Vertical Expression

Contra dance in Sheffield with Cis Hinkle & Vertical Expression

Sunday 7th May 2023

Top US contra dance caller Cis Hinkle joins forces with established UK contra band Vertical Expression for a one-off special event!

This event is the only Northern dance of Cis's England tour, and the only gig of the tour that Cis and Vertical Expression will be doing together, plus we've secured a fantastic dance venue - we are very excited for this event and we hope you will be too!

The event will also feature an interval spot by the fabulous Feet First Appalachian Dance Team, one of the UK's original Appalachian dance teams.

Essential info

Date: Sunday 7th May 2023
Venue: Crookes Social Club, Mulehouse Road, Sheffield S10 1TD
Time: 2.30-5.30pm (doors open 2.15pm)
Introductory workshop 2.30-2.45pm
Calling: Calling will use the role labels larks/robins

Ticket options: Standard £10 / Lower price £5 / Supporter £15.
Advance tickets available from Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.co.uk/CENR
Tickets also available on the door but cash only & exact money only please.

We are offering multiple ticket options as we don't want cost to be a barrier to anyone attending. Please pick whichever option you feel is most suitable for you, no questions will be asked. All proceeds go towards covering the costs of running the event.

Covid-19: Please consider doing an LFT before you come to the dance if you can.

We will offer refunds on advance ticket purchases for Covid-related reasons (such as, you test positive, have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, or you have unexplained Covid-like symptoms). Please avoid the dance if any of these apply to you on the day.

Get directions on OpenStreetMap / Google Maps

The performers

The caller:

Cis Hinkle has delighted contra and square dancers since 1985 with her skilled teaching, welcoming manner, playful enthusiasm, and masterful selection of dances. She is in great demand at music and dance festivals all over the US, England, and Denmark.

When not on the road, Cis teaches t'ai chi classes in her native Atlanta, Georgia.

The band:

Vertical Expression are one of the UK's popular established contra dance bands. Featuring fiddle, melodeons, guitar, double bass and foot percussion, they are known for their fun, energetic dance music, driving rhythms, and their skill of selecting just the right tune for each dance.

The interval spot:

Formed in 1985, Feet First Appalachian dance team is based in Chesterfield UK and is the longest-running Appalachian dance team in Britain.

Choreographing their own dances, using traditional steps and music from the Appalachian mountains, as well as some novel additions too, Feet First are always very well received at any display they give and aim to give a performance with plenty of entertainment and "pizzazz".

Further details

The venue:

Crookes Social Club is a community venue with a large, spacious dance floor and plenty of seating. When you arrive at the venue, turn right through the front door then immediately left to find the dance hall.

Drinks: The bar will be open, please support the venue by buying a drink or two. The venue's main bar will open at 12pm if you want to have a drink or meet up with friends before doors open for the dance.

Accessibility: The entire venue is on the ground floor with step-free access from the car park, there is a small ramp to the front door. There are three sets of double doors between the front door and the dance hall, at least one door of each set should be propped open.

The dance hall has its own (gents/ladies) toilets and there are accessible toilets available elsewhere in the building.

The hall is large but has no windows, so fresh air from the outside is somewhat limited. You are welcome to wear a mask if you prefer.

The venue, a dance hall with a large wooden floor and bench seats, tables and chairs around the sides, and a stage at one end The venue, a dance hall with a large wooden floor and bench seats, tables and chairs around the sides and at the back, and a stage at the front
Parking spaces outside the front door of the venue in a fairly level car park The front door of the venue, red double doors with a small concrete ramp and a handrail next to two steps and another handrail up to the door

Travel to the venue:

There is a free car park at the front of the venue and additional free on-street parking on the roads surrounding the venue.

The 52 and 52a bus routes from the city centre and Hillsborough serve the area.

If travelling to Sheffield by train, the simplest route is to walk (or tram) to High Street in the city centre (opposite the Cathedral) and get the 52 (destination Hillsborough) to Crookes. Get off just after you pass the Sainsbury's and Co-op on your right.

Food:

There are various nearby cafes, restaurants and supermarkets to buy food from either before or after the dance, a few minutes' walk from the venue on Crookes High Street.