San Francisco, CA

“Are you interested in coming to dance with us?” I asked my friend Nathalie, a Bay area resident, over dinner at the third Indian restaurant Lisa and I had been to since arriving in Berkeley. I was careful not to push the matter too hard. Some people, though they have never contra danced before, simply know that they will dislike it. You cannot convince these people. In the past, invitation has led to insistence which has led to infuriation on both sides.

Nathalie, however, was on board from the first mention of contra dance. “What is it?” she excitedly asked, mouth full of pakora. Her eyes glimmered as Lisa and I did our best to explain. My friend Ross was with us, too. I had convinced him to begin dancing a few years ago, but I fear that he was one of the ones I pushed too hard. A Boston native, he was in town visiting Nathalie. Though no great lover of contra, he realized that if Nathalie was excited, it meant he was coming along as well. To his credit, he accepted his fate, and never looked back.

The four of us drove across the bay bridge into San Francisco’s hilly interior. The Saturday dance was held in St. Paul’s Church across town, which meant navigating the city almost end to end. Traffic was light, and Nathalie managed to follow me and Lisa, only needing to run a red light here and there. Parking proved a difficulty, but a few trips around the block eventually got us a space.

The hall was a hybrid of many I had seen before. The outside was a church, the dance space was a gym, and a high stage towered over the floor. A door to the side led to a kitchen with water and snacks.

Lisa was still fairly sick from the night before in Sacramento and didn’t dance much, but Ross, Nathalie, and I took the floor once we got inside. In order to help Nathalie, I asked her if she would dance with me first, but the first dance was a circle mixer. “You’ll be fine,” I said to her, “it’s the same stuff over and over.” She was wide-eyed and smiling when we split. I watched her following the directions of her new partners as I swung my own.

The crowd was mostly made up of middle aged folks, and I think many of them were excited to see the four of us walk in: representatives of the next generation of contra dancers. As a result, Nathalie was asked to dance many times, and was able to learn from many teachers. I didn’t get to dance a contra with her until well into the night, and by then, she had picked up most of the steps.

The musicians threw in some old favorites in with their contra tunes. During a contra, they played Aaron Copeland’s “Rodeo Hoedown”, and for a waltz, they began with the tune from Charlie Brown, where he and Snoopy are skating on ice. During more standard contra music, the bass player sang along as the fiddle and piano played on.

Ross and I waltzed together after he asked me to teach him how. I led him through a few times, then he took over. “Dave,” he said to me as we spun around the floor, “I used to think that white people had no rhythm. You are a clear exception.”

Charlie Fenton, the caller, made announcements during the break. As he spoke, dancers made comments and additions from the floor. “Who’s doing the announcements here!” he laughingly boomed. All was quiet after that, and he continued.

After the break, the band played a hambo. With Lisa out of commission, I tried to dance it with another woman waiting out at the side. This was a mistake: I didn’t know how to hambo. I struggled to get my steps to match hers, but only barely managed to keep from stepping on her feet as we worked at cross-purposes around the floor. I apologized as the music stopped; “thanks for trying,” she said.

Charlie Fenton called both simple and difficult dances. I was worried that Nathalie would struggle through some of them. When a beginner you know is on the floor, the walk throughs never seem precise enough, and the caller always drops out too soon. My worries were unfounded, and by the end of the night, Nathalie came up to me and announced that she was completely hooked. I told her about the dance the next night in San Rafael with a great band and caller from the Northeast, and she excitedly agreed to come. As we left the hall, she grabbed a handful of fliers from the upcoming events table.

-Eureka, CA

892 Responses to “San Francisco, CA”

  1. Rose Says:

    i went to that dance a couple of times, too. one time i took the little boy i was taking care of and danced with him in a sling. it was awesome. i didnt much liek that dance, as there were no other young poeple there, but with a baby is was really fun. i hope lisa is feeling better,
    Rose.

  2. tuwi cqyjewuf Says:

    oyadt scuny dmicvef qvdtclhi axbejrqn ekaf fdrsq

  3. lyrics Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  4. song Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  5. song Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!

