Dewey Hall’s final square dance of 2023 brings two of the Northeast’s most skilled old-time musicians, Aldo Lavaggi and Sophie Mae Wellington, playing a dance together for the first time ever, with caller Sargent SeeDoo.
Sophie Mae Wellington draws inspiration from old time fiddling, percussive dance, and jazz improvisation. Raised in Staunton, VA by concert pianist Lynne Mackey and old time musician and dance caller Bill Wellington, her childhood was steeped in shared music and movement. Contra dances, choirs, music festivals and camps shaped her curiosity and inspired her to pursue music professionally. In 2021, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music. She majored in Professional Music with concentrations in vocal jazz performance and the American Roots Music Program.
Aldo Lavaggi is from Woodstock N.Y., where he was raised in the midst of local fiddle traditions as a student of Jay Ungar. His enthusiasm for traditional music was nourished at summertime folk festivals and contradances around the Hudson Valley and New England.
In his twenties, he toured extensively throughout Europe, absorbing the diverse music and traditions of the old world. A fiddler and multi-instrumentalist, Aldo is now an active musician with his band The Russet Trio and a sought after fiddle teacher. Aldo specializes in Celtic, Old-time and Scandinavian traditional music and teaches folk dancing in schools and camps. He cofounded the Chatham Contradance, which draws a large crowd on the first Saturday of each month.
Sargent SeeDoo is a square dance caller & dance instructor from Kentucky, who currently resides in New York. He came into this work honestly & learned the craft from old-timers in Kentucky/West Virginia/North Carolina & young revivalists from all over the country. He may be naive, but he thinks social dancing will save the world.
He calls dances from the south and the appalachians. That is to say he calls southern sets — 4 couple squares, 2 couple scatter squares, country partner line dances, running sets, & big circle sets. As much as can possibly be done, the calls will be gender neutral.
Refreshments will be available (pizza by the slice), and the hall is wheelchair accessible.
By the Way Berkshires is a digital magazine exploring creative life and community — art and performance, food and the outdoors — and I’m writing it for you, with local voices, because I’ve gotten to know this rich part of the world as a writer and journalist, and I want to share it with you.
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Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
Igor Simões (State University of Rio Grande do Sul / Clark Fellow) explores the absence of Black Brazilian artists in the international debate on art and the history of Afro-Diasporic art.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Families with children up to 6 years old are invited to join Mass MoCA museum educators for a storytime and related exploration in the galleries.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
In this two-part class, botanist Ted Elliman will focus on the wildflowers that grow in Berkshire County’s spring woods.
The Clark screens classic films — Manhatta, inspired by Walt Whitman, and Rien que les heures, showing the life of Paris from dawn to dusk.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
First Fridays @ Five brings a new festival to downtown Pittsfield, with fire dancing with Opal Raven Cirque at Persip Park, a makers market and beer garden, live ceramics and more.
May’s First Friday comes to North Adams with Flower Power — with live music, food trucks and vendors, openings and events focused on starting fresh.
Founded by singer-guitarist Sean Walsh, The National Reserve blend R&B, Laurel Canyon lyricism, New Orleans funk, late night soul, and bluesy rock ‘n’ roll.
This four-part class will revisit trees through the seasons and witness their unique characteristics with and without leaves.
Tom Ingersoll and Melissa LeVangie-Ingersoll look at trees in the Spring season and witness their unique characteristics with and without leaves.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Berkshire Botanical Garden will hold a workshop in creating and using herbal infused oils — lip balms, skin salves, and roll-on perfume/bug repellent.
Milne Public Library celebrates books and the people who read them, with two staged readings of The Book Club Play, a comedy by Karen Zacarias — held at Sweetwood.
Berkshire Botanical Garden’s 90th outdoor season opens with the their annual community celebration steeped in history and tradition.
Every first Sunday of the month, Pete Toigo and Dave Bartley bring a morning of music — soulful jazz and blues with Pete on bass and Dave piano and vocals.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Inspired by May's First Sunday Free theme, 'Giddy Up!' , the Clark offers a free display of works on paper in the Manton Study Center for Works on Paper.
Hancock Shaker Village welcomes visitors to meet their newest farm babies – lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kid goats, and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village.
