UPDATE!
Some wonderful additions to the evening -
Guy Wolff, master potter and banjo player extraordinaire, will be joining musicians of The Reel Thing for the dancing part of the event.
And...Alison Kelley, one of the Johnson Girls who will be leading the sea chanteys and chorus songs, will be bringing her therapy dog, Willow (see photos).
In addition to volunteering with The Good Dog Foundation, Alison and Willow also work with The Glenn Miller Agency providing Therapy Dog services and Trick Dog programs to nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and The Bronx.
Willow received a Proclamation after Super Storm Sandy for providing “courtesy, gentleness and goodness beyond description” for 500 frail and elderly, and thanks her for “her exemplary community spirit and devotion to the relief efforts in Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath”.
About the Main Event:
This evening of traditional song & dance is designed to bring people together in community. It will include a family dance beginning at 6pm, a song circle featuring sea chanteys led by the Johnson Girls around 7pm, and a community dance led by Patricia and fellow dance caller, Tod Whittemore from 8-10pm. Everything is participatory - the dancing will be a mixture of traditional country dances including circle, square, and longways dances (think “Virginia Reel”).
Live music for the dancing will be led by The Reel Thing and friends, and all parts of the program are for all ages.
All the musicians, folksingers, and dance callers are donating their time and talent to the evening.
NOTE: The event will be free, but people are asked to register for it at http://healingnewtown.org.
There will be two donation baskets set out. Attendees can choose to offer donations to HealingNewtown Arts Space and/or The Newtown Lions Club Foundation. The Newtown Lions Club Foundation has partnered with Connecticut Counseling Association to provide counseling services to the families, first responders, and others in the community affected by 12/14.
Mrs. Campbell, a member of The Country Dance & Song Society, has been given a grant by CDSS to help cover the costs of “All Hands In.” She plans to use part of the grant to reimburse some of the performers who are all donating their time, energy, and talent, for their travel expenses.
Refreshments will be provided by New Morning Country Store of Woodbury, another strong supporter of this and other community events.
