What A Racquette Music and Dance

News and Events

Learn Tango, Rumba, Samba & Cha-Cha basics with Megan Dinan
Dance to LIVE music provided by Piquant!
Saturday May 3rd
Northern New York Ballet Academy

(upstairs at 6 Elm St. in Potsdam)

7:30 –8:45 Dance Instruction
8:45–9:30 Open Dance

Bring soft soled shoes for dancing
Invite a friend to dance with
General Admission $10 – Students with ID $5

- a “What a Racquette Music and Dance” event – call 265-7386

*The 2008 season of Tango with Todd is underwritten by UpNorth Music, a special program of North Country Public Radio. Funds for UpNorth Music have come from the New York State Music Fund, administered by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Belly Dance Extravaganza

Belly Dance Extravaganza
Saturday May 3rd
1:00-4:30
At the Unitarian Universalist Church
(3 ½ Main St. in Canton)

Featuring Juanita, Nina, and Basimah

This special event is for all levels of experience. It features the various styles of three local instructors. There will be performances, a group warm up, and nearly three hours of instruction.

You may pre-register by phone at 265-7386, or the day of the event. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to register. Refreshments will be available. Admission is $25.00.

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Past Events

(02/24/08)

Traditional Belly Dance Classes in Potsdam

What a Racquette Music and Dance presents Traditional Belly Dance Classes in Potsdam with instructor Juanita Babcock.. The class is for all levels of experience, begins on Thursday March 6^th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm, and will run for five weeks. Classes will be held at the First Baptist Church of Potsdam, located at 24 Leroy St.

The fee for each session of five classes is $45. To register please call 265-7386. Register early - space is limited!

(02/24/08) Tango With Todd Announcment

What a Raquette Music and Dance presents Tango With Todd On Saturday March 1^st at 7:30pm. Come to the Ballet Academy of Northern New York at 6 Elm St., in Potsdam. The dance studio is upstairs. Todd Moe and Megan Dinan will teach the basics to the Tango, Rumba, Samba and Cha-cha! An open dance and dance step exchange will begin around 8:45. Live music is provided by Piquant!

Todd and Megan recommend leather soled shoes that will glide easily along the floor for men, and low heeled shoes for women. Tango with Todd is open to all, so bring a friend to dance with as you learn and practice these fun dances! Admission is $10, $5 for students with ID.

Piquant is Oscar Sarmiento on guitar, Beth Robinson on cello, Matt Bullwinkel on accordion, Josh Lazo on saxophone, Steve Farina and Frank McLaughlin on percussion.

(02/13/08) “Our Town - Now And Then”

For the second year in a row, What A Racquette Music And Dance has been awarded a substantial New York State Council On The Arts Decentralization Grant. These NYSCA grants are administered in our region through the St. Lawrence County Arts Council in Potsdam. The program will, once again, be researched and performed by the modern day front-porch band, Stringfolks.This year’s program is an extension of last year’s very successful “At the Other End Of The Road”, concert series. This past program sought to explore the early settlement years of selected St’ Lawrence county townships and how early transportation systems figured into their development. This year’s program is entitled, “Our Town - Now And Then”. This program will be presented in eight towns in the tri-county region throughout the months of May, June, and July of 2008. The theme of the program will highlight the individual history of each town starting with the settlement years of the community and moving through several major historical eras up to present day. The time periods to be highlighted, besides the settlement years, will include the Civil War, the early twentieth century, the Great Depression, World War Two, and the postwar progression to modern day.

