Asheville Midwinter Weekend 11-13 February 2022

The Performers

Joanna Reiner Wilkinson has taught English dance for over two decades. In addition to being one of the leaders of the Philadelphia-based Germantown Country Dancers, her calling has taken her from Amherst to Ann Arbor, from NEFFA to Hey Days, from St. Croix to Vancouver, and other points abroad, including many sessions at Pinewoods Camp. Joanna loves teaching workshops for ECD callers, and workshops that explore ECD technique, new dances, and how people learn and remember dance choreography. While known for her clear calling and instruction, Joanna is now the Director of Programs for the Country Song and Dance Society.

Goldcrest

Named for a British songbird with close relatives in the Americas, Goldcrest features fiddler Daron Douglas, pianist Dave Wiesler, and multi-instrumentalist Paul Oorts in a trio-producing country dance music of exceptional quality and unsurpassed variety. All three are seasoned musicians of national reputation, steeped in the folk dance traditions of Appalachia, New England, and the British Isles.

The Schedule

Friday

7:00 PM REGISTRATION OPENS.
7:30 – 10:30 PM WELCOME DANCE
IN THE MAIN HALL.

Saturday

WORKSHOPS
10:30 – 12 NOON

Note: $15 extra charge. Extra challenging dances for experienced dancers who are in tune to the music and their fellow dancers, and who enjoy both familiar favorites without teaching and complex dances which reward attentiveness to teaching. Cheerful recovery skills and knowledge of ECD figures and basic repertoire are expected.

Actual Workshop topic TBD

12 – 2:00 : LUNCH RAMBLE

Restaurants on your own. You’re right there in downtown Asheville – wander and enjoy!

2:00 – 3:30: ECD WORKSHOP ~ ACTUAL WORKSHOP TOPIC TBD

Actual topic will be determined closer to the event, but we know it will be fun!

SATURDAY EVENING DANCE PARTY

7:15 – 7:30 pm Evening Waltz

7:30- 10:30 PM EVENING BALL

In the main hall.

Elegant attire welcome but not required.
Enthusiastic attitude absolutely required!

Sunday

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM MORNING DANCE

In the main hall.

Logistics

WHERE TO STAY

There are a number of hotels are located in downtown Asheville, several within walking distance of the dance hall. There are several more budget-friendly hotels are located on or near Tunnel Road, a 5-10 minute drive.

Staying with people in town is always a good idea too. Call your Asheville friends early!

WHERE TO PARK

All events are at the Masonic Temple downtown. If you’re staying at the Sheraton, use their lot of course.

Otherwise, there is parking available at 35 Woodfin St. for a nominal fee, 2 blocks East. Metered spaces are free after 6 PM, and all day Sunday. Parking at Home Trust bank, right across the street, is $5/day per entry. If you choose to utilize other parking lots or public garages, note the hourly and daily rates which will be more costly. Street parking on Central Avenue near the YMCA is free, though it requires a window sticker during the workday.

Details …

You can register two people (or more) on this one form!  Click Spaces to say how many, then fill in the Name boxes that will magically appear.

And hey: we’ll print these names on your buttons exactly like you tell us here! So use Upper / lower case please, first name first, like Pat Smith.  OK?

COVID Stuff:

Returning to community dance while the pandemic is ongoing is certainly problematic, so we want to be sure that we provide as safe an experience as we can.

• All Dancers and event staff MUST be fully vaccinated, including appropriate boosters. Once you register, we’ll send you a confirmation email that asks you to submit a copy of your vaccination card.
• Don’t come if you are sick! We’d rather give you a refund than chance infecting our friends. Please email AnneMarie if you cannot attend.
• You’ll be asked to sign a waiver. The fine print says that if you come down with COVID after attending the Asheville Midwinter ECD weekend, you can’t hold us, the hall, the band, or your friends liable.
• We will be following the health mandates of Asheville and Buncombe County that are in effect during the dance weekend. This will likely include dancing in masks, though you may choose to do so anyway.