Details
We present this dance for free as part of the Rochester Fringe Festival this week. We’re excited to welcome Raven & Goose from the Pacific Northwest as they tour across the country. With fiery fiddlin’ and foot stompin’ piano, they play original compositions and breathe new life into traditional tunes, all delivered with a passion that will get you up and dancing! All dances are taught and called by Qwill Duvall.
Experience the magic of contra dancing, where all are welcome, and no partner or experience is necessary. Bring your friends, family, and fellow dance enthusiasts for a night of lively music, connection, and community. If you like, come early for an easy introduction to contra elements at 7:00 led by Bob Fabinski.
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Caller
Qwill Duvall
Qwill discovered contra dancing when they moved to Chicago in 2015, drawn by its welcoming, intergenerational community, culture of dancing both roles, and the joy of connecting with everyone in the room. They were inspired to start calling in 2019. Qwill has been touring nationally since 2023 — primarily along the East Coast, but also bringing their dynamic calling to the Midwest and the West Coast. Along the way, they’ve shared the stage with beloved bands such as Eloise & Co, Countercurrent, Northwoods, Cojiro and Daybreak Trio.
Qwill brings an upbeat, playful energy to every dance, making the experience both welcoming and exciting. With clear, relaxed teaching and an eye for the skill level in the room, they keep dancers engaged — whether with creative choreography, unusual figures, or simply a well-chosen, satisfying dance. Expect a fun, inclusive atmosphere where beginners feel supported, experienced dancers stay intrigued, and everyone leaves smiling.
Band
Raven & Goose
Corwin Zekley (fiddle), Grace Fellows (piano)
Raven & Goose are a nationally touring contra duo. With fiery fiddlin’ and foot stompin’ piano, they play original compositions and breathe new life into traditional tunes, all delivered with a passion that will get you up and dancing!
Virtuoso violinist, Corwin Zekley was born with a fiddle in their hands and plays with an intensity yet delicacy that pulls on the heartstrings of all who hear them. Corwin has eclectic musical roots, and enchants audiences playing anything from Celtic to Jazz to Country to Metal. Corwin studied at the Berklee College of Music, has played thousands of concerts, appeared on dozens of records, and has published books and albums of their own compositions.
Grace Fellows grew up playing traditional music on fiddle, and she synthesized her broad musical influences while studying at Calarts, and doing her masters at BIMM London. She became an accomplished pianist while performing as a singer/songwriter, and in the last years has become a powerhouse contra-pianist whose potent sense of rhythm will propel you around the dance floor.