From: tzf@csl.biosci.arizona.edu (Theron Friedman)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Dancing around Tucson & Phoenix
Keywords: sex drugs rock'n'roll
Date: 14 Oct 92 01:26:50 GMT
Reply-To: tzf@csl.biosci.arizona.edu
Organization: U of Arizona, CS Dept, Tucson


Richard Ebling asked about dancing in Phoenix, Dec 2-6. THere don't seem to
be any Pfoenixians on the net in r.f-d, so I'll share my misinformation.

Phoenix contras are normally on the 2nd Fridays of each month, so you'll
miss it unless they have a special dance; December schedule isn't published
yet. Try calling Ron Neiman at 602/893-3328 to see if there's anything else
happening.
	I don't know of any English Countra Dance or "traditional squares" up
there, thought there is WSD, Scottish Country, and Swing.

If you're fanatic enough to drive a couple of hours for a contra, there's a
Friday night dance in Prescott (about 2 hours N. of Phx), also Friday and
Saturday night dances in Tucson. IMHO the best of the three is probably
the Saturday night Tucson dance, followed by the Friday night Prescott dance;
Friday night Tucson is usually mostly beginners. Any of these dances could
be cancelled for unpredictable causes, so call to make sure they're happening:
	Prescott: 602/788-5118
	Tucson Saturday dance: 743-3217
	Tucson Friday dance: 327-6877

Attached is a summary of folkish activities in Tucson & some other spots.

	terry
------------------ clip here -----------------------------------------
(Tucson area code is 602)
(Locations are given with the University of Arizona (U/A) or downtown as a
convenient central reference point)


INTERNATIONAL: Wednesday nights, 8-10pm, 
	Zenith Dance Studio
	330 E 7th St. (Just north of the Downtown Area, 1/2 mi. W of U/A campus).
	Contact: Blaine/Nancy Menthe: 299-9609
	(there is no longer any group meeting on U/A Campus.)

	There's a beginning international class on Monday Eves. Call John Chu
(602/885-1951) if interested in visiting (it's a long term ongoing thing,
so may have some just-dancing time at the end, I'm not sure).
	There's a senior-citizen's FD group on Monday Afternoons at
Armory Park Sr.Citizen Center (see address under contras).
	There is a local Scandinavian club, but I think they're entirely
performance oriented, no open dancing.
	There is also an International performing group, TEDE.
	Also local "ethnic" halls or clubs for several nationalities, which
sometimes manage to put together small groups for performances.

SCOTTISH: Thursday nights 
	First United Methodist Church
	415 E. 4th at Park (entrance is on Park, faces the W. end of U/A)
	Contact: Courtney Cartwright, 887-0875  work:740-6230
	or Jaunita MayoL 621-2381 or 327-3766
		- this is the recreational class. There is also a performing group.

ISRAELI: sometimes a class at Jewish Community Center
		Dodge Rd at  River road  (5+  Mi NE of U/A) 299 3000
	A new group will be starting up on Sunday nights, tentatively at
	Hillel house, 1245 E. 2nd (on U/A campus) 624 6561.

ENGLISH: None that I know of. Not even Morris madness.

CONTRA DANCE: 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month.
	7:30 (ish) teaching for beginners, sometimes also a turning dance class
	8:00-11 dance begins
		$4.00 general public, $3.00 tftm members
1st Saturday:at First Congregational Church
	2nd Ave @ University (1/4 mile W of U/A)  8-11pm
3rd Saturday (often has a guest caller): 8-11pm
	Armory Park Senior Citizens (recreation) center
	220 S. 5th Ave (S.E. corner of Downtown, between 12th & 13th streets)
	[791-4865 - but the desk may not know about the dance]
1st Friday: Faith Lutheran Activity Center
	3539 E. 5th   8-11pm
	
There are frequently other "special" dances.
Contact: Don Guest: 743-3217, or Don Koppler: 327-6877.
	[ the band usually welcomes guest musicians who want to sit in]

WSD: too many groups to mention.  Try contacting:
	OPSDA Square & Round Dance Center
	613 E Delano	(off 1st Ave, about 2 mi N of U/A)
	620-1566
	- they seem to have a different club every night of the week.

BALLROOM: try some of the resorts, or look under "dance instruction" in
the yellow pages.
	There are Sr. Citizen Dances at Armory Park Center (see address under
contras; call the center for more info.)
    Ballroom Dancing for Seniors: 1:30-3:30 pm, Udall Center, 7200 E.
Tanque Verde. $1.50. Dance to live band.

SWING & 2-STEP:
Is done mostly in the bars. East-coast (triple step) and Jitterbug
aren't seen much, and I don't know of anyplace that plays music
of the "swing era." What is done here is Western 2-step (aka progressive
or Texas 2-step), west-coast (slotted) swing, and a couple of
varieties that apparently originated in Arizona: "pony" swing and
"Tucson 2-step" (aka Arizona or rhythm 2-step). 

	There is a (primarily west-coast) swing club which meets on 
Thursdays at the Tucson Woman's Club, 6245 E Belleview (at Wilmot)
beginning teaching 6:30-7:15, intermediate 7:15-8:00,
open dancing 8-9+. $3.00 for non-members.
	Rose Marie Burrell - 325-9436
    Randy McNellis  - 323 2307
		They also get together on Wednesdays at Berky's bar, 5769 E Speedway
and Saturdays (at 7, before the crowds come) at 30-Something, 4192 E 22nd st.