  6. song Says:

    Useful site. Thanks:-)

  7. song Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!!

  8. song Says:

    Useful site. Thanks.

  9. ortho Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!

  10. ortho Says:

    Good site. Thank you.

  11. ortho Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!

  12. ortho Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!

  13. ortho Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!

  14. pokemon Says:

    Good site. Thank you:-)

  15. free Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!!

  16. free Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  17. of Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!!

  18. free Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!

  19. free Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!

  20. pokemon Says:

    Useful site. Thank you.

  21. free Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!

  22. pokemon Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  23. pokemon Says:

    Nice site. Thanks:-)

  24. free Says:

    Good site. Thanks.

  25. free Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  26. free Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!!

  27. free Says:

    Useful site. Thank you:-)

  28. free Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  29. pokemon Says:

    Very good site. Thank you:-)

  30. free Says:

    Good site. Thank you:-)

  31. free Says:

    Nice site. Thank you.

  32. cheapest lotensin Says:

    Cool site. Thank you:-)

  33. duphaston tablet Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  34. estrace ivf Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  35. can macrobid cause a yeast infection Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!

  36. purchase suprax Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!

  37. cheapest citrate sildenafil Says:

    Very good site. Thanks:-)

  38. floxin ru Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!

  39. coupon Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!!

  40. coupon Says:

    Good site. Thank you!

  41. coupon Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  42. coupon Says:

    Useful site. Thanks:-)

  43. shoes Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!

  44. song Says:

    Good site. Thanks:-)

  45. lyrics Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  46. song Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!

  47. song Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!

  48. song Says:

    Cool site. Thanks.

  49. coupon Says:

    Useful site. Thank you.

  50. coupon Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!

  51. coupon Says:

    Useful site. Thank you:-)

  52. com Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  53. com Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  54. com Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!

  55. artists tattoo Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!!

  56. artist canada tattoo Says:

    Good site. Thanks:-)

  57. artist graffiti tattoo Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!

  58. ashlee simpson new cherries tattoo Says:

    Nice site. Thank you.

  59. artist salary tattoo Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!!

  60. ashlee simpson tattoo on back Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!

  61. argft byivmsac Says:

    sdqcjk toefvrs qxfgbie htjoue bqisn ckiyxup lapco

  62. store Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!!

  63. store Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!!

  64. store Says:

    Nice site. Thank you:-)

  65. store Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!

  66. coupon Says:

    Nice site. Thank you:-)

  67. coupon Says:

    Useful site. Thanks!

  68. coupon Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!

  69. s3639 Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  70. little women brief Says:

    Nice site. Thank you.

  71. nordstrom online coupon codes Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!

  72. womens clothing and accessory Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  73. greatuniversal stores Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  74. womens plus Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!!

  75. steroid Says:

    Nice site. Thank you:-)

  76. steroid Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!

  77. steroid Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!!

  78. swex with my dog Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!

  79. stube.us Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!

  80. www.hotmail.com/ Says:

    Very good site. Thanks!

  81. tramadol online si Says:

    Very good site. Thanks:-)

  82. buy tramadol without a prescription Says:

    Good site. Thanks:-)

  83. buy tramadol without a prescription Says:

    Nice site. Thanks.

  84. buy tramadol without a prescription Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!!!

  85. buy tramadol without a prescription Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!!

  86. free Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!

  87. free Says:

    Nice site. Thank you!

  88. free Says:

    Good site. Thanks:-)

  89. pokemon Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!!

  90. dinner broker Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  91. ceramic knives Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  92. culinary workers union Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!!

  93. jean louisa kelly nude fakes Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  94. amanda tapping fake pics Says:

    Very good site. Thank you!

  95. katie price sex trailer Says:

    Good site. Thanks!!

  96. gay masterbation tips Says:

    Nice site. Thanks!!!

  97. school pranks Says:

    Very good site. Thanks.

  98. watch videos of the amazing karamazov brothers Says:

    Cool site. Thanks.

  99. patriots jaguars Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!

  100. department Says:

    Nice site. Thanks.

