Contra dance band T-Acadie is set to play and call the tunes during Wiscasset Art Walk on Thursday, Sept. 28. Band members from left are Bill Olson, Pam Weeks and Jim Joseph, who are all multi-instrumentalists who sing and harmonize, choreograph dances, and begin each gig with lessons so everyone can dance together. T-Acadie photo
WISCASSET — The community is invited to “Hold Back the Night”at a contra dance during Wiscasset Art Walk on Thursday, Sept. 28.
WAW runs from 5-8 p.m. with the dance party beginning around 6:30 p.m. under the tent on Water Street in Wiscasset Village.
Contra dance band T-Acadie will play the tunes and call the dances, but will first give contra dance lessons so everyone knows the steps for dancing together. Contra dancing is a form of folk dancing, similar to square dancing, but with people forming lines, facing each other, and changing partners throughout the dance. Singles are also invited, according to a news release from Lucia Droby, art walk coordinator.
According to T-Acadie member Pam Weeks, contra dancing is family friendly. The littlest kids can stay with their parents and dance with them as one, she explained. For older kids who dance alone, more experienced dancers will guide them through the steps.
Admission to the dance party is free. Jodie’s Restaurant will provide food for sale, and Water St. Kitchen will sell adult beverages. And to mark 10 years of Wiscasset Art Walk, Celebration Cupcakes are free until they run out.
The three members of Maine’s T-Acadie — Pam Weeks, Bill Olson and Jim Joseph — have been playing together for more than 25 years. They play French dance music from North America (Quebecois, Acadian, and Cajun), and songs from Maine and New England, Appalachia and the South.
They play old-time tunes, reels and jigs, sea shanteys, and original tunes written by Weeks. She, Joseph and Olson are all multi-instrumentalists, playing some combination of fiddles, guitars, accordions, banjo, mountain and hammered dulcimer, cello, mandolin, piano, ukulele, bass, flute, and saxophone. They sing acapella, and they harmonize. Olson is a nationally known caller whose dance compositions are used all over the world.
In 2023, the business sponsors who support the many free WAW activities and performers, including “Hold Back the Night” and T-Acadie, are Lead Sponsor Fogg and Dalton Art Restoration and Major Sponsors Ames True Value, Big Barn Coffee, Bradbury Art & Antiques, Carriage House Gardens, Cod Cove Inn, First National Bank, J. Edward Knight Insurance, Jodie’s Café, Peter Eaton Antiques, Red’s Eats, Rock Paper Scissors, Sherri Dunbar/Tim Dunham Realty, IndustrialME, BIRCH Home Furnishings & Gifts, and Water Street Kitchen & Bar.
For more information, visit wiscassetartwalk.org or email wiscassetartwalk@verizon.net. Wiscasset Art Walk is a program of Wiscasset Creative Alliance.
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