Our History

The Sheffield contra dance series with the Mountain Laurel Band began in 1978 and carried on unbroken through September of 2012. We couldn’t let Sheffield be without a dance series for too long, so in March of 2013 we reignited the tradition. The following is the story of the dance series origin as told by Joe Baker.

Mountain Laurel was a fairly new contradance band when it finally settled on holding public dances at the Sheffield Grange starting in May of 1978. For a number of years, we held dances on the 2nd Saturday of the month for all dancers, and also on the 4th Saturdays for intermediate dancers. This was a year ‘round schedule except for the omission of a 4th Saturday in December. Penelope Naumann was the caller, and her preference was to present a mainly English Country Dance program with the occasional contra mixed it, so that is what we played. When Penelope was in need of a vacation from this schedule in 1980, guitarist Joe Baker became the caller for alternate Saturdays. Joe responded to a wish from the dancers for a more contra-slated dance, and so his dances took on that reputation. By summer 1983, the band had coalesced into the trio of Don MacLean (Fiddle), Bonner McAllester (Hammered dulcimer, whistles, spoons) and Joe Baker (Guitar and Caller). After a few years of this mixed schedule, Penelope left calling, and Joe became fulltime caller for public as well as private dances. Mountain Laurel became very busy in the 80’s and 90’s playing at public dances and private venues from Boston to the NYC area. By the late 80’s the band gave up the 2nd Saturday dance in order to trim down then number of nights out, and Joe’s 4th Saturday dances were well attended. Starting in the mid 80’s, the band also put on one special dance, either in the fall (Harvest Moon Dance) or the spring (Maple Moon dance) which featured guest callers, additional musicians, decorations, special entertainments (puppet shows with Ivy Vine Players, miniconcerts with guest musicians, and Floobie skits featuring Mable and Moon or Harvey and Moon), and a huge array of refreshments, including maple or pumpkin parfaits we made ourselves.

In 2002 we decided to invite guest callers for most months, and those included folks from western New England and eastern New York; Joe called one or two dances a year, one of which was always a “Dancers’ Choice” night. The band remained constant throughout, with most times one or two guest musicians sitting in. Then at the end of 2007, the Sheffield Grange announced they were putting their building up for sale, so we soon landed at Dewey Hall, where they welcomed our regular 4th Saturday dance. However, because of their summer-long commitment to an art show, we canceled all July and August dances and carried on with primarily guest callers. At least once a year we would welcome new callers to the mic to call one or two dances and get some experience. A number of current callers in this area got their first exposure to calling in this way.

By the end 0f 2012, Mountain Laurel was ready to call an end their series, as outside commitments had picked up, and attendance at Dewey dances was proving undependable. With a final “free” dance open to all, we wound up our series of 34 years.

Mountain Laurel – Don MacLean, Bonner McAllester, Joe Baker