{"items": [{"author": "Neil", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190334787704520", "anchor": "fb-190334787704520", "service": "fb", "text": "I very strongly agree with this sentiment.", "timestamp": "1315914994"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190343171037015", "anchor": "fb-190343171037015", "service": "fb", "text": "I will keep my eye out, I wonder if the UU Church in harvard square has anything usable, I don't recall seeing any hall that would work particularly well tho.", "timestamp": "1315916852"}, {"author": "Neil", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190343961036936", "anchor": "fb-190343961036936", "service": "fb", "text": "What do the friday english dances use?", "timestamp": "1315917003"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190346801036652", "anchor": "fb-190346801036652", "service": "fb", "text": "@Neil: they are in brookline at http://www.oursaviourbrookline.org/ Their contact email bounces, but I just called and left a message.", "timestamp": "1315917594"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190346921036640", "anchor": "fb-190346921036640", "service": "fb", "text": "@Cory: do you mean the one at 11 garden st?", "timestamp": "1315917616"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190347367703262", "anchor": "fb-190347367703262", "service": "fb", "text": "no, on church street, don't know the # offhand", "timestamp": "1315917692"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190347554369910", "anchor": "fb-190347554369910", "service": "fb", "text": "first parish- I know a fair number of people there contra dance, at least on occasion, which could be a nice way to make a deal with them, but not sure if they have anything with an appropriate floor or space", "timestamp": "1315917729"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190347587703240", "anchor": "fb-190347587703240", "service": "fb", "text": "@Cory: this one? http://www.firstparishcambridge.org/", "timestamp": "1315917738"}, {"author": "Martha", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190348974369768", "anchor": "fb-190348974369768", "service": "fb", "text": "I think the Crosby Whistle Stop might be worth looking into. It's about a 5 minute walk from Sullivan Station, on multiple bus routes, and has plenty of parking. It's not perfectly ideal, but it has amazing floors and I think you could work around its quirks.", "timestamp": "1315918041"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190354097702589", "anchor": "fb-190354097702589", "service": "fb", "text": "yeah", "timestamp": "1315919004"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190356281035704", "anchor": "fb-190356281035704", "service": "fb", "text": "@Martha: just emailed mike@bostonswingcentral.org; let me know if there's a better way to reach them.", "timestamp": "1315919453"}, {"author": "Taviy", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190368154367850", "anchor": "fb-190368154367850", "service": "fb", "text": "a suggestion: while as a caller, more local opportunities appeal to me, as a dancer, i'd feel my choices strained if there were another weekly. What about a 1st and 3rd, so that it doesn't cut into the JP dance community and those of us who dance both BIDA and JP wouldn't have to choose?", "timestamp": "1315921713"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190375657700433", "anchor": "fb-190375657700433", "service": "fb", "text": "or work with concord to move thurs or mon to the venue here", "timestamp": "1315923130"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190376027700396", "anchor": "fb-190376027700396", "service": "fb", "text": "I agree tho that another weekly option would be too much for most people, including myself during the school year! But maybe a friday dance that was the weeks JP's sat dance wasn't (although there is brown and rehoboth to contend with then, not sure hwo their dances match up to JP's weeks)", "timestamp": "1315923185"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190378667700132", "anchor": "fb-190378667700132", "service": "fb", "text": "@Cory, @Tavi: while cutting into attendance at monday or thursday nights is not a goal, I would like to get back to the ~2004 model where different people had different weekly dances based on what was convenient. I agree that there are very few people up for 3 weekly dances.", "timestamp": "1315923708"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190380054366660", "anchor": "fb-190380054366660", "service": "fb", "text": "what dances were around at that time? Just curious.", "timestamp": "1315923935"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190381041033228", "anchor": "fb-190381041033228", "service": "fb", "text": "@Cory: I believe there were mondays at the scout house, tuesdays at mit, thursdays in fresh pond, first fridays at the scout house, most saturdays at the scout house, and second and fourth in JP.", "timestamp": "1315924126"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190381984366467", "anchor": "fb-190381984366467", "service": "fb", "text": "Try addressing letters to university presidents, pitching wonderful community outreach. They have to see it as pro bono community service to make it affordable. (Maybe talk with the Brown University dance organizers to ping their experience at working with university administrators.) You would be directed to the university's PR office, but fire the imagination of the university president first. Red Line possibilities include Harvard, MIT (Kendell area), Suffolk (Park Street), and UMass Boston. A two dances per month format is a good start. Maybe talk with Will Loving on his experiences starting up a series in Amherst.", "timestamp": "1315924301"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190384227699576", "anchor": "fb-190384227699576", "service": "fb", "text": "great idea on university outreach!", "timestamp": "1315924709"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190385137699485", "anchor": "fb-190385137699485", "service": "fb", "text": "I