Perpetual e-Motion, with fiddler Ed Howe of Whitefield and John Cote of Lewiston, will headline this year's Down East Country Dance Festival March 21 and 22 in Topsham. Howe will play an NS Design electric fiddle. Also featured at this year: The Henry Road Band, based in North Whitefield, and the duo Velocipede, with Julia Plumb of Nobleboro and Baron Collins-Hill.

Held at the Mount Ararat Middle School and the adjoining Orion Performing Arts Center, the event draws hundreds of folk arts fans for hours of non-stop dancing and music-making. This year, festivities kick off Friday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m., with an evening of traditional New England contradancing to The Henry Road Band with caller Dugan Murphy and Perpetual e-Motion with caller Will Mentor.

On Saturday, March 22, the action begins at 10 am and continues until the last waltz ends at midnight. A class in contra dancing fundamentals is offered, as well as opportunities to learn everything from waltz and tango to folk dances from Israel, France, Scandinavia and beyond in workshops which will take place simultaneously in multiple venues throughout the day. Most dances are taught so that participants with any level of experience can participate.

There will be Instrumental workshops in fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, and accordion and vocal sessions include a Balkan sing along, yodeling, and a round workshop led by Julia and Lynn Plumb of Nobleboro. Other activities are designed especially for families, including family-friendly origami, community dancing, and a workshop on how to make and play the Membran-O-Phone, led by Nathaniel Stimson of Boothbay. The Saturday evening schedule features contradancing until midnight to Velocipede and Perpetual e-Motion, in addition to festive tango and International dance parties.

The festival is sponsored by the DownEast Friends of the Folk Arts. Tickets are available for either the complete two-day event or portions thereof, with admission prices ranging from $12 for the Friday night dance ($8 for students age 11-21) to $35/$25 for the entire festival. Children age 10 and under are free both dates.

The Orion Arts Center/Mt. Ararat Middle School are located on Rte. 201 (Main Street) in Topsham. For more information, visit the festival website at www.deffa.org/festival.