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The national band, Toss the Possum, (Rob Zisette on fiddle and various other instruments of musical delight, and Music Professor Laura Zisette on keyboard) is coming to north Georgia for a weekend mini-tour!

The weekend begins with famed possum whisperer, Professor Terry Doyle, whose calling is certain to entice a couple of possums down from Virginia to the Clarkston Coumminty Center's dance hall stage. But, WAIT!, we've just begun! Next, we'll toss those possums up to the Gainesville @gaga folks where they have promised to have the Martha Hope Cabin primed and ready to catch the unruly possums for a Saturday afternoon of picnics, jamming, and dancing. ALL THAT before slinging them over Green Street to the First Baptist Church for a righteous Saturday evening dance. There Sorceress Cis Hinkle will reach deep into her cauldron and cast her famous dancing spells over us all. Before anyone gets caught up in fantasies of a cauldron full of possum soup, know that the possums won't be staying for dinner. Instead, they'll be tossed once again to the Sautee Nacoochee Center's historic gym where Rachel McCandliss will put aside her doctor's coat for one evening to call the final glorious steps of contra dancing to Toss the Possum! (Rachel promises to leave her dissection kit in the lab! Whew!)

The Schedule

Folks, that's 3 days of dancing (4+ dances) for only $30!
Or just $15 if you're a student!
Come join us for some Possum Fun!

The Band

The name Toss the Possum was inspired by a possum who found itself trapped under a spare dresser in their garage. You can read the whole story on their website, http://tossthepossum.com.

Rob Zisette is 23 and a phenomenal fiddler. At age 8, after playing violin for only 10 weeks, he entered the Festival of the American West fiddle contest and won first prize for his age group. He has been fiddling ever since. He is currently finishing up his studies in physics and math at Virginia Tech. He also teaches fiddle and blues dancing. Rob teaches a variety of dance workshops at dance weekends and he also occasionally DJ's blues dances. Rob loves to dance, and he feels it is important that the band put a lot of energy into playing in a way that will give the dancers the best experience possible.

Laura Zisette is a classically trained pianist who taught music at Utah State University for 19 years before moving East. She was an avid contra dancer that never wanted to be in the ‘band’. Then one summer she arrived at a dance week and, within 15 minutes, broke her toe which rendered her unable to dance for the week. Luckily, Bob McQuillen was also in attendance and, under his tutelage, she began playing contra piano. She has played with Utah bands, Barnstorm and Leaping Lulu and Minnesota Bands, Possum Landing, Pat and Friends and the Fiddle Buddies.

The family band, Toss the Possum, was born when Rob was 11, Chas 13 and Jane 15. As school schedules permitted, they played venues from the Atlantic to the Pacific. These days the two older kids have moved away and the original band only gets to play together occasionally. The current band consists of Rob with his beat-boxing, looping matching, acoustic and electric fiddles and other musical ‘toys’, and Mom (Laura) hanging on for the ride on keyboard!

The Toss the Possum sound is eclectic — both lyrical and driving, smooth and energetic. Their repertoire includes Celtic, Appalachian, Jazz, Rock & Roll, original tunes, vocals, a great sense of humor, some Looping Madness and some surprises! Hear them at http://tossthepossum.com. Like them on Facebook.

... for more information, call Heitzso at 770-654-5098 or email him at heitzso@growthmodels.com ...

The Fun Stuff — Videos and Pics!

Final Warning!

The Martha Hope Cabin is exquisite but not large. The Saturday afternoon waltz and contra dance inside the cabin is capped at 50 dancers. These afternoon dances are, indeed, free, but to guarantee your space on that wonderful dance floor you must register for those two dances!

Addresses

Links should be setup above for all of the event locations, but, here are the actual addresses along with a few clues.

• Chattahoochee Country Dancers (Atlanta) Friday evening dance at the Clarston Community Center
  Clarkston Community Center; 3701 College Avenue; Clarkston, Georgia 30021
• @gaga's Saturday afternoon picnics, jams, waltz and contra dance at the Martha Hope Cabin
  Martha Hope Cabin; 528 Prior Street, NE; Gainesville, Georgia 30501
  clue: behind the Gainesville Civic Center, past the tennis courts, less than a mile from the evening dance
• @gaga's Saturday evening contra dance at First Baptist Church's Family Life Center
  First Baptist Church; 751 Green Street NW; Gainesville, GA 30501
  clue: the Family Life Center is the last large building behind the church
  clue: drive down the right side of the church for easiest access to the Family Life Center entrance
• Sautee Contra's Sunday afternoon contra workshop and dance at the Sautee Nacoochee Center
  Sautee Nacoochee Center; 283 Highway 255 North; Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia 30571
  

And the Icing on the Cake

There are three spas within spitting distance of the dances; some of the best mountain biking near a city in the entire United States, and striper and bass fishing over on Lake Lanier if you're able to wake up at 5:00 AM. Jump over to here if you're looking for something to do while in our neighborhood!