Our e-mails passed in the ether:  = Here's the=20 news, hot-off-the-press, from Deb in Flagstaff:
 
Dear friends -
 
We're back in the swing of things = again, with some=20 exciting dances this weekend and lots of music coming up.  February = is the=20 month of WINTERFEST in Flagstaff, and as usual there are more things = going on=20 than any one person could possibly attend.  If you want to = check out=20 the happenings in Flagstaff go to    http://www.flagst= affchamber.com/winterfest.php =20 There is also a lot happening at Flagstaff's Orpheum Theater...  = for a=20 calendar of their events visit http://www.orpheumpresents.com/calendar/calen= dar.php?op=3Dcal&month=3D2&year=3D2005=20 And finally FFOTM has a good calendar at http://www.ffotm.net/calendar.= htm
 
Also, don't forget upcoming regular=20 dances....February 12 in Phoenix, February 19 in = Cottonwood=20 and February 19 in Tucson.
 
Enjoy your weekend!
 
Deb
 
Friday February 4- Contra = Dance in=20 Prescott 
7:30 to 10:30
Band: The Thumb = Beauties
Callers: Archie=20 and Sherman
Sacred Heart Gym, Summit St., Prescott=20
 
Saturday February 5 - = Contra Dance in=20 Flagstaff
It's time for one of the biggest dances = of the year=20 - the February Flagstaff Winterfest Contra Dance.  This dance = is the=20 regular first Saturday FFOTM Contra Dance, but because it is advertised = as one=20 of Flagstaff's Winterfest activities, = a larger than=20 usual turn out is expected!  And who knows what kind of = crowd=20 we'll get  this year - there's actually snow in=20 Flagstaff!!  The FFOTM band, Just Desserts will offer a = fine set=20 of tunes and local callers Kari Usher and Deb Comly will teach and = prompt the=20 dancers. 
 
Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music = Contra Dance=20 is in NAU's Ashurst Hall.  Pre dance lesson from 7:30 - 8:00 with = dancing=20 from 8:00 - 11:00. Suggested donation of $6, $5 for = members. For=20 more info visit  www.ffotm.net or call 928-526-6757 or 928-774-5936
 
Saturday February 5 - = Contra Dance in=20 Tucson
 
The Saturday, February 5th Tucson = Contra Dance will=20 be the 25th anniversary of TFTM dances. It all started on the 1st = Saturday of=20 February in 1980 with a square dance at the same hall they use now at = the First=20 United Methodist Church at 915 E. 4th Street. The caller for the = anniversary=20 dance will be Phoenix's Peg Hesley calling to the dance music of Hands = Four.=20 Rumor has it that a few square dances will be called! There is an = introductory=20 dance lesson at 7:30 pm and the contra dance begins at 8:00pm.  www.tftm.org
 
 
Year=20 2005 News=20 Flash!          =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;    =20

The PFOTM Board is proud to = announce the=20 First Annual "Phoenix Spring Frolic Contra Dance" featuring = International Caller=20 Kathy Anderson with music by Tucson's Privy Tippers! The Frolic will = take place=20 on April 23, 2005 at the Kenilworth School.  Kathy Anderson has been  calling and writing dances = since 1982,=20 from Alaska to Florida and in the Bahamas and Europe.. She is known for = her=20 energetic, smooth flowing contras,  exciting squares, quick clear = teaching=20 and a great sense of humor. Kathy will also be teaching a participatory = squares=20 workshop in the afternoon  before the evening Spring Frolic contra = dance.=20 If you are a caller or an aspiring caller and want to hone your square = calling=20 abilities you can  reserve your space by e-mailing to phoenixcontradancer@cox.net or call (602)=20 564-6620.