also want to draw in new dancers, and I think a weekly dance in the city is better for that. One dance that's in the same place every week would be best.", "timestamp": "1315924866"}, {"author": "Cory", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190385487699450", "anchor": "fb-190385487699450", "service": "fb", "text": "yes, that makes sense in terms of new dancers, if they have in their head \"every thursday\" they can just show up at some point, but if they know its only every other thursday or whatever, they might not go to the trouble of looking it up when they feel the urge to go- or worse, they might show up on the wrong week and get discouraged!", "timestamp": "1315924933"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190385544366111", "anchor": "fb-190385544366111", "service": "fb", "text": "@Walker: MIT doesn't have any good spaces (though does have a contra dance). Harvard has some good spaces and dancer students. I don't know about suffolk or umass.", "timestamp": "1315924942"}, {"author": "Jean", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190393007698698", "anchor": "fb-190393007698698", "service": "fb", "text": "@Neil & Jeff Kaufman: the First Friday Eng. dances in Brookline can be reached by writing ecddeb, at Yahoo; the Harvard Sq 2nd & 4th Friday Eng dances are at Harvard-Epworth Church, 1555 Mass Ave. Hall is nice but prob. too small for BIDA dances.", "timestamp": "1315926156"}, {"author": "Robert", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190404991030833", "anchor": "fb-190404991030833", "service": "fb", "text": "The Harvard-Epworth is definitely too small. When there are two lines at the English dances, dancers have to be creative about the pillars; a contra of the size Jeff is talking about would be an invitation to disaster.
I wish there was some way this could work for the West Cambridge Youth Center -- a lot of people went to a fair amount of effort to make sure there was a danceable space there -- but I suspect it doesn't meet all your criteria (not subway-accessible, for example). My impression is that the reluctance of the Thursday dance to move back there is largely a result of uncooperative behavior on the part of the city, which could probably still be resolved if folks were interested.", "timestamp": "1315928134"}, {"author": "bill", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/108868258716671055146", "anchor": "gp-1315928524523", "service": "gp", "text": "Have you looked into the hall at NE Conservatory, where Eden Macadam-Somer has had some very successful dances? I don't know if it is open to the public.", "timestamp": 1315928524}, {"author": "Bill", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190408031030529", "anchor": "fb-190408031030529", "service": "fb", "text": "Have you looked into the hall at NE Conservatory, where Eden Macadam-Somer has had some very successful dances? I don't know if it is open to the public.", "timestamp": "1315928593"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190408224363843", "anchor": "fb-190408224363843", "service": "fb", "text": "The WCYC has no soul, no parking, no serious transit, and dangerous steps for the top of the line to trip on. And it's expensive and subject to rescheduling. Other than that, it's terrific. All round, the Masonic space beats it.", "timestamp": "1315928627"}, {"author": "Taviy", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190413181030014", "anchor": "fb-190413181030014", "service": "fb", "text": "Schedule wise i would discourage a weekly Saturday but bi-weekly (1st and 3rd) Saturdays would fill a gap in existing urban dance coverage. I agree Jeff the idea of being a \"magnet\" dance for newcomers is a worthy goal, but i think if you're going to start, weekly is a big commitment for people. One could always step it up to weekly if the demonstrated market was there.", "timestamp": "1315929494"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1315929899760", "service": "gp", "text": "I haven't; I just added it to the list", "timestamp": 1315929899}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190419461029386", "anchor": "fb-190419461029386", "service": "fb", "text": "Have any of you been to the whistle stop, where boston swing central meets? They say they have sundays free. Martha likes the hall, do others have experience with it.", "timestamp": "1315930605"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/117346402173047680184", "anchor": "gp-1315930860592", "service": "gp", "text": "What kind of a dance are you thinking of starting? I was thinking that we could use a good multi-caller dance around here. Either something like Nelson where one person calls the first half and the second half is 1 dancer per caller, or if there's enough callers interested, we could do multi-caller the whole night. Having a weekly dance like this would be an amazing place for new callers to get experience.\n
\n
\nI've been thinking about this for a long time and would love to do it as a donation run volunteer effort, but that would require a) finding volunteer musicians and b) finding a really cheap hall. I don't know how hard the first one would be, but the second sounds really tough.\n
\n
\nAnyway, I'm very interested in helping with a project like this if it has a multi-caller aspect.\n
\n
