A Bountiful Harvest Moon

by Shane Butler

Fall is fast upon us. Days are getting shorter, leaves are turning color, there is a chill in the evening air, and all thoughts in Santa Barbara are turning towards…

HARVEST MOON! 

This September marks the 26th Anniversary of SBCDS’s Harvest Moon Dance Festival. With an unprecedented 210 dancers registered, we are looking forward to one of the most exciting dance weekends in Santa Barbara’s history. As you most likely know, this year we have two stellar bands for our dancing pleasure. The weekend kicks off on Sept 26th with the legendary Airdance and will close on Sunday evening with the outstanding Lift Ticket. These two great bands will be raising the roof all weekend long to the accompaniment of one of the countries most renowned callers, Cis Hinkle. This incredible lineup, combined with the most celebrated dance hall on the west coast, is going to be a weekend long remembered and hard to top.

A great dance camp like this doesn’t just happen. It takes a dedicated, enthusiastic and energetic team to plan, coordinate, and organize an undertaking of this magnitude. Heading up this team, and the newest member of the SBCDS Board of Directors, is Kelli Butler. With over 15 years of contra dancing experience, co-organizing (with her husband Shane) the popular Dance Awakening Dance Camp, and having attended up to 10 dance camps a year, Kelli brings a wealth of insight and experience to the task of making Harvest Moon a truly memorable event.

But no (wo)man is an island, and Kelli has amassed a wonderful committee to handle all the different aspects that make the weekend so delightful. The first thing you will notice on Friday evening will be the decorations in the Carrillo Ballroom. Thanks to Mark Edwards, the hall will be absolutely beautiful. From the thousands of twinkling lights, many of which will be covered with origami paper lanterns he made by hand, to the floral garlands throughout, Mark and his crew, will turn the ballroom into a wonderland of delights. Walking out onto the garden patio you will be astounded at the transformation that they have managed with hay bales, blankets and festive lighting. You just might have to keep reminding yourself that you are still in the Carrillo Ballroom.

After a few hugs and hello’s you may find yourself in the Baylor Room looking for a snack. But what you will find will knock your socks off. Spread out before you will be a cornucopia of edible delights. Under the expert guidance of Denise Shesler, a delectable bounty of finger foods will await your culinary pleasure. The yummies won’t stop there, for Denise and her crew will have many more surprises in store throughout the weekend. From a delicious catered lunch on Saturday, to the 3 foot high fountain of melted chocolate later that evening, you will always find a smile and something delicious waiting for you whenever you get the munchies. Enjoy a plate full of treats while swinging in one of the rockers on the patio. Ahhh heaven!

Continue on past the Baylor Room and you will find yourself in The Moon Lounge. This inviting oasis of calm is the creation of Barbara Briggs. She is going to conjure up a homey relaxed environment where you can put up your feet, join in an impromptu music jam, have a quiet chat, or browse the many interesting items that will be raffled on Sunday afternoon.

One of the least obvious, but all too important, magic trick  that makes Harvest Moon  run so smoothly is the juggling act performed b by Donnalyn Karpeles. Singlehandedly (and  it without a net), she c o coordinates the shared  housing. By matching up local dancers who have  room for guests with  out-of-towners in need of a cozy and welcoming place to sleep for the weekend, she makes  many a dancer’s week end that much more  enjoyable. Donnalyn’s impressive act of  prestidigitation is the result of performing this delicate task for many years and could easily qualify her for consideration in Cirque du Soleil.

This is just a sampling of what’s in store and who’s behind some of the magic. There are still many others who will help make this camp memorable, with none less important than the next. So if you are coming to Harvest Moon, and find yourself unexpectedly grinning from ear to ear, you might want to take a moment to thank one of these selfless folks for making your weekend so wonderful!