BRUMMIE CONTRAS
  • HOME ; Spring '22
  • Dates
  • QUAKER Hall : ABOUT THE VENUE
  • What's a Contra
    • But I've never really done this stuff before !
  • Tributes
    • Barry Selwood

NEXT DANCE 25th Sept 2.30 : English Contra Dance Band.
Calling - That's from a real American - Louise Siddons.
Last Brummie Contra: aces Brian & Mike played to calling by -
Mic Spenceley - deservedly appreciated in Wales & England
!

YOU'RE WELCOMED to ARRIVE 15 to 20mins BEFORE ANY DANCE BEGINS, TO SHARE A SOCIABLE CHAT WITH A HOT DRINK (All refreshments are included).

Brummie contras - welcoming, lively DANCes in American styLe AT OUR vast MAIN venue. HOPe BORIS doeSN'T DAMAGe A VULNERABLE FEW when Westminster (not now A number 10) party MAY mean we SOON COULD lose free testS !
you're at the  HOME - Spring 2022  page.
- Your NEXT Brummie Contra -
-
On September 25th at 2.30, English Contra Dance Band starts our Autumn series -
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Probably in the vast : historic : well ventilated : & extremely high roofed -
- Quaker Hall in Bournville -
-
But -
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We miss some distantly placed dancers who dislike Brummie traffic into Bournville after a long motorway drive -
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If this is YOU - PLEASE GET IN TOUCH  !  Email by 1st August. -
- It needs just 4 distant dancers (eg 2 couples) to say by then they wish to come if dance is at Elmdon Heath -

*
- Below - Our last  excellent Brummie Contra Dance -
- DON'T MISS THE NEXT - SUN 25th SEPT - MAYBE EVEN BETTER  !

-  Our -
  - caller was -
-  Mic Spenceley -
Well known in two local Nations
- England and South Wales -
-  Our Musicians  -
Brian Mc Minn & Mike Green
Brilliant, lively Brummie Duo -

- played for another great gig !
Picture
Mic
Picture
Brian
PictureMike


















At the door :  Adult £10   -   Student £5 :
-  This price may be a bit low to remain sustainable : But it minimises cash handling. It may encourage YOU to return - 
-   Also hopefully, it may bring in some dancers new to Contras as well.   - 
:
The more dancers we get : the more fun we have : And caller & band are happier to get a more fair recompense.  -

-  If attendance stays reasonably high : this entrance price will remain :  Do encourage others : BRING YOUR FRIENDS  -
-  Let's hope that Brummie Contras survive through 2022 and beyond.  -

- Feb 20 - Nicola Scott - had called a superb afternoon - many of you sadly missed it -
With appreciation of organiser & dancers, this Hall is used with the kind permission of Bournville Quaker Meeting.
*
- Lowering risks of Covid transmission to society's vulnerable few -
- If you individually are experiencing any suspicious flu-like symptoms, please do NOT come !
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Fellow dancers & friends' hiring the hall will appreciate YOUR responsble-preparedness -
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If you are still enabled by government to get & TAKE a (free) rapid lateral flow test -
- best test yourself earlier on the day - a short while prior to getting ready for a dance. -
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Open biscuits, cake, watermelon, water glasses may still more safely NOT be put out -
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CERTAINLY FREE HOT DRINKS - before dancing & in the interval -
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But do REUSE your OWN PLASTIC BOTTLE ! WITH WATER to hydrate. -
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Please NO alcoholic drinks in the Quaker Hall -
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Regularly make regular use of the hand-sanitiser available : or any sterilising wipes -
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You're welcomed if wearing a mask as you arrive, or when chatting on arrival, or in the interval. -
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The reasonable price and lack of discount incentives is to minimise handling of cash. -
*
- IF we MUST cancel -
- Cancellation would show at the TOP of THIS PAGE -
- ie the Homepage - the one you "land on" -
- Please quickly check on Brummie Contras Website shortly before you set out to dance -

