The Granite

Dance The Line
2026-06-26 19:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | The Granite Church, 5 N. Main Street, Redding, CT, 06896, United States
Dance The Line
Friday, June 26, 7 – 11 PM
Tickets: $20
Grab your boots and get ready for a fun night out!
Join us for Line Dancing Night at The Granite. Dance the night away with friends — great music, great people, and plenty of fun. Beginner and improver friendly. Dancing and lessons throughout the night. BYOB welcome.
Bring a friend and don’t miss it! You can submit up to two dance requests in advance when you purchase tickets.
JUST ANNOUNCED! On-Site Childcare Services Provided by Club on the Go
Club on the Go Youth Programming is available for up to 10 children aged 4 to 14.
While parents enjoy an evening of music and dancing at The Granite, kids can join Club on the Go from the Boys & Girls Club of Redding-Easton (BGCRE) for a fun-filled experience of games, arts & crafts, STEM challenges, creative projects, and more! Their caring staff will keep children engaged, active, and entertained in a safe and welcoming environment—making it a great night for the whole family.
The event will be staffed by two BGCRE Senior Youth Development Counselors, who are certified in CPR/First Aid and trained in BGCA safety protocols. Please purchase a childcare ticket below and include your child’s age. (Food will not be served. Please ensure any food you pack is nut-free.)

Appalachian Flatfooting Workshop
2026-04-25 11:00 - 12:15 (America/New_York)
Appalachian Flatfooting Workshop
Saturday, April 25 at 11 AM
Tickets: $30
Play folk music with your feet! For movers of all experience and backgrounds.
Flatfooting is a solo form of improvised percussive dance originating in the Appalachian Mountains, with sonic and gestural connections to West African, Indigenous, and Western European dance. Using the toe, heel, and ball of the foot to strike and slide across the floor, flatfooting articulates the rhythms of old-time fiddle and banjo tunes.
Wear comfortable clothes and smooth-soled, supportive shoes with a low heel or no heel for this class. Beginner to advanced workshop.

ABOUT THE HOSTS
Montreal fiddler Alexis Chartrand has traced a singular path across the Québécois traditional music scene. “Known for his pensive reworkings of Québécois fiddle tunes” (Songlines), he has pioneered the use of baroque violin and bows for the interpretation of this repertoire. His partnership with multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer Nicolas Babineau has led to the release of three albums and to many concerts in Québec, Canada, the United States, and Sweden. Hailed in 2019 as “two must-hears of Québécois traditional music” (Penguin Eggs), their 2024 collaboration with Nicolas Ellis and Orchestre de l’Agora “was a revelation and an intense emotional shock” (Le Devoir). He has explored the connection between music and dance with percussive dancers Nic Gareiss and Antoine Turmine. He has released duo albums with multi-instrumentalists Colin Savoie-Levac and Cédric Dind-Lavoie. Learn more at agchartrand.com
One of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch,” Nic Gareiss has been hailed by the New York Times for his “dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance.” He reimagines movement as a musical practice, recasting dance as a medium that appeals to both eyes and ears. Gareiss engages many percussive dance traditions, weaving together a singular dance practice marked by his love of clog, flatfoot, and step dance footwork, improvisation, and musical collaboration. Gareiss received the 2020 Michigan Heritage Award, his home region’s highest distinction bestowed on traditional artists. He has performed in seventeen countries, including at London’s Barbican Centre, the Irish National Concert Hall, the Munich Philharmonic, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He holds an MA in Ethnochoreology from the University of Limerick. Learn more at nicgareiss.com
“Gareiss’ dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance…” – New York Times
“…his feet coax music from the ground.” – Provincetown Independent

Alexis Chartrand & Nic Gareiss
2026-04-24 20:00 (America/New_York)
Alexis Chartrand & Nic Gareiss
Friday, April 24 at 8 PM (Doors at 7 PM)
Tickets: $25
Melding unparalleled virtuosity with an introspective sensibility, Nic Gareiss and Alexis Chartrand trace, with disarming spontaneity, their path across French Canadian, Appalachian, and Irish traditions. Propelled by melodies inherited from Québécois folklore, the duo explores, with palpable pleasure, the sharing of sounds and gestures, blurring the lines between music and dance, melody and movement.
This concert is a privileged opportunity to witness the contemporaneity of our traditions, the singular creativity of Nic Gareiss’ flatfooting and step dancing, and Alexis Chartrand’s unique playing on the baroque violin.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Montreal fiddler Alexis Chartrand has traced a singular path across the Québécois traditional music scene. “Known for his pensive reworkings of Québécois fiddle tunes” (Songlines), he has pioneered the use of baroque violin and bows for the interpretation of this repertoire. His partnership with multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer Nicolas Babineau has led to the release of three albums and to many concerts in Québec, Canada, the United States, and Sweden. Hailed in 2019 as “two must-hears of Québécois traditional music” (Penguin Eggs), their 2024 collaboration with Nicolas Ellis and Orchestre de l’Agora “was a revelation and an intense emotional shock” (Le Devoir). He has explored the connection between music and dance with percussive dancers Nic Gareiss and Antoine Turmine. He has released duo albums with multi-instrumentalists Colin Savoie-Levac and Cédric Dind-Lavoie. Learn more at agchartrand.com
One of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch,” Nic Gareiss has been hailed by the New York Times for his “dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance.” He reimagines movement as a musical practice, recasting dance as a medium that appeals to both eyes and ears. Gareiss engages many percussive dance traditions, weaving together a singular dance practice marked by his love of clog, flatfoot, and step dance footwork, improvisation, and musical collaboration. Gareiss received the 2020 Michigan Heritage Award, his home region’s highest distinction bestowed on traditional artists. He has performed in seventeen countries, including at London’s Barbican Centre, the Irish National Concert Hall, the Munich Philharmonic, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He holds an MA in Ethnochoreology from the University of Limerick. Learn more at nicgareiss.com
“Gareiss’ dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance…” – New York Times
“…his feet coax music from the ground.” – Provincetown Independent

