Polka Cults

Polka is the state dance of Wisconsin and last Friday I attended my first Polka Fest in Wisconsin - it was over in Concord, between Madison and Milwaukee.

It was what I had expected - parking in the grass, lots of cute old couples in matching outfits, $6 pictures of Miller Light.

What I didn't expect was to find that Polka and Polka Boosters may be a cult.

We were sitting at the bar when we were approached by a nice old man who attempted to sell us on joining the boosters. It started out innocently - he told us about the club, the fees, the newsletter. Then he kept talking...and talking...and talking...and talking...then he tried to impress us with name dropping of random people who worked in the state...then he told us many people had asked him to run for president...then he talked about how he knew governor so-and-so and senator whats-his-name and 10,000 other people in the state...and how the residents make the laws and not the politicians...and talking...and talking...and talking...and then he tried to get $13 out of us for a CD.

It just got awkward and uncomfortable and he just talked and talked and talked.

So, do go to a polka fest. DON'T join.

Contradancing

In other news, there is a contradancing event in Madison this week. I want to try contradancing one of these days. Unfortunately, I can't this weekend as I'm roaming in Illinois instead, but just in case you are looking for something new to try this weekend, here are the details:

Contra Dance
at the Grace Episcopal Church
on Saturday night (02/09/2008)
Starting @ 8:00pm
With caller Steve Pike & music by the Last Gaspe Band

Here's a short sumamry of Contradancing, since you probably aren't familiar with it:

Contra dance (also contradance, contra-dance and other variant spellings) refers to several folk dance styles in which couples dance in two facing lines of indefinite length. Contra dances can be found around the world, though they are especially popular in the United States. Contra dance is also referred to as traditional New England folk dance.

ALthough my favorite definition is this one:

"A contra dance is like an amusement park ride we make for ourselves." --Unknown


And here's a link that can give you even more details. Also, if you go to YouTube and search for "contra dance" you'll find some videos. I thought about pre-screening some for you loyal readers, buuuut.... what's the fun of that?

Folk dancing extravaganza!

Check out the schedule for Folk Ball 2008. There's a whole lot of interesting stuff going on in downtown Madison this weekend!

If I survive snowboarding, I am considering going to this tonight:

Saturday January 26
THE LEGENDARY FOLK BALL
7:00pm-1:00-am in Great Hall -- The Legendary Folk Ball Dance Party
Orkestar Bez Ime [international] -- Twin Cities
Maritza [international] -- Decorah
Sloboda [international] -- Milwaukee
Reptile Palace Orchestra [eclectic ethnic] -- Madison
brief early evening performances by:
Viata Romaneasca [Romanian / Milwaukee]
Madcity Tango [Tango / Madison ]
Oak Apple Morris Team [Morris mumming / Madison]