Advertisement
Who: The Huddled Masses Orchestra (Maine's only Serbian-style brass band) and The Kotwica Band (Music from the Baltic to the Black Sea and Beyond) with dance leaders Chris Ricciotti, Carolyn Rapkievian, and special guest starswhat: an "Alternative end-of-year daytime family-oriented dance party and solstice celebration"
when: Sunday Dec 29th, 2024 from 1 to 4 PM
where: Belfast UU Church, 37 Miller St Belfast ME
why: because it's going to be a long winter if we don't get out of the house, and - who needs a reason to go dancing with friends anyway?
FMI: call (808) 352 1714 or find The Huddled Masses Orchestra on FaceBook.
In traditional cultures they celebrate solstice to coax the days to lengthen once more, which after all is the flip side of long nights. The Huddled Masses Orchestra and Kotwica will play for a daytime event on the 29th as a prelude to the big bash of "Last Night" on the 31st. "Belfast has a terrific participative dance community, with many persons who enjoy a chemfree community event. We play a lot of summer festivals, and our tunes originated in rural European villages where people are close to the annual cycles of the earth," said Joe Niemczura, the leader of the Huddled Masses Orchestra. "We will guide the audience in how to do circle and line dances that reinforce that sense of community. It's a low-cost family event."
The Huddled Masses Orchestra is a ten-member brass band from mid-coast Maine. They are the only Serbian-style brass band in the whole state of Maine. "In Serbia, brass music is a "thing." The country hosts the annual Trumpet Festival in the rural town of Guca, which attracts 400,000 people. Serbia was part of the Ottoman Empire, and the music reflects this by using minor keys and odd time signatures. The melodies are earworms and fun to play. People dance in lines or circles and often sing along." For this event, the dancing will be assisted by Chris Ricciotti of Searsmont. People know Chris as a contradance caller but his knowledge of traditional dance is also an asset. He makes it easy for people to join in. It's as if he is the local tour guide to show you all the fun stuff when you travel.
Kotwica has seven members. David and Carolyn Rapkievian draw on folk music from many countries in Europe. The trio of singers use close Balkan harmony to mesmerize listeners. Their band has been a mainstay at the annual Armenian Festival every summer in Searsport. They play a monthly dance at the Bar Harbor YMCA. Carolyn uses music and dance to evoke the experience of being at a festival in a rural village in Europe. David is also widely known as a balalaika player and luthier. He builds and repairs stringed instruments used by many artists in ethnic communities but also Nashville.
We attract a variety of people to our music and these events. It's great to see so many local brass players and fans of world music. We want to inspire high school brass players to explore world music and how to play for dancing. Next are dancers who may have been exposed to this style during a trip to Greece or Europe. And younger folks who want to try something different in a chemfree environment. Belfast has a lively participative dance scene, and this adds another flavor. Families are also welcome. Where else can the kids run around and blow off steam while their parents dance to live music? Join in and immerse yourself in the sense of community.
Admission is $10 max per family. Adults $6, students are $5. Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. It's chemfree. Bring a snack. Wear comfortable shoes.
You can find The Huddled Masses Orchestra on FaceBook. There we also share the list of tunes and dances on the program with a link to a YouTube playlist to whet your appetite.
For more information, call Joe at (808) 352 1714
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast, Maine, 37 Miller St, Belfast, ME 04915-6400, United States,Belfast, Maine
