Jeff is a former member of Centuries Historical Dance Ensemble who has been dancing since he started with his parents’ square dance club when he was six years old. Our long-time Floor Manager, he is now also the co-organizer of the event.
Jeff’s daughter Megan is our invaluable ball assistant and photographer as well as an enthusiastic dancer.
(Photo: Victorian Photography Studio)
Susan is an internationally-renowned dance historian, teacher, and caller returning in 2026 for the eighteenth time. She will be assisted by Jeff Poretsky as Floor Manager and Miss Megan Poretsky as Ball Assistant. Susan is also now co-organizer of the ball. Learn more about Susan’s work and read her articles at her website and dance history blog, Capering & Kickery!
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Metamorpheus is a blend of professional musicians with rich backgrounds in Symphonic, Baroque, Contemporary, Improv, English, and Contra Dance music. This year’s five-piece lineup will include Marnen Laibow-Koser on fiddle, viola, piano, and flute; Alexander Mitchell on fiddle; Marco Brehem on bass; and Ray Salvo on clarinet and penny whistle. Between us, we have played for everything from nineteenth century balls, contra dances, and English Country Dances to Klezmer, country western, musical theater, and ballet in various band configurations in the Northeast and internationally over the past decade, including at the the Yale School of Music, and New York’s Lincoln Center. Our name originates from Orpheus, the child of Calliope, and we see ourselves as an evolving group of excited and talented musicians looking forward to returning to the President’s Remembrance Day Ball!
While the Victorian Photography Studio has officially closed in the wake of last year’s devastating fire, a photographer and backdrop will be returning in 2026 (probably for the last time) for beautiful portrait photos each night!
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Our Founders: John and Nancy Newbold
John and Nancy Newbold founded The President’s
Remembrance Day Dinner and Ball in 2003.