“Our Town - Now And Then” Performance Dates & Places

May 10 - East Dekalb Meeting House - 7PM

May 18- South Edwards Community Center - 2 PM

June 25- Dexter Historical Association -7PM

July 3 - Cranberry Lake Library - 7 PM

July 15- Colton Village Gazebo -7 PM

July 16- Harisville Historical Association -7 PM

July 19- Russell Town Hall -7- PM

July 20- Gouverneur Riverside Park - 4 PM

July 30- Brownville Methodist Church - 7 PM

(01/28/08) Tango with Todd

What a Raquette Music and Dance presents Tango With Todd On Saturday February 2^nd at 7:30pm. Come to the Ballet Academy of Northern New York at 6 Elm St., in Potsdam. The dance studio is upstairs. Todd Moe and Megan Dinan will teach the basics to the Tango, Rumba, Samba and Cha-cha! An open dance and dance step exchange will begin around 8:45. Live music is provided by Piquant!

Todd and Megan recommend leather soled shoes that will glide easily along the floor for men, and low heeled shoes for women. Tango with Todd is open to all, so bring a friend to dance with as you learn and practice these fun dances! Admission is $10, $5 for students with ID.

Piquant is Lynn McGrath and Oscar Sarmiento on guitar, Beth Robinson on cello, Matt Bullwinkel on accordion, Josh Lazo on saxophone, Steve Doheny-Farina and Frank McLaughlin on percussion.

The 2008 season of Tango with Todd is underwritten by UpNorth Music, a special program of North Country Public Radio. Funds for UpNorth Music have come from the New York State Music Fund, administered by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. For more information about UpNorth Music, visit www.upnorthmusic.org. What a Raquette Music and Dance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the living traditions of music and dance in the North Country. For more information 265-7386.

(11/20/2007) Feminine Fitness for Fun!

Belly Dance Classes in Potsdam

What a Racquette Music and Dance will present one mini-session of “Basic Belly Dance–Feminine Fitness for Fun!” in Potsadam. Juanita Babcock, and experienced belly dance performer and instructor, will teach a mixed-level class for both beginning and returning dancers.

Classes will begin Thursday November 29th, and will run for three weeks.

Classes will be held at the First Baptist Church of Potsdam, located at 24 Leroy St. on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30PM.

The fee for each session of three classes is $27. To register, please call 265-7386. Register early–space is limited!

(11/19/2007)Tango In Tails

Dress up for What a Racquette Music and Dance’s “Tango in Tails!” Come to the First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Lawrence Ave. and Elm St. in Potsdam at 7:30PM on Saturday December 1st. Special Guest Luciana Echazu will teach the basics of Argentine Tango, and Megan Dinan will be on hand to teach the basics of rhumba, salsa, and waltz. Live music provided by Piquant!

Wear leather soled shoes that glide easily along the floor for men, and low healed shoes for women. Bring a friend to dance with. Addmission is $10, $5 for students with I.D.

Piquant is Lynn McGrath and Oscar Sarmiento (guitar), Beth Robinson (cello), Josh Lazo (sax), Matt Bullwinkle (accordian), and percussionists Steve Doheny-Farina and Frank McLaughlin.

What a Racquette Music and Dance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the living tradtions of music and dance in the north country. For more information, contact Beth Robinson at 265-7386.

(10/26/2007) Tango with Todd

What a Raquette Music and Dance presents Tango With Todd at its new location! On Saturday November 3^rd at 7:30pm, come to the Ballet Academy of Northern New York at 6 Elm St., in Potsdam. The dance studio is upstairs. Todd Moe and Megan Dinan will teach the basics to the Tango, Rumba, Samba and Cha-cha! An open dance and dance step exchange will begin around 8:45. Live music is provided by Piquant!

Piquant is Lynn McGrath and Oscar Sarmiento on guitar, Beth Robinson on cello, Matt Bullwinkel on accordion, Josh Lazo on saxophone, Steve Doheny-Farina and Frank McLaughlin on percussion. What a Raquette Music and Dance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the living traditions of music and dance in the North Country. For more information call 265-7386.

WARM has recently begun collaborating with Arts Central to present a Friday afternoon concert series. This series features a different local musicians, with a different musician or group performing most Fridays. Concerts are at the Arts Central gallery on Market St, Potsdam. Concerts begin at 5 pm. Suggested donation is $5.00.