FROLIC FAQ

HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTEND?
Anywhere between 30 and 80, people depending on mysterious forces
(weather? season? collective consciousness?)

WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE?
All ages. Median ages are 30's-50's, but there can be older folks,
flocks of teens, children. People even bring their babies.

IT'S OK TO BRING MY KIDS?
Yes! We create a safe space for parents to bring their kids. At our
indoor space, we have a "play space" room. We ask that parents do
remain aware and responsible for their children, especially on the
dance floor. Most people bring kids for the beginning of the dance,
when it is quieter.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC IS PLAYED?
We have 6 DJs, usually 1 or 2 play each night at our indoor Frolics.
We try to mix up our DJs, so the music is varied each time.

If it is your first time, you will receive a free card, so you can
come back and experience how different the music can be on another
night. You many adore some DJ's and not be crazy about others.

Our DJs play many varied music genres. Some favorite Frolic genres
are Old School Funk, World beat, North African breaks, Middle Eastern
beats, Asian Underground, African Grooves, Celtic, All kinds of Funky
music, R&B, Pop, Trance beats, Trip Hop, Organic Trance, Modern
Tribal, Big Beat, Acid Jazz, Ambient, Hip Hop, Electronica..... We
also spin Latin, Swing, Reggae, Disco, House, Dub, Jazz, Rock & Roll,
Oldies from many decades.....

Anything that keeps the Dance Floor moving, it all depends on the DJ's
tastes and the crowd's response.

WHO'S DJING TONIGHT?
You can call our info line, or sign up for "FrolicAnnounce", which
lists upcoming DJ's, and any changes. Our current DJs are: Mikio,
Dave, Bob, Mary, Haj, Hrana, Bradley and Ajamu. Sometimes guest DJ's
spin. Over the years, some frolic regulars have trained to become
DJs for us.

WHAT KINDS OF DANCING DO PEOPLE DO?
All kinds, whatever dancing they feel like doing. whenever they are
moved to move!
Boogie-ing down, Modern Improvisation, solo dancing, group dancing,
duets, triads, circles, partner dancing --swing, latin, polka, samba,
waltz....etc. , club style dance, Contact Improvisation, trance
dance, break dance, hip hop, sufi spins, ballet, acrobatics, yoga,
comtemplative movement, meditation......some people do gymnastics!

HOW SHOULD I DRESS?
Dress in casual, comfortable dance clothes... or dress FABULOUSLY.
Wear whatever you want to dance in. Bring layers for cooling off or
warming up, especially at Outdoor Frolics. But no shoes!

WHY NO SHOES?
Our dance is a mix of Dance Party and Modern Dance Improvisation,
which is traditionally done barefoot. Some of us like to keep the
floor clean enough to lay our bodies and heads down on while dancing!

So, we ask that people remove their street shoes before entering the Dance
floor, with the exception of soft-soled dance shoes or (indoor) shoes
needed for medical reasons. Since most people are dancing barefoot,
these shoe wearers should be very careful not to step on toes...

ARE THERE REFRESHMENTS?
We just supply water, bring your own juice, snacks, etc. do not bring alcohol.

WHY NO ALCOHOL, SMOKING, DRUGS?
The Frolic is about Dance, Community, expression and connection.
We want to create a safe atmosphere for families, folks who prefer dancing
in a smoke-free space,and folks in recovery. Many of us prefer to get high from dancing!

IS THIS A "SINGLES" DANCE?
Nope, though there are "single" people there... there are also couples,
families, etc. The Frolic is not a bar/club pick-up scene.  
The focus is on Dance, Community, expression and connection.

And.... people have "met" here and became married, friends, dance partners,
lovers, housemates....

IS THE FROLIC GAY / BI / LESBIAN FRIENDLY?
Yes. We are a wide spectrum of people. The Frolic is a safe space for
women to dance together, men to dance together, triads, etc.

WHY DOES THE FROLIC'S FREQUENCY VARY?
We like to hold Frolics on 1st and 3rd Saturdays in general. This alternates with Barefoot Boogie's dates in NYC.

In the Winter (Jan - March) we usually get high attendance and more energy, so we often do 1st, 3rd and 4th Saturday's. (2nd Saturdays are not available)

Our Outdoor Summer dances (May-Sept) take a great deal of work and many people to create, so they are once or twice a month.

If you want us to hold Frolics more often, think about volunteering your energy and becoming a Coordinator. We base our Dance frequency on how many committed Coordinators we have for a given season.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Friends, open energy, expression... layers of clothing... juice, water bottles, snacks if you need them, kneepads if you do Contact Improv or other floor dancing......

For our outdoor dances, bring more layers, rainwear, flashlights, insect repellent.....and camping gear if you intend to sleep over.    (bring an additional $5 for camping donation)

Please do not bring dogs or other pets.

HOW IS THE EVENING STRUCTURED?

8:30-9pm or so: WARMUP
slow, deep music is played so people can roll, stretch, do yoga,
arrive and warm up. Kids may be running around.

9 pm-10:30 or so: 1ST SET.
music usually ramps up to high energy . Often more "pop" selections are played

10:30 or 10:45 -CIRCLE
a 15 minute break for announcements, greetings, appreciations.

10:45 or 11 - 1 am SECOND SET
More music! Often more eclectic selections are played.

AND at out outdoor dances.....
12:30 - 2am - THIRD SET more eclectic fun, trance dance music.....
.....sometimes there is a FOURTH set....FIFTH set, etc.....

HOW LATE DOES IT GO?
Indoors, we usually go till 1 am. Outdoors we go till 2 am, OR 4
am, OR dawn, OR the next afternoon. Subscribe to FrolicAnnounce to
get the latest word .

VOLUNTEERS GET IN FOR FREE?
Yes! Here are 6 ways:
(1) SETUP: call the info line, to let us know you are coming
(recommended) and show up at 7pm (6:30 for our Outdoor dances) to
help set up the space, get free entry.
(2) DOORSHIFT: Do a half hour doorshift during the Frolic, get free entry
(3) TAKEDOWN: help put everything away at the end and get a free card
for next time.
(4a) Train to COORDINATE: learn how to be a Setup, Dance, Latenight or
Takedown Coordinator, get free entry.
(4b) COORDINATE a Frolic, be a Setup, Dance, Latenight or Takedown
Coordinator, get in free for 3 months AND get a cool Laminate
"Coordinator Pass"!
(5) Kids 12 & under get in free
(6) Set up or take down sound equipment & Get free entry.  Our sound tech crew can
show you how.

HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN HAPPENING?
The Frolic started in January 1993, and was run by Gretchen Brown, Mikio Kennedy and Hrana Janto for it's first 2+ years. Eventually, a community council was set up, consisting of the people who volunteer to coordinate and volunteer regularly to make the Freestyle Frolic happen.   Anyone with the inclination and energy to contibute positively to community is invited to join in and help out -- it's fun!

Our first location was the Stone Ridge American legion hall, then Studio and Barn at Tillson's Center for Symbolic Studies; we bopped between area dance studios and various other locations for a while, settled for 3 years at Kingston's Henry Street Studio until it was destroyed by fire in 1998. We've been at the KoC and CSS stage for several years running now.

HOW IS THE FROLIC RUN?
The Frolic is fully volunteer run -- no one gets paid (not even DJs or Coordinators). Monies go toward rent, supplies and equipment. The Frolic is run by our Community Council, a group of 12-16 actively involved folks who gather together monthly to make consensus decisions. We are in the process of becoming a 501c-3 non profit.