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17th Annual Zesty Contra Weekend

Friday 22 Nov 4pm — Sunday 24 Nov 4pm, 2019

To make a booking enquiry please complete the form below. We will contact you to confirm availability and complete your booking.

Course Enquiry

  • Halsway Manor will not share your details with any third parties.

Pricing

Full board per person (tuition, activities, tutor's gig, all meals & accommodation):

  • £240 – single ensuite room
  • £210 – sharing an ensuite room
  • £210 – single non-ensuite room
  • £165 – sharing non-ensuite room

Camping per person (tuition, activities, tutor's gig, all meals):

  • £155

Non Resident (tuition, activities, tutor's gig, all meals except breakfast):

  • £145

The 17th Annual Zesty Contra House Party is an exhilarating and popular weekend designed to extend your dance horizons! Bring your instruments too if you fancy joining the band for a session or two.

Contra dancing is a development of the English country dances taken up by the French at the end of the 17th Century which were then exported back to England and subsequently travelled with the early settlers to America. The resurgence of interest in recent years has led to a more contemporary “zesty” contra style.

“The level of dance was good and the choice of dances very varied. Excellent musicians. I learned some helpful techniques such as how to hold for the Allemande turn” Participant

Who’s it For?

For regular dancers, with or without experience of Contra.

The Team

Dance callers Rhodri Davies and Mark Elvins are two of the very best contra dance callers in England. Their annual double-act of workshops and dances at the House Party gives them an extended opportunity to work with and to entertain dancers.

Wild Ride are the much-in-demand trio of Holly Norton (piano/fiddle), Robbie Thomas (guitar, mandolin, banjo) and Bob Tracey (fiddle). A hit on the festival circuit, Bob, Holly and Robbie share a wide range of musical influences and experiences and take an obvious delight in playing together. Combining the groove and drive of American contra music with infectious tunes from the American, Scottish and Irish traditions, to set your feet flying!
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