Welcome!
Ithaca-based caller Katy Heine has been leading contras and community dances in the Finger Lakes region and beyond for more than 25 years. She's known for her clear teaching style and for her large repertoire of fun and flowing dances. Whether the hall's full of experienced dancers or first-timers, they're sure to have a great time at one of Katy's dances!
If you're interested in booking Katy for a contra, community dance, or wedding reception, e-mail kheine@twcny.rr.com or call 607-273-0249.
Calendar
Date | Venue | Music |
December 19, 2015 5:00-11:30 p.m. |
Lenox Community Center 65 Walker Street, Lenox, MA more info. |
Nor'easter |
January 9, 2016 7:00-10:00 p.m. |
Trinity Memorial Church 44 Main St., Binghamton, NY more info. |
Solvei Blue and Peter Blue Band |
February 25, 2016 8:00-11:00 p.m. |
Covenant United Methodist Church 1124 Culver Rd., Rochester, NY more info. |
Tempest |
April 9, 2016 8:00-11:00 p.m. |
Appel Commons Cornell University more info. |
Laurie Hart, Tim Ball, and Autumn Rose Lester |
May 21, 2016 8:00-11:00 p.m. |
Unitarian Universalist Church 695 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY more info. |
TBA |
Some words from happy dancers:
"We can't thank you enough for calling a wonderful dance at our wedding. You did a fabulous job with an inexperienced but enthusiastic crowd. We have gotten really positive feedback about the dance, which is a tribute to your skills as a caller."
"It is always so much fun to dance when you call. You know how to start out easy (to help beginners) and work up to a fever pitch of fast and demanding dances as the evening wears on and as the skill of dancers permits. Especially was your calling tested at the benefit contra dance on January 25 in the beautiful Memorial Room of Willard Straight Hall. You knew most were rank beginners. To get all on their feet and contributing, you first called two circle dances that all could do, then graduated to simple contra lines. At the end you threw some fast, energetic contras at us. What a wonderful evening!"
"Thank you for a perfect evening. Sincerely. Everyone really enjoyed themselves, and since we stretched the length of the room with beginners I'd say that's a successful experience. Everyone was smiling!"
...and from happy musicians:
ahh, you are such a delight!! Working with you totally made the night for us last night. Such a happy dance, wasn't it?! It's cool how some callers can have a certain presence on stage that creates a vibe of happy energy that holds the whole thing together-- you do that really well, and it just FEELS GOOD!!
Katy's dances
BAJA CALIFORNIA (improper)
A1 | w/neighbor, d-s-d, swing | A2 | long lines, ladies almd R 1-1/2x | B1 | w/partner, balance & swing | B2 | Circle L 1x, slide L to next, Circle 3/4 |
CARRIE'S DANCE (improper, double progression)
A1 | Circle L, swing neighbor | A2 | Hey | B1 | w/next neighbor, balance & swing | B2 | Long lines forward & back, 1s swing |
CASCADE CONTRA (improper)
A1 | (in long waves, ladies facing in) | Balance, slide R; balance, slide L | A2 | w/neighbor, balance & swing | B1 | circle L 3/4, swing partner | B2 | long lines; ladies almd R 1/2, neighbor almd L 3/4 |
DANCY NANCY (improper)
A1 | w/neighbor, balance, box the gnat; gents almd L 1-1/2x | A2 | w/partner, gypsy & swing | B1 | circle L 3/4, swing neighbor | B2 | long lines, 1/2 hey |
FAIR SHARE (improper)
A1 | Circle L; 2's swing (end facing up) | A2 | 2's 1/2 figure 8 around 1's; R&L; thru | B1 | 1's turn contra corners | B2 | 1's balance & swing |
HAVEN'T BEEN THERE YET (improper)
A1 | w/neighbor, do-si-di & swing | A2 | Long lines; pass thru to an ocean wave, balance | B1 | w/neighbor, almd R 1/2; gents almd L 1/2; swing partner | B2 | Ladies chain, star left |
HELLO (improper)
A1 | Circle L; w/N, do-si-di | A2 | w/N, balance & swing | B1 | Ladies chain across & back | B2 | Long lines; 1's swing |
HELLO AGAIN (improper)
A1 | Star R; w/old neighbors, star L | A2 | w/current neighbors, do-si-do & swing | B1 | Down the hall 4 in line, turn as couples, return | B2 | Circle L (all the way), #1s swing |
JIM'S DANCE (improper)
A1 | Hey along the line (pass N by right; w/next neighbor, L-shoulder gypsy; | pass N by right; w/old neighbor, L-shoulder gypsy) | A2 | w/current neighbor, balance & swing | B1 | circle L 3/4, swing P | B2 | ladies almd R 1-1/2X; w/neighbor, almd L 1-1/2X |
THE MEADOWLARK (improper)
A1 | 2's gate the 1's thru the center & back to place; 1's swing | A2 | Down the hall 4 in line, turn alone, return | B1 | Facing neighbor, 1/2 hey; swing N on the other side | B2 | R&L; thru; long lines |
PIE TIME (improper)
A1 | Circle L, swing neighbor | A2 | long lines, ladies chain | B1 | 1/2 hey, partner swing | B2 | circle L 3/4; balance, california twirl |
TUMBLEWEED (becket)
A1 | circle L 3/4, swing N | A2 | long lines, ladies chain to P | B1 | on L diagonal, 1/2 hey; 1/2 hey across | B2 | partner balance & swing |
VALENTINE REEL (becket)
A1 | slide L along the lines, circle L 3/4; neighbor swing | A2 | long lines; 1s do-si-do & lady face out | B1 | lady around two, gent falls thru; gent around two, lady falls thru | B2 | circle L 3/4, partner swing |
WAITING FOR AUDREY (improper)
A1 | In wavy line, balance; w/neighbor, almd R neighbor 1x | Ladies almd L 1-1/2x while gents orbit cw 1/2 | A2 | w/neighbor, balance & swing | B1 | gents almd L 1-1/2x, swing partner | B2 | circle L 3/4; do-si-do neighbor & pass thru to next |