Dance The Line
2026-03-20 19:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York)
Dance The Line
Friday, March 20, 7 – 11 PM
Tickets: $20
Grab your boots and get ready for a fun night out!
Join us for Line Dancing Night at The Granite. Dance the night away with friends — great music, great people, and plenty of fun. Beginner and Improver friendly. Dancing and lessons throughout the night. BYOB welcome.
Bring a friend and don’t miss it! You can submit up to two dance requests in advance when you purchase tickets.
SOLD OUT!
Check out The Granite’s next dance event on March 25th: Swing Dance with Too Blue and Friends

Community Contra Dance
2025-02-28 18:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Community Contra Dance
Friday, February 28, 2025, 6:30 – 9 PM, Doors at 6 PM
In the tradition of New England’s earliest settlers, The Granite and Redding Grange #15 invite you to a New England Contra Dance to celebrate the traditions of community dancing! Light snacks and refreshments will be served. You don’t need to bring a partner or have any prior experience. We’ll start with a beginner lesson at 6:30 PM which will be a fun introduction for all levels. Tickets are $15.
Check out this article from the Redding Sentinel about our last event: Swing your partner ’round at a New England contra dance
THE CALLER
Don Heinold, hailing from Rhode Island, has been calling at dances, weddings, and parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.
THE MUSICIANS
Mickey Koth on fiddle and various wind instruments and John Kalinowski on accordion, concertina, and fife (but not all at the same time!) are an energetic and exuberant traditional acoustic duo with roots in Irish, Scottish, French-Canadian, jazz, and classical music. Mickey and John’s playing has been described as “St. Patrick at a hoedown.” As one fan put it, they will change your O’Doul’s to Guinness! Together, they will amaze you!
CONTRA DANCE
Contra dance (also contradance, contra-dance, and other variant spellings) is a form of folk dancing, made up of long lines of couples. It has mixed origins from English country dance, Scottish country dance, and French dance styles in the 17th century. Sometimes described as New England folk dance or Appalachian folk dance, contra dances can be found around the world, but are most common in the United States (periodically held in nearly every state), Canada, and other Anglophone countries. – Wikipedia

CO-SPONSORED BY REDDING GRANGE #15
Redding Grange #15 strengthens our town by gathering its individuals, families, and youth in order to promote agriculture, community, service, health, and to foster fellowship and well-being. Learn more at reddinggrange.org

Community Contra Dance
2025-01-17 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Community Contra Dance
Friday, January 17, 2025, from 7 – 9 pm
In the tradition of New England’s earliest settlers, The Granite and the Redding Grange #15 invite you to a New England Contra Dance to celebrate the traditions of community dancing! Light snacks and refreshments will be served. You don’t need to bring a partner or have any prior experience. Tickets are required, and the suggested donation is $10.
Check out this article from the Redding Sentinel: Swing your partner ’round at a New England contra dance
THE CALLER
Don Heinold, hailing from Rhode Island, has been calling at dances, weddings, and parties all over New England for over 14 years. Don is also known for teaching the Rotary (country) Waltz.
THE MUSICIANS
Mickey Koth on fiddle and various wind instruments and John Kalinowski on accordion, concertina, and fife (but not all at the same time!) are an energetic and exuberant traditional acoustic duo with roots in Irish, Scottish, French-Canadian, jazz, and classical music. Mickey and John’s playing has been described as “St. Patrick at a hoedown.” As one fan put it, they will change your O’Doul’s to Guinness! Together, they will amaze you!
CONTRA DANCE
Contra dance (also contradance, contra-dance, and other variant spellings) is a form of folk dancing, made up of long lines of couples. It has mixed origins from English country dance, Scottish country dance, and French dance styles in the 17th century. Sometimes described as New England folk dance or Appalachian folk dance, contra dances can be found around the world, but are most common in the United States (periodically held in nearly every state), Canada, and other Anglophone countries. – Wikipedia

REDDING GRANGE #15
Redding Grange #15 strengthens our town by gathering its individuals, families, and youth in order to promote agriculture, community, service, health, and to foster fellowship and well-being. Learn more at reddinggrange.org

Waltzing on Wednesday
2024-05-29 16:00 - 17:30 UTC
Waltzing on Wednesday
Wednesday, May 29 at 4pm
Join fiddler Austin Scelzo for an afternoon of beautiful waltzes. Come to listen, play along, or dance in our beautiful space at the Granite.
ABOUT AUSTIN SCELZO
Austin Scelzo actively records and performs with the Southern New England-based Bluegrass band, the Rock Hearts (615 Hideaway Records.) Austin is also an active bluegrass community advocate, creating and maintaining the performance venue “Bluegrass Coffeehouse” and launching the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association.
He was selected as one of 25 candidates for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Leadership Bluegrass” after committing his work to performing and serving the bluegrass community. He was nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Mentor of the Year” in 2023. In 2024, the Connecticut State Government also named him the 2023 Connecticut Arts Hero, an award that “celebrates the remarkable contributions of Connecticut residents who have made a profound impact in, for, or through the arts.”
After four years as a Darien Public Schools Orchestra teacher, Austin decided to transition from a creative orchestra teacher to a musical entrepreneur. Austin now teaches privately, in person or virtually, offers online courses in creative string playing, harmony vocals, and country/bluegrass fiddle, and hosts Wernick Method group jam classes designed to get folks playing together right away.
Learn more about Austin here.