\nMy only thoughts about good, affordable dance spaces are if we can find a university with a good floor and some students at that university that would like to be a part of such a project.", "timestamp": 1315930860}, {"author": "Martha", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190421664362499", "anchor": "fb-190421664362499", "service": "fb", "text": "I think you should check out the hall and talk with your friends who do swing or blues as well as contra because as far as I know the Whistle Stop has only been used for swing/blues/balboa in the past.", "timestamp": "1315930956"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1315931899958", "service": "gp", "text": "@Chris: I do think some sort of multicaller thing could be interesting. As could something novel with musician formats. But my main goal is a T accessible weekly dance.", "timestamp": 1315931899}, {"author": "Robert", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190442644360401", "anchor": "fb-190442644360401", "service": "fb", "text": "@Walker: I think the price and the preemption policy could be negotiated, but I hear you on the other points. I like the space in the Masonic Hall except for one thing: it gets hot as hell, even in winter.", "timestamp": "1315934469"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190445344360131", "anchor": "fb-190445344360131", "service": "fb", "text": "@Robert: I think we can fix the heat in the masonic hall as long as it's cold outside. They let us open as many windows as we would like now, and eight fans ought to be able to bring in enough cold air. The problem before this spring was that we couldn't open the windows at all.", "timestamp": "1315934881"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/117346402173047680184", "anchor": "gp-1315936565186", "service": "gp", "text": "I would be okay with skipping the bits about volunteer musicians and a donation run dance. I think that there are so many callers that are interested in calling that getting multiple volunteer callers should be easy. The only issue I can think of is that hiring well known callers might get more people who already contra dance to come, but I don't think it'll affect the core target which is people who live on public transit and thus can't make it to places a bit further out.", "timestamp": 1315936565}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190482651023067", "anchor": "fb-190482651023067", "service": "fb", "text": "Opening the windows on a regular basis is good and engineering a GOOD arrangement for installing/uninstalling fans is even gooder. (I can help with that.) I agree with Robert. Ventilation is the biggest single problem with that hall. Now if they can keep the gummy waxes off the floor, I think you're home. Re: Whistle Stop. See https://picasaweb.google.com/BostonSwing/BSCNewSpace... COLUMNS. Beautiful venue otherwise. Buses from Harvard and Central. http://www.mbta.com/.../Syst.../MBTA-system_map-boston-2.pdf", "timestamp": "1315940508"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190484764356189", "anchor": "fb-190484764356189", "service": "fb", "text": "@Walker: I think columns might be workable", "timestamp": "1315940812"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190485161022816", "anchor": "fb-190485161022816", "service": "fb", "text": "@Walker: I'd love to talk about ventilation with the masonic hall", "timestamp": "1315940858"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190487807689218", "anchor": "fb-190487807689218", "service": "fb", "text": "Eden Macadam-Somer once ran a free dance at Brown Hall (in Jordan Hall) at the New England Conservatory. Decent Hall. But consider exploring/approaching Suffolk University near Park Street MBTA station. Park Street is the bulls eye of Boston transit. Not only do you get Red Line, but also the Green Line running past BU and Northeastern.", "timestamp": "1315941224"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190489707689028", "anchor": "fb-190489707689028", "service": "fb", "text": "Are there any contra dancers at Suffolk?", "timestamp": "1315941474"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190490444355621", "anchor": "fb-190490444355621", "service": "fb", "text": "To see if you have facebook friends at suffolk: https://www.facebook.com/find-friends/browser/...", "timestamp": "1315941569"}, {"author": "Rebecca", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/108076092316272654620", "anchor": "gp-1315947194167", "service": "gp", "text": "@Chris: This hypothetical weekly dance could do what Glenside, PA does: they hire individual (sometimes big-name, sometimes not) callers for most weeks and then sometimes--perhaps once a month--hire a \"coordinating caller\" (usually for a reduced fee) who is responsible for organizing the calling for the evening, recruiting volunteer callers and calling some dances to fill in the gaps. It works pretty well.", "timestamp": 1315947194}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/117346402173047680184", "anchor": "gp-1315947561509", "service": "gp", "text": "I could see that working pretty well. I still think a weekly multi-caller night would be ideal, but I would certainly support a monthly multi-caller night, and possibly be the coordinating caller for very cheap or free.", "timestamp": 1315947561}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190558111015521", "anchor": "fb-190558111015521", "service": "fb", "text": "I just talked to a dojo and a yoga studio. There might be a problem with that sort of venue and shoes. These both didn't want shoes, the dojo especially. I wonder whether a barefoot only dance is possible.", "timestamp": "1315952745"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190560111015321", "anchor": "fb-190560111015321", "service": "fb", "text": "I wonder if there are other places than churches and dance that have nice wooden floors but allow shoes?", "timestamp": "1315953120"}, {"author": "Terry", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/110796240920571504300", "anchor": "gp-1315956105150", "service": "gp", "text": "I would suggest starting with a monthly dance. A regular dance is a LOT of work, especially a weekly one; you have to constantly be booking bands and callers, and don't expect too many of them to be willing to work for free. Once or twice, maybe, to help get the dance going, but you need well known musicians and callers to draw folks in.", "timestamp": 1315956105}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190575804347085", "anchor": "fb-190575804347085", "service": "fb", "text": "Shoe police are unpopular, but prevent the salt haze that you get in winter at