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- A  FOLLOWING BRUMMIE CONTRA  2.30 - SUN 25th SEPT -
- more details to follow -
*
We didn't rush after lockdown, to carry on Brummie Contras; to HELP latterly limit absence & illness also amongst those needed in many vital roles, due to spreading of the Omicron variants.
[eg in hospitals & care: paramedics: drivers of ambulances, lorries, buses, taxies.]
On 16/12/21, the Hall Committee had asked whether we planned to go ahead with December's "End of 2021" dance.  It felt at that time more responsible to defer startng up the dances again.
Hoping you've used this gap as an opportunity to get safely booster-jabbed. Become more confident in your improved immunity from your jabs.
- Now come out ! Dance !
*
- Have you tried a Visit to the : sub-page - "But I've NEVER really done this stuff before" !
*
- Bill Kinsman -
Picture
Bill
-  A few words of thoughtful appreciation -
Celebrating      -   Bill Kinsman  -
At the first year we had our annual final fling -
Bill  was 91. That was 2016. In 2017, 92 years of age.
Calling Contras then for us - superbly : ALL from memory,
in his friendy, oo-oo delightful and relaxed manner.
This : near the end of his many years of much-loved calling.

Sadly, in 2018, Bill was drastically debilitated by stroke.
He died in early December of 2019.

- May we long retain the happy memories of Bill. -
For Brummie Contras, he was by far our oldest caller,
yet always remaining young at heart.
And ALWAYS his calling was excellent, accurate,
and brimming with Bill's infectiously joyous personality.

-
Look for, and hope that we can successfully arrange and enjoy more lively
Brummie Contras
in the Autumn Season of 2022.
Check again later in
DATES
 - 
 As far as possible, we stay with anticipated details : but DO CHECK : especially HOMEpage here and at Dance DATES on the website -
          (don't depend ONLY on your prompt and early diary entries. )

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  - Go to top of the page with - DATES - of Dances    - -
                    - -    Return to the Top of this - HOME -  Page   - -
           - - VISIT page explaining  -   WHAT'S A CONTRA ?                          *
   - Go to Top of page - ABOUT -  Brummie Contras at the Quaker Hall, Bournville -
   - Go to Top of page - ABOUT
- Brummie Contras at Elmdon Heath Comm'y C, Solihull.
  
       **
TITLE pic : One of the last Brummie Contras at our earlier Chaplaincy venue near B'ham Uni.
 -  Pic copyright Mandy - A Sunday afternoon in 2015. 
                                                                                                       Page last updated on  23/2/22
Return to  TOP OF THE HOME  Page

CONTACT US page

​I / we wish to be AT THE NEXT DANCE
Page DID HAVE details to get £1.50 each off door price next time.
Also deadlines (to check before you email).
For a group, download a form to complete & email.

MOST OF THE PAGES WITHN THE FOOTER HERE REFER TO EVENTS & CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WERE DAMAGED, CHANGED OR HELD BACK BY THE COVID PANDEMIC.
THEY WILL BE AMENDED WHEN SITUATIONS CAN STABILISE WITH A MORE DEPENDABLE OUTLOOK.

Go to Great Alne Long Weekend website -
24th -27th April in 2020 for its DETAILS.

Event doubly extends the last w/e of April in 2020 
Quality workshops for ALL ages / abilities.
Enjoy a contra here on the Friday eve.
Karin Bellaart from the NETHERLANDS will also bring all kinds of lovely INTERNATIONAL DANCES as Nel did in 2017 & 2018.

EXCELLENT PART-SONG & A WIDE RANGE of OTHER DANCING.

Bring (grand)children. Share Maypole/Morris dances & ring handbell tunes from before noon on Sat & Sun.
NEW IN 2018 - EXTRA Sat/Sun PRICE DROPPED for ADULT DANCERS and THEIR ACCOMPANIED u18's

( The Great Alne Long Weekend is a "sister" website to this one) -
 click-on to go to one of these pages - 

ELMDON HEATH CC/RAIL/BUS  - Page especially to help with Rail Station connections, and Sunday bus services to Elmdon Heath Community Centre Hall. Our venue for "fans".


See ROUTEMAPS:DOWNLOAD&PRINT -
 - Page has maps for car, bus stops, bike path & walking routes -
- to the   -  Elmdon Heath Community Centre venue. Download this to a smartphone to carry to walk from bus etc,
(or print on paper) to carry: even in the car. Ideal for initial visits. 




 CONTRA - What's that !   -  Information Page,


 But I've never really done this stuff before !  - Information Page.

DANCE DATES page
​  
FLIERS for NEXT BRUMMIE CONTRA pages. These may Pop-up : often below Dance DATES.
They are in pdf. You may view or DOWNLOAD.
If you would like to share out the fun of the "Brummie Contra" dances - then (regularly please) download, print - and distribute a few of these fliers in your area & dance club.
For some Contras to come, a flier page pop-up may show below other main pages or elsewhere !