The Floyd Contra Dance will mark its 275th contra dance since its start in 1989.
The June 10 dance is part of the Crooked Road Mountains of Music Homecoming.
Join the fun for a special last dance of the season at the Floyd Center for the Arts, 8 to 11 p.m., with The Time Flies, a Charlottesville area band, and Gretchen Caldwell, a favorite North Carolina caller.
To celebrate, there’ll be a dessert potluck during the evening break.
Music will be provided by The Time Flies, masters of high energy dance music and never-fail creators of a rollicking good time, time on the dance floor will fly.
Graham DeZarn keeps an up-tempo on fiddle, T.J. Johnson’s energy inspires on mandolin and fiddle, and Bill Wellington corrals the beat with his masterful guitar. The three celebrated musicians make dancing so much fun that three hours slip away, just like the band’s name.
Wellington also performs with Troublesome Creek String Band, and has played with Kevin Burke, Rodney Miller, Dirk Powell, Pete Vigour, and others. He also a well-known children’s performer and recording artist, and is the creator of Radio WOOF.
Johnson has toured with the Hillbillies From Mars, Lift Ticket, and the Rhythm Raptors. Starting out as a teenager playing contemporary bluegrass, he has branched out over the years to enjoy different styles from jazz to Middle Eastern. Of all music, he likes playing for dancers the best.
DeZarn, a former member of the Hot Seats, currently plays with the New Hipsters in the D.C. area. His fiddle style is sweet, driving, and highly danceable. He is the son of Joe DeZarn, fiddler for the Mighty Possums and Celtic Thunder.
Contra dances are held in Floyd every second Saturday, September through June.
All are welcome, no partner is needed. The Floyd Center for the Arts is located at 220 Parkway Lane South, second floor.
Start with a beginner lesson at 7:35 p.m. and come as you are; wear soft flexible shoes for dancing, and the caller will teach each dance.
Admission is $8 or $6.50 with student ID.
For more information online, visit www.floydcontradance.org or Floyd Contra Dance on Facebook.
