audio sample (Deliciosa Polka; more samples on each CD page)
for booking, email or call Bill at 413-442-9172
Spare Parts has performed for period events, contradances, English dances, weddings, parties, concerts, and dance camps from Alaska to Maine. Our historic dance music has been used worldwide in motion pictures (Bright Star) and theater productions as well as television programs including Mercy Street (PBS), Antiques Roadshow and numerous programs on the History Channel (even SpongeBob SquarePants!).
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, Ruthie Dornfeld, George Wilson, Naomi Morse, Frank Orsini, Mark Bagdon, Cathie Whitesides, Susan Conger and Rebecca McCallum ... and bassists Mark Murphy and Larry Unger.
2023 schedule:
February
- Friday Feb 17 through Sunday Feb 19, Saratoga Springs, NY www.flurryfestival.org/
DANCE FLURRY! schedule for Spare Parts:
Waltz 102 Saturday 10-10:45 City Center Mtg Rm 2
Mostly Waltzes Saturday 10:45-11:45 City Center Mtg Rm 2
Waltz Music Styling Saturday 3:30-4:30 Hilton Broadway 1/2
Waltz Jam Saturday 4:45-5:45 Hilton Travers
Intermediate Waltz Sunday 9:30-10:30 City Center Mtg Rm 2
Waltz Dance Sunday 10:30-11:30 City Center Mtg Rm 2
March
- Saturday, March 11, Berlin, MA https://facone.org/programs/victorian-ball.html
Victorian/Civil War Ball in the 1870 Old Town Hall, 7-10 pm
Dance workshop 4-5 pm
April
- Sunday, April 2, Wethersfield, CT www.hcdance.org/mostly-waltz/
Hartford Mostly Waltz: waltzes, waltz mixers, and other dances (every third tune is a tango, swing, foxtrot, or other couple dance), 3-5:30 pm. No need to come as a couple, there are plenty of dance partners
- Saturday, April 29, Scranton, PA http://lackawannahistory.org/cwball.html
Annual Grand Civil War Ball at the historic Waverly Community House, with prompting by Susan de Guardiola, 7-10 pm
Dance lessons 1-3 pm
June
- Saturday, June 17, Lenox, MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Contradance at the Lenox Community Center, Liz and Bill with fiddler Eric Buddington and Mark Murphy on bass, caller Hannah Chamberlain, 7:30-10:30 pm (intro lesson 7:15)
July
- Sunday, July 30, Colonie, NY (www.danceflurry.org/series/buhrmaster/)
Open-air contradance in the wonderful Buhrmaster Barn, Liz and Bill with fiddler Eric Buddington and calling by Fern Bradley, 6-9 pm, potluck at 5
August
- Sunday, Aug 13, Colonie, NY (www.danceflurry.org/series/buhrmaster/)
Open-air contradance in the wonderful Buhrmaster Barn, Bill joins George Wilson and the Megaband with caller Katie Heine, 6-9 pm, potluck at 5 -
Saturday, Aug 19, Lenox, MA (www.lenoxcontradance.org/)
Contradance at the Lenox Community Center, Liz and Bill with fiddler George Wilson and Mark Murphy on bass, caller Maggie McRae, 7:30-10:30 pm (intro lesson at 7:15)
October
- Saturday, Oct 7, Worcester, MA (www.vintagedancers.org/)
Victoria and Albert Ball in the amazing 1857 Mechanics Hall, with Eric Buddington on violin; costumes from 1840-1860 requested, or modern formal attire; masks required
November
- Sunday, Nov 5, Wethersfield, CT www.hcdance.org/mostly-waltz/
Hartford Mostly Waltz: waltzes, waltz mixers, and other dances (every third tune is a tango, swing, foxtrot, or other couple dance), 3-5:30 pm. No need to come as a couple, there are plenty of dance partners
- Saturday, Nov 11, Jamaica Plain, MA (lcfd.org/harvest-ball.html)
24th Annual Harvest Ball: gender-role-free Victorian ball, with Eric Buddington on violin and calling by Chris Ricciotti; elegant, period, or festive attire encouraged but not required
N95/KN95/KF94 or equivalent masks required
elegant waltzes at 7, followed by chestnut contras, quadrilles, mixers and couple dances; all dances taught and called