Brown Alumni Hall and Snow Ball at Peterboro. Haze, literally, actually, like the far end of the hall is less distinct. It's hell to breath. And pianos and other instruments and people get dusted. DEFFA and Dawn Dance both do a good job with shoe police, and the floors do not suffer.", "timestamp": "1315956598"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190576907680308", "anchor": "fb-190576907680308", "service": "fb", "text": "\"If you organize it, indigenous students will dance\". Even law students at Suffolk.", "timestamp": "1315956814"}, {"author": "Sarah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190783667659632", "anchor": "fb-190783667659632", "service": "fb", "text": "The Whistle Stop is nice, except the columns. It also has AC.", "timestamp": "1316009517"}, {"author": "Andrew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190787464325919", "anchor": "fb-190787464325919", "service": "fb", "text": "I'm all for a weekly dance in or adjacent to Boston. I agree that public transit is important, I also think that parking is important. Hard to find a good hall. Turnoffs - bad floors, pillars, small crowded halls. I think it would be best to cooperate with NEFFA to move the Thursday dance back into town, because I think dilution and competition would be detrimental to existing dances.", "timestamp": "1316010216"}, {"author": "Meg", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190806300990702", "anchor": "fb-190806300990702", "service": "fb", "text": "Public transit!! Yay! Thanks to all for working on this. My two BU students would be able to go sometimes .", "timestamp": "1316013571"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=190810784323587", "anchor": "fb-190810784323587", "service": "fb", "text": "Andy, I don't think the NEFFA Thursday contra in Concord is likely to move any time soon. They considered it for the new VFW hall, but no one really liked the space. Monday contras in Concord aren't quite so large, and have been looking for a way to stand out from the Thursday contras, though. (I don't think all the techno lights were the most successful idea for this.) They might be more amenable to the suggestion. I love the Concord space, but I don't go there half as often these days as BIDA, and the biggest reason (though there are others) is that it's much more trouble to get there, for someone without a car.
I've never been to the Whistle Stop, but it looks beautiful based on the pictures, with great flooring, and big enough to work around the columns. The hall at New England Conservatory was also quite nice, I think, and accessible by multiple subway lines. The way it was presented through NEC brought in a tremendous number of beginning community dancers that we don't see at contradances elsewhere. I suspect, though, that they'd charge more than other comparable halls, but might still be worth looking into.", "timestamp": "1316014393"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191030087634990", "anchor": "fb-191030087634990", "service": "fb", "text": "I'll put in a word for the Central Square YWCA. The CDS-Boston Tuesday dance used to be there. It has a great floor, is cheap, and is only steps from the T. Parking is easy once you know about the two lots at Prospect and Bishop Allen which are free at night.", "timestamp": "1316053924"}, {"author": "Yaron", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191052597632739", "anchor": "fb-191052597632739", "service": "fb", "text": "I was going to mention Central Square YWCA as well. Good location, good venue, surprising that more groups don't take advantage of it.", "timestamp": "1316058756"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191131177624881", "anchor": "fb-191131177624881", "service": "fb", "text": "The YWCA does sound good, but when I talked to them yesterday there were two issues. The first is that they are having renovations in 2012, during which the hall we'd be in would be unavailable for about two months, and during which prior rental groups would have priority on space. The second issue is that they currently have groups in the hall each night of the week, but they do think they would be able to get a group to move to one of the smaller halls.", "timestamp": "1316085251"}, {"author": "Ofer", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191325770938755", "anchor": "fb-191325770938755", "service": "fb", "text": "There are a few dance studios in Central Square: Green Street, the Dance Complex, and I think at least one other. Some of them have multiple spaces. Have you contacted any of them?", "timestamp": "1316119508"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191326797605319", "anchor": "fb-191326797605319", "service": "fb", "text": "Green Street is rather small. The Dance Complex has some good spaces. The last time I checked, they closed early on Sundays, but it might be worth asking again.", "timestamp": "1316119662"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191326807605318", "anchor": "fb-191326807605318", "service": "fb", "text": "@Ofer: is the green street one the greek american political club, or something else?", "timestamp": "1316119664"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191327110938621", "anchor": "fb-191327110938621", "service": "fb", "text": "Green Street Studios is different from the GAPC. The GAPC could be a good venue. I think there's a salsa dance that uses it.", "timestamp": "1316119711"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191328080938524", "anchor": "fb-191328080938524", "service": "fb", "text": "Other Central Square spaces to look into: the gyms of the former Longfellow School (Broadway and Lee St -- the temporary library) and Catholic school (Essex and Harvard Streets).", "timestamp": "1316119858"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/190333384371327?comment_id=191331087604890", "anchor": "fb-191331087604890", "service": "fb", "text": "GAPC is too expensive, unfortunately. They want $900+/night/", "timestamp": "1316120333"}]}