In this Research and Academic Program lecture, Michael Gaudio (University of Minnesota / Clark Professor 2023–2024) explores Native burial mounds.
On the day of each new moon — believed by many to be a time of rebirth — visitors to Like Magic at Mass MoCA are invited into Grace Clark’s 'In a new light (Healing Dirt).'
Inspired by the open jams from the formative era of jazz, Band leader Luke Franco and host Brian Kantor will hold a monthly evening of music.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Hoffmann Bird Club will lead a weekly spring bird walk along the River Walk in Great Barrington, looking for returning birds in migration season.
Each supper at Hancock Shaker Village offers authentic Shaker recipes prepared by a local chef and served communal style followed by a Shaker focused program.
Northshire partners with Yaddo to present an evening with Adam Moss, the former editor of New York Magazine, on his new book, The Work of Art.
Canoe Meadows' beautiful grounds are ideal for spotting migrant species, especially colorful wood-warblers, orioles and thrushes.
The Berkshire Botanical Garden holds their 47th Annual Plants-and-Answers Plant Sale will on May 10 and 11, curated by BBG’s horticulture staff.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Works on Paper invites artists of all experience and skill levels to work closely with thematic selections of drawings from the Clark’s collection.
Joseph Bruchac, a citizen and member of the Elders Council of the Nulhegan Abenaki Nation, and an award-winning writer, poet, musician, and traditional storyteller, celebrates his beloved novel.
Pleasant Valley's beaver ponds, wetlands, woods, and meadows are perfect places to see warblers, tanagers, orioles and more during spring migration and nesting season.
The market returns with fruits and greens and cheeses, locally roasted coffee and brewed cider — popsicles, mushrooms, Berkshire Mountain Bakery sourdough bread, fresh berries ...
Locally roasted coffee, native plants or gently herbed hand cream ... the regular Pittsfield Farmers Market welcomes in farmers and artisans together.
The Berkshire Botanical Garden holds their 47th Annual Plants-and-Answers Plant Sale will on May 10 and 11, curated by BBG’s horticulture staff.
Wing and a Prayer offers a Tea & Scones in the Garden Amy Pulley's native plant nursery, for a sneak preview of the plants and the spring season.
Naumkeag's annual Spring Celebration returns for its 5th year, as the eight acres of gardens bloom with bulbs to celebrate spring in the Berkshires.
Naumkeag will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend at the Daffodil and Tulip Festival with a tea in the gardens — with sweet pastries and traditional english scones with jam.
Working with the BBG’s vegetable garden, chef and farmer Miriam Rubin will harvest from the garden, then head into the kitchen to make a multiple-course meal.
Decorate a token of appreciation for the mothers and maternal figures in your life at the Clark’s card-making station, listen to a free chamber music concert and more.
This year's Lenett Fellows, Ricardo Mercado Ruiz and Destini Ross (Williams College M.A. Class of 2024), present the work they have produced during their fellowship.
Mass Audubon will explore Edith Wharton's historic home, including its woods, wetlands, and meadows, to find birds by sight and sound.
The Clark invites visitors to look contemplatively as a way to engage with works of art from the museum’s collection.
Dewey Hall holds storytelling events with a group discussion exploring themes, similarities and contrasts within the stories as a whole
Hoffmann Bird Club will lead a weekly spring bird walk along the River Walk in Great Barrington, looking for returning birds in migration season.
Jean Vigo’s film exposes the seedier side of life on the French Riviera, contrasting the labor of low-paid workers with the idle tourists as the city prepares for carnival.
Elizabeth and the Catapult, Autumn Nicholas and Monica Giraldo offer an intimate evening of songs and stories unbounded by tradition, pre-conceptions and expectations.
Farmers, food producers, artists and artisans will gather in the expanded parking lot at the end of Spring Street every Saturday in summer and fall.
Chocolate peanut butter cookies, fresh flowers, jams and pickles and cheeses ... the North Adams Farmers Market returns weekly with more than a dozen farmers and makers.
The market returns with fruits and greens and cheeses, locally roasted coffee and brewed cider — popsicles, mushrooms, Berkshire Mountain Bakery sourdough bread, fresh berries ...
Locally roasted coffee, native plants or gently herbed hand cream ... the regular Pittsfield Farmers Market welcomes in farmers and artisans together.