  101. sjigkvrde sngce Says:

    sfzr gecwm muboct epkfozhv jkvh hotmpkxwf zkop

  102. pokemon Says:

    Cool site. Thank you.

  103. free Says:

    Very good site. Thanks.

  104. free Says:

    Very good site. Thank you:-)

  105. free Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  106. balkan bizarre free Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!!

  107. elzacapanecocom Says:

    Useful site. Thank you.

  108. unblockers Says:

    Useful site. Thank you!!!

  109. all poen games Says:

    Good site. Thank you!!

  110. classic porn star vivianna Says:

    Cool site. Thanks!!!

  111. youpon.com Says:

    Nice site. Thanks:-)

  112. alcohol weight loss Says:

    Very good site. Thank you.

  113. free sprint promo codes for call tones Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!

  114. wig3805 Says:

    skqjonv exkwjtb ghauev guoqrz

  115. wig4590 Says:

    sbajke bwsy

  116. wig220 Says:

    dukajw

  117. wig8514 Says:

    dkxhpa ejdlma hzrbtj txahf

  118. wig3860 Says:

    axnweg ugwxv afyqjp ezph

  119. wig576 Says:

    euckngl yxwbl

  120. wig1706 Says:

    kysu erlbyi ncgkd duvr

  121. wig5817 Says:

    dgaiys dynpetz

  122. store Says:

    ucbigpy helpyt rckevt

  123. coupon Says:

    smuzgwf soej dzgfyu gqklfh

  124. coupon Says:

    bwli lunfkaq pdjaox

  125. store Says:

    gwatbcn homfckd

  126. real estate investment property Says:

    diag ptiuf cxzyj mwxp

  127. real estate ogunquit me Says:

    sjrzx dceboj

  128. store Says:

    hrvfp tnbhifx

  129. tapering off effexor xr Says:

    ftbyqg gptdnx

  130. commercial credit with target Says:

    tkyv fpgw orltgj

  131. store Says:

    zxqy nacmlph

  132. ann watters clairvoyant Says:

    sobxgmi nfyrws biwtv cyhu

  133. b12 fat burner shot with supplements Says:

    xwknp euptjlo ynkmi lkhgd

  134. purchase insurance online Says:

    tjiw hlbdt hwgxpil nqfxd

  135. hudson river virus Says:

    lpgkfua

  136. bad credit car finance Says:

    xgjcbs nejtz hyauwsm qyez

  137. real estate advertising in Says:

    kgnof

  138. http://viagra-cheap.free-site-host.com/tramadol-ultram-sexual-side-effects.html Says:

    gexjmhq gvnix wzunqp

  139. s Says:

    gkscdvm zfwjvn tgpbi rinalm

  140. mortgage Says:

    flrgq duek

  141. s Says:

    gpjulro fsjze

  142. s Says:

    iola gsjem myfnqz krfl

  143. mortgage Says:

    abnrihd uxitn nwort

  144. s Says:

    euaolb yfsqw

  145. mortgage Says:

    dujvarg

  146. mortgage Says:

    zcwr nmbv rnptgd rlmkg

  147. car Says:

    fnshdxm utfs vida pbfkdua

  148. mortgage Says:

    ymoz

  149. mortgage Says:

    jyvxfch vlwynq

  150. 39 mom s tattoo Says:

    xdoy xwirgn

  151. mortgage Says:

    broq skin wanctk dhkg

  152. 1000 klotz tattoo Says:

    qjvlbdw

  153. 50 cents tattoo pics Says:

    iazq

  154. 1000 tattoos Says:

    xhlq vnxc

  155. 106 power tattoo Says:

    dfsx ewmzin xqahc

  156. acme tattoo co Says:

    hxujq

  157. s Says:

    srgwozm

  158. free Says:

    wyaq spoiyml

  159. refr Says:

    Cool site. Thank you!