	A number of bars have dancing every night of the week, usually
no cover charge during the weekdays, often special cheap dinner
buffets during the week, and sometimes free lessons. The best known
(largest floors and most likely to have dancers on them) are:
	Cactus Moon Cafe
	5470 E. Broadway  (4 mi SE of U/A)
	748-0049
	- has teaching on:
		Sunday (usually mobbed) 2-step: beginning 5:30-6:30, Int 6:30-8
		Monday 2-step: 6:30-7:30 beginning, 7:30-8:30 Int
		Tues - west-coast: 6:30-7:30 beg, 7:30-8:30 Int
		Thursday - line-dance: 6:30 (?)
	Wild-Wild West
	4385 W. Ina Road	(Way the hell North of everything!)
	744-7744
		Sundays - beginning 2-step teaching at 4:30 - (?)
		Thursdays (?) - advanced 2-step teaching from ... 
		... A race track sized dance floor, and a 3-ring circus layout.
		Often hosts concerts, so call to check on what's happening.
	Round-Up
	1527 E Bensen	(4-5 mi S of U/A)
	294-4662
		Has a drop-in class ($5) in pony swing on Sundays at 3:00.
	Call to be sure it's happening.  (Pony swing is like a cross beteween
	contra-dance swing and jitterbug).
	

PERFORMING GROUPS:

The other local things of interest are Mexican Folklorico groups, and
various Tribal groups. The thing to do is to check out the papers when
you pass through to see if anyone is performing: 

EVENTS INFORMATION:
	Tucson Citizen: publishes a Weekend section on Thursdays which
		covers the entire following week
	Arizona Star: publishes a weekend ("Starlight") section on Fridays,
		and some info about events for the week on Sundays
	Tucson Weekly: (free alternative paper, available in many stores,
		record shops, etc.) has a weekly happenings section, but the
		information is sometimes inaccurate(!). Calling to confirm the
		date, time & location is advisable.
	Entertainment Magazine: Another freebie, available at record
		shops and some other outlets, comes out at the beginning
		of the month (all copies usually gone by mid-month). Good
		list of concerts of all types, plus coverage of local groups
		(including blues, alternative rock, and country). Mostly Tucson,
		but covers some event
		in Tucson & other cities.
	Radio: KXCI  ( 91.3 fm) is the folk/alternative station. Very wide
		variety of programming. International music program on
		Sunday mornings at ? am. 
			KJZZ (? fm - Phoenix station, may not come in clearly)
		Jazz & Blues. Excellent blues show on Sunday nights.

MUSIC:
No live balkan music, sigh. For anglo/american:
	Rusty Nail
		326 N. 4th Ave	(1/2 Mi W of U/A)  798-3553
		American & Keltic instrumental Jam on Tuesday nights
		Open Mike Thursday Nights
		Local musicians often on Saturdays, some other days.
	Cushing Street Bar
		343 S Meyer Ave	(1/2 Mi S of downtown)
		Often has acoustic entertainers, sometimes has concerts (folk, blues,
		etc.) in the courtyard. Call to check.  622-7984
	Tucson Friends of Traditional Music often sponsers concerts.
		Call: Don Guest: 743 3217
		

ANNUAL & SPECIAL EVENTS:	(of folkloric interest)
	Tucson Meet Yourself	(annual Oct 10-11  1992)
	Tucson folk Festival	annual: May 1-2 1993
	Serbian Festival		annual: April ?
	Waila Festival			annual: March?
	Cowboy Music Festival   annual: (November ?) 
	Greek festival			(Spring: May 1-2 1992, Fall: Sept ?)
	Xmas & New Years, Contra & Int'l usually have parties. Also
		Halloween. Call to check for time & place
	Cinco De Mayo			May 2-5, 1992, Kennedy Park.
	Tucson Mariachi Festival	April 22-25 1992
	Tucson Blues Festival	annual: Oct 18 1992

	

CLASSES:
	There are a bunch of small dance studios around town offering
classes in this'n'that; check the yellow pages.
	Umbrella groups, which sometimes have interesting varieties
of dance offerings (Flamenco, Beledi, African ...):
	(1) Tucson Parks & Recreation
	(2) The Open University
	(3) Pima Community College

============== Other Places in the State: ==============================
Phoenix is about a 2 hour drive from Tucson,
Prescott is about 2 hours N of Phoenix. 4 hours from Tucson.


==============================================================================

PHOENIX
contra dances:
(2nd Friday of each month at: Grace United Methodist Church, Mesa AZ)
 Info: 602/893-3328    (Ron Nieman)

	alternate Phoenix dance contact:
	967 2010  Bonnie & Bruce Tucker 
		      55 W. 13th St
			  Tempe 85281    (Tempe is a phx suburb)
	There is apparently a (4th Saturday?) dance forming at the ASU Student
		Center. Info: 893 8976


	There is also a bit of international up there and of course WSD.
	There is a large West-Coast club which meets on Sunday nights -
lessons for an hour or two, then a couple of hours of dancing to live
bands. They also offer lessons on Monday nights, and maybe other
nights.
	I know there is also a Western Two Step scene up there, but have
no info about it. 

PRESCOTT
contras: First & Third Fridays of each month at Prescott Armory
	contact: 788 5118  JP Thom-Gronachan    (he really does go by "J.P.")
			  Prescott Mandolin & Repair
IFD: Jack Yule 778-4416 . Meets Tues Eves, also classes other evenings

FLAGSTAFF: 2nd Saturday of each month
	Marshall School: 840 N. Bonito
	info: 774 7216


[ I can hunt up more info about most of the abovementioned groups, but am
too lazy to do it until someone asks for it.]
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing,ba.dance