Tickets for the dance are = available at the=20 Phoenix Contra Dance as well as other contra dances around the = state.  A=20 limited number of tickets will be sold. The ticket prices will be = $12.00=20 per dancer before April 17th and $14.00 per dancer after April 17th. You = can=20 also register by mail. Look for the Spring Frolic flyers at upcoming = Phoenix and=20 other Arizona Contra Dances.  Questions??? email phoenixcontradancer@cox.net  =

MAY MADNESS, May=20 2005, Prescott, AZ

With Wild=20 Asparagus and caller George Marshall May=20 20-22  Wild Asparagus is basically the best known contra dance band, = and many=20 will say, the best dance band in the United States, and hail from = western=20 Massachusetts (see www.wildasparagus.com ). They play at dance = camps=20 from Hawaii, to the Caribbean, to Europe. This is a great = opportunity to=20 hear them so close to home.  George Marshall is an excellent = caller,=20 and accompanies the band on their far-flung travels.  The music = will be=20 supplemented by Tucson=92s=20 Privy Tippers. =20 Registration forms are available online at http://sharlot.or= g/madness/index.shtml

 

Dance schedule and = contacts for=20 Arizona Dances:
don't hesitate = to call ahead=20 to confirm dates and location if in doubt... regular dates do = occasionally=20 change due to extenuating circumstances
 
PRESCOTT: Folk Happens!  Contra Dance - = First=20 Friday of each month
Grace Sparks = (Prescott)=20 Activity Center (AKA "The Armory"), 824 E Gurley Street.  Go to = www.sharlot.org/madness = or call=20 Leslie Loomis at 928-776-8699.  Dance is from 7:30 - 10:30, new = dancers are=20 encouraged to arrive at 7:30 for the teaching session.  Precott's = Folk=20 Happens! also sponsors May Madness Contrafest, this year on May 20 - 22=20 featuring George Marshall and Wild Asparagus.
 
FLAGSTAFF:  Flagstaff Friends of = Traditional Music=20 Contra Dance - First Saturday of each month
Flagstaff Friends = of=20 Traditional Music Contra Dance is in NAU's Ashurst Hall.  Pre dance = lesson=20 from 7:30 - 8:00 with dancing from 8:00 - 11:00. Suggested donation = of $6, $5 for members. For more info visit  www.ffotm.net or call Laura at 928-526-6757 or Deb at=20 928-774-5936
 
PHOENIX:  Phoenix Friends of Old Time Music Contra = Dance -=20 Second Saturday of each month
Phoenix dances are held at the Kenilworth School, 1210 N. = 5th Ave.=20 (near I-10 and 7th Ave.)  The pre-dance lesson is at 7:00 with the = dance=20 from 7:30 - 10:30.  $8, $6 for members.  $3 for under 18 = (includes=20 childcare).  Need more info?  Call Carl at 602-268-7181, Ron = or Linda=20 at 480-893-3328, go to members.cox.net/contradance  or=20 email 
phoenixcontradancer@cox.net
 
COTTONWOOD: = AZ We Dance Contra Dance - Third Saturday of each month, = September=20 through April
Cottonwood dances are held at the Cottonwood = Civic=20 Center (also known as the Clubhouse) 805 N. Main Street in Old Town=20 Cottonwood.  From I-17, Exit #287 to Cottonwood on Hwy 260, left on = Hwy 89A=20 to the Civic Center.   Dances are preceded by a potluck dinner = from=20 5:30 to 6:30 at the hall, with a pre-dance lesson from 6:30 - 7:00 and = dance=20 from 7:00 - 10:00. $5 per dancer. Call Deb at 928 -774-5936 or = email=20 debmike@npgcable.com to = learn=20 more
 
TUCSON: Tucson Friends of Traditional Music Contra Dances- First, = Third and many Fifth=20 Saturdays!!!
First Church United = Methodist, 915=20 E 4th St (between Park and Tyndall, just west of UA campus, parking on = West=20 side) $7, $6 members, $5 students with ID.  Refresher/introductory = session=20 at 7:45, dance from 8:00 - 11:00.  To learn more=20 email   contradance@tftm.org  or check out = www.tftm.org
 
WE MAKE HISTORY: =
Sponsors historic dances and balls throughout = the year,=20 throughout the state.  Interested?  Visit  www.wemakehistory.com for=20 details and photos of balls!!!