Springforth Ball 2025 schedule
April 11-12-13, 2025
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FRIDAY, APRIL 11 |
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7:00pm – 8:00pm |
Registration – in the Lower Lobby |
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8:00pm – 11:30pm |
Contra Dance – Bob Isaacs and Playing with Fyre in Arents Hall |
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SATURDAY, APRIL 12 |
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9:00am – 10:45am |
T. Pott Bridge River Walk. This event is off-site. Please sign up to attend and/or carpool. – Concurrent with waltz |
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10:00am – 11:00am |
Registration and coffee in the Lower Lobby |
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10:00am – 10:50am |
Waltz 101 Workshop with Cawood Fitzhugh in Arents Hall. – Concurrent with T. Pott walk |
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11:00am – 12:20pm |
Challenging Contras with Bob Isaacs and Playing with Fyre in Arents Hall |
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12:30pm – 1:50pm |
Lunch – in the Dining Hall. Box lunches available for preorder at registration until April 4 |
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1:15pm – 1:50pm |
Group discussion in the library. Topic to be announced – Takes place during second half of lunch |
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2:00pm – 3:20pm |
English Country Dance Session with Jenna Simpson and Playing with Fyre in Arents Hall Scandinavian Dance Workshop with Andrea Larson and Steve Suhring in the Gym (restricted footwear) |
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3:30pm – 4:50pm |
Square Dance Session with Grant Hunnicutt of RVA Squares with music by Steve Suhring and Joe Healey in Arents Hall Put Some Zing in Your Swing Workshop with Bob Issacs and Go figure in the Gym (restricted footwear) |
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5:30pm – 7:00pm |
Covered Dish Supper in the Dining Hall. If you can, please bring a dish for the potluck and Sign up here. A list of local restaurants is also available. |
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7:00pm – 7:50pm |
Jam Session in the library – Takes place during second half of dinner |
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8:00pm – 11:30pm |
Contra Dance Ball with Bob Isaacs and Playing with Fyre in Arents Hall |
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SUNDAY, APRIL 13 |
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10:00am – 11:15am |
Brunch with fresh griddled waffles, fruit, and coffee in the Dining Hall. Plus, open waltz to recorded music in Arents Hall. |
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11:30am – 12:20pm |
Concert / Waltz with Playing with Fyre in Arents Hall Shape Note Singing with Richmond Shape Note Singers in the Library |
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12:30pm – 2:30pm |
Farewell Contra Dance with Bob Isaacs and Playing with Fyre in Arents Hall |
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2:30pm |
Cleanup & Safe Travels. The weekend pantry will be open with all uneaten food. Check for your belongings, including dishes. If you can help, please assist us in restoring our beautiful hall to its original condition. |
Workshop Descriptions
T. Pott Bridge River Walk: Enjoy the scenic beauty of the James River with a touch of local Richmond history on an easy river walk along the T. Pott Bridge and trail led by Hannah Aiken. Please sign up if you plan to attend, as this will help facilitate rides from LGRA.
Waltz 101 Workshop: Folk Waltz is about connection… to the tune, to your feet, to your partner! Learn the essentials, guided by Cawood Fitzhugh, in a Beginner Experience Workshop. Recorded music available for open waltz of All Experience Levels.
Challenging Contras: Enjoy contra dances with advanced moves, challenging sequences, and unusual progressions called by Bob Isaacs to the music of Playing with Fyre. Intermediate-Advanced.
Group Discussion: Spark conversation with dancers and organizers in positive group discussion. Suggested topics may be emailed to tadamsvacontra@gmail.com for consideration.
English Country Dance Session: A session of accessible English country dances for the familiar and unfamiliar dancer. All dances will be taught and called by Jenna Simpson, to music by Playing with Fyre. All Experience Levels.
Scandinavian Dance Workshop: Learn two Scandinavian couples dances from Andrea Larson. Festival Slängpolska (FS) is an accessible, feel-good dance that can be done by All Experience Levels and easy to get started. Schottische is a popular beginner-intermediate couples dance in even time suitable for Beginner-Intermediate. Fiddling by Steve Suhring and Andrea Larson. In the Gym (*restricted footwear).
Square Dance Session: Enjoy traditional Appalachian squares taught and called by Grant Hunnnicutt of RVA Squares to the music of Steve Suhring on fiddle, and Joe Healey on banjo and hammered dulcimer. This workshop is suitable for All Experience Levels.
Put Some Zing in Your Swing: Bob Issacs teaches variations and flourishes on the standard contra dance swings, matched with Contras to illustrate them. Learn new moves, when and how to communicate them, and how to be a better partner. Music by Go Figure (Janet Muse and Mike Dunn). In the Gym (*restricted footwear). Intermediate experience levels.
Jam Session: We’re counting on you to make the music. Bring your instruments, tune books, and we’ll see what happens. Songs are welcome too.
Locations Around the “Old School House”
Arents Hall
The upstairs ballroom. Accessible from grand stairs at the front entryway and a stairwell at the back, near the gym. Please keep our dance hall clear of trip hazards by storing excess items on the shelves in the Library or the break room to the right of the grand stairway.
Gymnasium
Gym Footwear Restrictions: No hard soled or street shoes are permitted in the Gymnasium. Clean sneakers are recommended. Dance socks, to cover the balls of your shoes and reduce friction, will be available.
The gym is located on the first floor at the back of the building (down split-level stairs).
Library
The Library is on the first floor, to the left of the entry hall and registration desk. Personal items such as coats and shoes bay be stored on the shelves in the Library to keep our dance hall clear of trip hazards.
Dining Hall
The Dining Hall is on the first floor, to the right of the entry hall and registration desk.
Bathrooms
Three single stall, all gender bathrooms are available off of the entry hall: two on the left, beyond the registration desk, one at the very front, immediately to the right of the entry door. A Ladies only bathroom is available at the back of the Dining Hall.
