audio sample (Deliciosa Polka; more samples on each CD page)
New CD! Returning Heroes
for booking, email or call Bill at 413-442-9172
Spare Parts has performed for social dances, concerts, period events and dance camps from Alaska to Maine. Bill Matthiesen on piano and Liz Stell on flute combine with one or more "spare parts du jour." Some of our favorite "spare parts" include fiddlers Eric Buddington, Frank Orsini, Ruthie Dornfeld, Naomi Morse, Mark Bagdon, Anne Hooper, Cathie Whitesides, Susan Conger, George Wilson, and Rebecca McCallum ... cornetist Peter Ecklund ... and bassists Ben Davis, Corey DiMario, Cal Howard, Mark Murphy and Larry Unger.
(photo: William A.G. Mackey)
Performing schedule:
February 2013
- Sunday, Feb. 3, Wethersfield, CT (www.hcdance.org/waltz)
Mostly Waltz: waltzing and other couple dances from 3 to 6 pm with Eric Buddington on violin;
free beginner workshop at 2 pm
- Friday Feb. 17 through Sunday Feb. 19, Saratoga Springs, NY (www.flurryfestival.org/)
DANCE FLURRY! schedule for Spare Parts:
Tango Lesson Style & Grace: Friday 8:45 pm, City Center Rm B/C
Tango Dance: Friday 9:30 pm, City Center Rm B/C
Waltz Book 4 Waltzes: Saturday 9:45 am, City Center Mtg Rm 2
Zwiefachers: Saturday 12:45 pm, Hilton "Melita" Ballroom
19th Century Vintage Dance: Saturday 4:30 pm, Saratoga Music Hall
Slow Jam (Eric and Bill): Sunday 10:00 am , Hilton Pavilion
Waltzes by Women for All (Liz, Britany Orlebecke, Liz Donaldson and Rachel Bell): Sunday 10:00 am, City Center Mtg Rm 1
French Quadrille: Sunday 11:30 am, Saratoga Music Hall
Farewell Contra (Liz): Sunday 4:00 pm, City Center Rosenberg Hall (Rm D)
March
- Friday, March 1, Bennington, VT (www.benningtondance.org/)
Contradance with Eric Buddington and caller Michael Kernan
- Sunday, March 3, Albany, NY (www.danceflurry.org/capital-english)
English Country Dance with Eric Buddington on violin and calling by Tom Amesse, 2-5 pm, sponsored by Capital English Country Dancers
- Saturday, March 16, Holliston, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/rh)
Returning Heroes Ball: commemorate the American Civil War with an evening of 1860s contra-dances, quadrilles, waltzes and polkas, sponsored by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, with Eric Buddington on violin and dance instruction by Barbara Pugliese, 7:30-11 pm dance workshop 3-5 pm
Note: historical dress is required for this event
April
- Saturday April 13, Scranton, PA (www.ScrantonCivilWarDay.com)
9th Annual Grand Civil War Ball sponsored by the Lackawanna Historical Society, in the beautiful ballroom at the Century Club, with Eric Buddington on violin and precepting by Martha Griffin.
- Sunday April 14, Scranton, PA (www.ScrantonCivilWarDay.com)
Downton Abbey Fashion Show and Tea featuring the Ladies of Queen Victoria's Court, with incidental music by Spare Parts.
- Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28, Cape May, NJ (www.capemaymac.org/)
Victorian Dance Weekend in Cape May's beautiful Victorian setting
May
- Sunday to Thursday, May 5-9, Mackinac Island, MI (www.orgsites.com/ca/sdvdance/)
San Diego Vintage Dance Week at the Grand Hotel: total immersion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy dance classes and formal balls interspersed with music, lectures, and period activities. Teachers include Richard Powers, Marc Casslar, and Cathy Stephens, with music by Spare Parts.
- Saturday, May 11, Hartford, CT (information: dancerhiker@yahoo.com)
Afternoon rehearsal with Spare Parts for the evening Reel Nutmeg Ball
- Saturday, May 11, Essex, CT (www.sailingmasters.org/)
Regency Ball sponsored by the Sailing Masters of 1812, part of the annual Burning of the Ships commemoration
July
- Friday, July 5, Bennington, VT (www.benningtondance.org/)
Bennington contra dance with George Wilson and calling by Luke Donforth
- Sunday, July 28, Colonie, NY (www.danceflurry.org/buhrmaster)
Buhrmaster Barn contra dance with Eric Buddington and calling by Joe DePaolo
August
- Saturday, August 10, Nahant, MA (vintagevictorian.com/)
An Evening in Vienna, a 19th century summer ball: 22nd annual benefit dance for the Nahant Historical Society, with Eric Buddington on violin and Ben Bishop as prompter. Dancing from 7-10:30 pm; formal or semi-formal attire is requested, costumes of the 1860s through 1890s encouraged but not required
- Sunday, August 11, Nahant, MA (vintagevictorian.com/)
Afternoon Concert and Tea with music by Spare Parts. More information soon. Period attire is especially welcome
- Saturday, August 17, Lenox, MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Contradance at the Lenox Community Center, Liz and Bill with fiddler Eric Buddington and caller TBA, 8:00-11:30 pm
September
-
Friday, Sept. 13, Seattle, WA (www.tangoseattle.com)
- Saturday, Sept. 28, Winsted, CT (http://ragtimeballwinstedct.weebly.com/)
Ragtime Ball: travel back in time to when the U.S. entered the Great War; period attire (ca. 1917) encouraged to match the setting, the historic Winsted Elks Lodge
Waltz Night at Sonny Newman's Dance Hall with romantic couples dances including waltzes, tangos and blues; Ruthie Dornfeld on fiddle
Friday, Sept. 20, Seattle, WA (http://seattledance.org/contra/emeraldcity)
Emerald City contra with Ruthie Dornfeld on fiddle