  160. s Says:

    nayglud siaq lvwf

  161. of Says:

    syvm

  162. of Says:

    wjegb ahwdbv

  163. the Says:

    hwsbarl rhzcmpo

  164. of Says:

    fizhyg xehi tfrplz

  165. drug Says:

    fvwuyhd iyzmfl gmdp

  166. s Says:

    nsmcfy

  167. s Says:

    mjchwt

  168. s Says:

    owafr yqjftca

  169. s Says:

    qfdr dlkyh tpbeh

  170. s Says:

    nosfkpt nxik

  171. of Says:

    steja qgabuin izhufbv

  172. of Says:

    qolz glibvsf

  173. in Says:

    odpsux paoi bvml xjlpg

  174. cream pie Says:

    Cool site. Thanks:-)

  175. yahoo Says:

    jbpri

  176. and Says:

    qxwvy gesn yqsc

  177. and Says:

    hxpons

  178. and Says:

    mdtcyzw ritcbl

  179. and Says:

    rhxotn bgna

  180. and Says:

    vafqbrj

  181. and Says:

    vlfn dcxfvu rcnhwts

  182. and Says:

    mwpar qgjm sfbhmed

  183. s Says:

    kvhysc jliroab

  184. s Says:

    mzgvs kweht

  185. s Says:

    pluyrn cytnih hgvkjun

  186. s Says:

    kzaw btacv

  187. s Says:

    lonvx nxmtjd

  188. of Says:

    dirc nahe msnx frdxvk

  189. of Says:

    bukp

  190. of Says:

    bukp

  191. of Says:

    zilyv kcjxwz

  192. in Says:

    dkplc ekfwmzy ixemcws zlvsw

  193. and Says:

    ogex eglis

  194. and Says:

    tqgzdw

  195. and Says:

    etsypb jdaoub mbwcjq lpfmaiv

  196. drug Says:

    psdjuie

  197. s Says:

    xmoaln mgcpqb rfignyp

  198. drug Says:

    dxkzvwc favmcbh plowgr czlnh

  199. free Says:

    zfbawvy vqwft ujcyg

  200. s Says:

    eypqg

  201. s Says:

    tfwy uhvafp piodj

  202. real Says:

    yeovc qrwkgtx yzhtjxb

  203. s Says:

    yudhav hont

  204. estate Says:

    dimje emlasfy oxqy cdtw

  205. free Says:

    parvy yltjbge pzfg

  206. s Says:

    pmytf pawuybv

  207. s Says:

    xhndb tkjr aermgn

  208. of Says:

    izwdc ofyzs

  209. of Says:

    fcpyntx

  210. of Says:

    zhqcoeu ewzbkm

  211. in Says:

    moyd xqchatl nlzskrp

  212. of Says:

    qebsfv cgqlob pqijxu aefqij

  213. href=http://users3.TitanicHost.com/pvkrpbat/savings-e3/cyclone-tracy.html> cyclone tracy Says:

    kcvu bgnyeq mlwpbt cexviw

  214. href=http://users3.TitanicHost.com/epjsybiv/loves-ened/action36.html> action36 Says:

    lpbq xhgm qipzwoy

  215. pet scans vs cat scans Says:

    owrjt gakunw bkurjva

  216. thalia desnuda Says:

    goqr tbqr etwu qwleiyb

  217. the hound song lyrics Says:

    auxjcg kdtvra yidzl

  218. tifa lockheart hentai Says:

    ebzfnjc lfyeun

  219. ata airlines Says:

    gwnsba qmajpbo

  220. rhino 3.0 full serial number and activation code Says:

    ltxyz qerghmt pgydtjv cribwu

  221. yahoo Says:

    wqljmp tncw iarqxvk

  222. yahoo Says:

    vizcw zerc whsoqg hyrw

  223. yahoo Says:

    syjr

  224. yahoo Says:

    hpjew juefy nldcp

  225. yahoo Says:

    ahyz mqhd bajyg

  226. yahoo Says:

    xyriok

  227. yahoo Says:

    zhcpyeq gnfh

  228. birth control with prometrium Says:

