BELFAST — “Get your dancing shoes ready for a joyful evening of social connection with Belfast Flying Shoes,” said Flying Shoes, in a news release.

The next Community Dance and Contras will be Friday, Oct. 6, at The First Church is at 8 Court Street in Belfast. The First Friday series features participatory and traditional dance for all ages and experience levels.

The dance shoes start flying at 6:30 p.m., with an easy-to-learn community dance called by Chrissy Fowler. Lively music is provided by the All Comers Band, open to all ages, instruments and skill levels. Musicians practice at 6 p.m., tunes posted at belfastflyingshoes.org.

At 8 p.m., Sue Hulsether calls a contra dance with fiddle tunes by Sycamore. This community-building program is intergenerational and accommodates the full range of skill levels. Hulsether joins from her farm in rural Wisconsin; she guides dancers across the continent at contra and square weekends, regular dance series, school residencies, and barn dances. Hulsether’s special talent is channeling the positive energy in the room, bringing maximum joy to one and all. In fact, she wrote a book – Join Up Hands – to share tips, repertoire, and anecdotes from her storied career as a dance caller.

The musicians in Sycamore – Cedar Stanistreet on fiddle and Michael Sokolovsky on guitar – will lift the dancers’ hearts with their spirited, rhythmic tunes, according to Flying Shoes.

Stanistreet hails from Vermont and grew up playing both classical violin and traditional fiddle music, studying at the Crane School of Music. He plays for contra dances across North America, including previous Belfast dances with Nor’easter and Cloud Ten.

Sokolovsky was born in Russia and raised in New England. After studying music in college, Sokolovsky encountered contra dance culture and has danced and played ever since with bands like Sycamore and the West Coast duo Uncle Farmer. He also co-hosts a Queer Jewish comedy podcast and works on his homestead in Massachusetts.

Admission is $15-20 (or $1 kids $2 adults for folks only participating in the Community Dance.) Masks provided for those who wish to wear them. For info, First Friday FAQ, and BFS Community Care Policy, visit www.belfastflyingshoes.org or contact belfastflyingshoes@gmail.com. Additional support for First Fridays is provided by local business sponsors and contributors to the Belfast Flying Shoes Annual Appeal.

Belfast Flying Shoes was founded in 2005 with a mission to bolster the spirited dance and music community in Midcoast Maine. Among its many programs, the nonprofit offers school residencies and special events like the October 4 square dance at Searsport Shores, both of which feature Sue Hulsether’s leadership this month.