Families with children up to 6 years old are invited to join Mass MoCA museum educators for a storytime and related exploration in the galleries.
A Clark educator leads a thematic tour of highlights of the Clark’s Impressionist art collection by artists like Renoir, Monet, Pissarro and Cassa.
Clark educators lead a free program with slow engagement with nature and art — a mindful walk in the woods to engage your senses and an experience with art in the galleries.
Conceived by performer, composer and American Modern Opera Company (AMOC*) member Keir GoGwilt, Zarabanda Variations bring together a group of visionary composers, improvisers and performers.
People living with dementia and their care-partners can join the museum on select Mondays for open-ended conversations about art.
Mass Audubon will explore Edith Wharton's historic home, including its woods, wetlands, and meadows, to find birds by sight and sound.
The West Stockbridge Farmers Market offers fresh produce — fruits and vegetables in season, eggs, meats and cheeses, breads and baked goods, fudge and jams and more.
Hoffmann Bird Club will lead a weekly spring bird walk along the River Walk in Great Barrington, looking for returning birds in migration season.
David-Jeremiah, the artist of I Drive Thee, this year’s public spaces installation at the Clark, celebrates the launch of the exhibition publication.
The Lenox Farmers Market returns on Friday afternoons with organic produce, sweets, fresh-baked breads and more.
The Sheffield Farmers Market returns outdoors with some 20 vendors — from pickles, seasonings and garlic, to Naji’s Mediterranean Cuisine, baked fresh wheat-free breads, local meats, honey and maple syrup and more.
Farmers, food producers, artists and artisans will gather in the expanded parking lot at the end of Spring Street every Saturday in summer and fall.
Chocolate peanut butter cookies, fresh flowers, jams and pickles and cheeses ... the North Adams Farmers Market returns weekly with more than a dozen farmers and makers.
The market returns with fruits and greens and cheeses, locally roasted coffee and brewed cider — popsicles, mushrooms, Berkshire Mountain Bakery sourdough bread, fresh berries ...
Locally roasted coffee, native plants or gently herbed hand cream ... the regular Pittsfield Farmers Market welcomes in farmers and artisans together.
A Clark educator will lead a tour of the permanent collection galleries to talk about the Institute's history and work.
Of Words and Music explores creative pairs of works with the same text settings by Tallis, Haydn, Biebl, Lauridsen, Barber, Bloch, and Burleigh, among others.
Mass Audubon will explore Edith Wharton's historic home, including its woods, wetlands, and meadows, to find birds by sight and sound.
Naturalist and wild edibles enthusiast Arianna Alexsandra Collins from the Hoosic River Watershed Association and Offerings for Community Building leads a foraging walk
The West Stockbridge Farmers Market offers fresh produce — fruits and vegetables in season, eggs, meats and cheeses, breads and baked goods, fudge and jams and more.
Hoffmann Bird Club will lead a weekly spring bird walk along the River Walk in Great Barrington, looking for returning birds in migration season.
The Lenox Farmers Market returns on Friday afternoons with organic produce, sweets, fresh-baked breads and more.
The Sheffield Farmers Market returns outdoors with some 20 vendors — from pickles, seasonings and garlic, to Naji’s Mediterranean Cuisine, baked fresh wheat-free breads, local meats, honey and maple syrup and more.
Farmers, food producers, artists and artisans will gather in the expanded parking lot at the end of Spring Street every Saturday in summer and fall.
Chocolate peanut butter cookies, fresh flowers, jams and pickles and cheeses ... the North Adams Farmers Market returns weekly with more than a dozen farmers and makers.
The market returns with fruits and greens and cheeses, locally roasted coffee and brewed cider — popsicles, mushrooms, Berkshire Mountain Bakery sourdough bread, fresh berries ...
Locally roasted coffee, native plants or gently herbed hand cream ... the regular Pittsfield Farmers Market welcomes in farmers and artisans together.
Hancock Shaker Village offers an outdoor yoga class ... with goats. Goats roam freely as you strike your poses with a certified yoga instructor.
Every first Sunday of the month, Pete Toigo and Dave Bartley bring a morning of music — soulful jazz and blues with Pete on bass and Dave piano and vocals.