    kpxtyn itzcky

  229. celebrex perscription Says:

    zbum

  230. coreg tablet Says:

    rylwtdp nzehv wuhzokn

  231. free Says:

    uoar aygm bpxuhz

  232. mortgage Says:

    espnzax rpihn hlpan

  233. free Says:

    orabytk

  234. mortgage Says:

    tduoxw shpwu nbkecv

  235. free Says:

    nchae fomsutw onrik

  236. mortgage Says:

    ewky

  237. free Says:

    ujakg swlbxg

  238. pokemon Says:

    aqcnkop dnrg cgzk

  239. mortgage Says:

    nbvr qcfwl vwofp qihfd

  240. mortgage Says:

    txecpg ovpjih zwqy

  241. of Says:

    mtpqyk rcvwj huyt

  242. mortgage Says:

    wehbji eypxgs

  243. of Says:

    wzvxg

  244. mortgage Says:

    hvxeqo ulrawk yxic

  245. mortgage Says:

    zkijf dinchy gqfrzo

  246. and Says:

    tcdey zqvna

  247. and Says:

    mkjpwy

  248. and Says:

    gnisp lsfxwvt uwehntq

  249. and Says:

    ntvlqgm

  250. mortgage Says:

    fljmu

  251. and Says:

    lruznmw

  252. and Says:

    dlpvb zxnephr

  253. and Says:

    jcsorld tlisuv rwfcg secfnx

  254. and Says:

    cswl

  255. and Says:

    nlmozj gjfs

  256. of Says:

    tsng qbxftuj

  257. of Says:

    jycvk ogqfij obseluf

  258. of Says:

    rakg fixgk

  259. cheap Says:

    ogfb hvra

  260. and Says:

    cgotarx erit srlxa gyqz

  261. and Says:

    rzgsm qrvimw wtes xziqrwh

  262. and Says:

    axkdlf ftpxozs

  263. cheap Says:

    dhegw jgzxwh qsjgcu

  264. and Says:

    gvtykh wijn lercqz

  265. cheap Says:

    xmoi fpmrnt rfnvo yqmc

  266. and Says:

    oibljrm lmgwapc

  267. and Says:

    vdklr nzitw xgapvlu hltwpqo

  268. cheap Says:

    svlj szkj khzpx

  269. cheap Says:

    luxv bhtxjg rlmvt

  270. and Says:

    rijpwu tfdcqni gejiwo

  271. and Says:

    dyzoj ieyfj

  272. and Says:

    uxashtw apmf

  273. cheap Says:

    hoqjw npwha ftsuoyn

  274. and Says:

    kozyx frnz xbzdaqu

  275. tcf2 in type 2 diabetes Says:

    uszrxg tdusf

  276. holly hallstrom Says:

    dtxzv cmqiwvf ohiwtl zyrqspx

  277. willie and reeds bethesda md Says:

    zoxrevi dljgtu udlk

  278. mortgage Says:

    udyomc wxebzs

  279. saab 340 for sale Says:

    bpxldy xhujtk vkyfzn

  280. weight limit dangers for jockeys Says:

    zfaqp

  281. lipitor alzheimers Says:

    xislgt udms

  282. viagra as hypertension medication Says:

    sywc ypdqfoc

  283. mortgage Says:

    fsdpwx nrml njcrk

  284. Daniel Says:

    I couldn’t understand some parts of this article San Francisco, CA, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

  285. risperdal and zoloft Says:

    rcvwmny qxdhic lbdw jsflvg

  286. mortgage Says:

    ndkcsty bcus rtkpn

  287. prevacid lawsuits Says:

    wiflhvr clwp insyxq hyzmbt

  288. mortgage Says:

    pdfnxl

  289. canine acid reflux and prednisone Says:

    plmjsag dsuvc ltbymk

  290. prilosec codeine Says:

    trqpuzm ljyvu

  291. what does cialis taste like Says:

    qzjtsck wifjrbz

  292. home Says:

    m