it was suggested that I check out your online presence I just had to come and take a look.

Cheers,
Valliant

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 4 replies

How does one achieve a Pryankster's multi-dance talent?

2006-09-13T02:16:48Z

Hello all,

I'd like to learn more about the Merrie Pryanksters. It seems no matter what the type of faire, I run into Pryanksters or I have friends who are friends with Pryanksters. At all sorts of dances I see Pryanksters. At events all over from the Delta to the Bay, I seem to find them. When the Sacramento Ballroom Society held its first vintage dance, we had an entire contingent of Pryanksters attend. I did not realize there was such a large group around the capitol here. Of late I've been told there's actually two geographic divisions of Pryanksters, one in Berkeley and one in Davis, right?

The Merrie Pryanksters seem to have a wide range of dancing talent and are able to readily adapt to dance just about anything they feel like. What exactly sorts of dances do Pryanksters perform specifically as well, Pryanksters and where does one learn them?

Kind Regards,
Leilani

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 5 replies

Sacramento Ballroom Society

2006-08-22T07:50:07Z

You are invited to join the Sacramento Ballroom Society, a brand new not-for-profit organization in Sacramento featuring modern and vintage dances and lessons by some of the finest instructors and DJs. Our dance hall has a 3,600 square foot wood floor, plenty of table seating, and a state of the art sound system.

Location:

Ultimate DanceSport
9181c Kiefer Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95826
10 minutes from Sac State University right off Highway 50 & Watt exit.

Parking: Large free parking lot in front.

Dates: 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month are for modern ballroom, latin and swing. The 3rd Sunday of the month is devoted to vintage ballroom.

Admission: $5 for members, $8 for guests. 1 hour lesson by champion instructors $2. Membership for the remainder of 2006 is just $5.

Website: www.sacballroomsociety.org
Contact: info@sacballroomsociety.org

Next dance: August 27th, modern ballroom Lesson: Beginning waltz DJ: Charles Bridges

Featured Special Events: September 10th Exhibition Show, see top competitors perform their very best dances in formal ballroom exhibitions and vintage dance demonstrations in honor of our official Grand Opening. Sorry, no advance tickets or table seating available at this time. Check the website for details.

Kind regards,

Leilani Howard
Sacramento Ballroom Society

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

OT--Yahoo hacking Dec 26

2005-12-26T03:49:09Z

Yahoo Groups was noted as down for maintenance when I tried to post this message...so, will post through here.

For those using Yahoo IM: you may find an IM from someone you know referencing "just for laughs" for a Geocities page. Don't go there. If you do, you will get what appears to be a Yahoo page, prompting you for your password.

Yep, I'm dumb. I did. The page gathers your password, then sends the same message to other people on your IM buddy list.

IF you did go to the supposed page, AND did enter your password---go change it now.

Thanks,

A

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

pix

2005-08-12T01:11:37Z

I posted some from last weekend. Enjoy!

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

OT from Pryanksters--but about dance

2005-08-09T00:09:48Z

OK, so let's start this little poll over here--because we've got about half of the Pryanksters, in the Davis and Sac area.

Do we know enough people who are interested in vintage dance over in the Solano, Yolo and Sacramento areas? I know we can't interest anyone in the Bay Area to come out on 80 and 680 on Fridays

(and with the Tahoe bound traffic mess on Fridays, I can't blame them)

...but do you think we have enough people who would be at least interested in the idea of vintage dance. I'm sure we have enough modern ballroom folk--would we have enough interested in vintage.

Do you think Davis or Sac students would be interested in coming if they KNEW vintage existed and would/could/might be available.

And no, I'm not asking who could run/teach this, how to organize, etc. And yes, transport for Davis and Sac students would need to be solved. Those concerns can be addressed next.

I just cannot believe that NOBODY up here is interested, or would be if they were informed about it.

Via the Hermit

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 10 replies

We Still Exist Somewhere!?!

2005-05-26T01:19:46Z

Imagine my surprise and delight to see that the Northern Pryanksters still exist : ).

I'm Eric Apple. Southern pryankster '82 to '93 when one person's utter madness destroyed us. Core the last 4 years. Really miss dancing but all Newcastle would let us do was clap and that shit gets old after a couple seasons.

All my pics are in storage but when I get to them I'll post a couple outstanding ones.

Again, Hello : ).

Sasquatch

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 4 replies

Who was best?

2005-05-23T06:54:38Z

Well this may be a bit off topic but I must ask for opinions. Who was the best Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire.

My own opinion is that Gene Kelly had a more open style. Which is more to MY taste.

Norman

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 3 replies

Faires this season

2005-03-28T02:59:55Z

The Merrie Pryanksters will be attending, or at least applying for, the following Faires and Faire-like events:

past:

March 12-13 Calaveras Celtic Faire (Angels Camp)
March 26 Christi and Erik's Wedding

upcoming:

April 9-10 Danville Faire
April 16 UC Davis Picnic Day
April 30-May 1 Shasta Highlands Celtic Faire (Anderson)

May 14-15: either Cedar Springs May Faire (Placerville) aka "Care Bear Fair" or Pembrooke Faire (Carson City, Nevada)
June 25-26 Fair Oaks Tudor Faire
July 30-31 Italian Rensaissance Faire (Sutter Creek)
August 27-28 Golden Gate Faire (San Francisco) aka "Fog Faire"
September 10-11 Truckee Faire
September 24-25 Sonora Joust
October 15-16 Folsom Faire

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies

More Faires

2004-06-26T15:32:54Z

Ellen mentioned that the Pryanksters would be at or were considering four more Faires this season, since Newcastle is doing Marin and the planned English Country group that Ritchie was going to put together for Casa de Fruta isn't happening after all.

The Faires are:

San Francisco Renaissance Faire (aka "Fog Faire", it's in Golden Gate Park): August 28-29 http://www.sffaire.com/
Sonora Celtic Faire: Sept 11-12 http://www.joustingchampionships.com/reenactment.html
Truckee Renaissance Faire: Sept 25-26 http://www.stirlingcastlerenfaire.com/pages/1/index.htm
Folsom Faire: October 16-17 http://www.folsomfaire.com/

We've done Folsom Fair for years. Fog Faire and Truckee are new this year. Sonora is in its second or third year, though the Calaveras Celtic Festival started in Sonora.

posted in Merrie Pryanksters - 0 replies