Eileen Nicholson (violin)
Catherine Sloboda (violin)
Jane Knoeck (piano)

This trio of expert Western NY dance musicians formed in 2023 to play for English Country dances and soon after for contras as well. Each has exceptional musical skills coupled with long experience playing for dancers.

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Performs for: Contra, English Country

A mother-daughter flute & piano duo from Western New York State

Nadine Dyskant-Miller (flute)
Barbara Dyskant (piano)

Confluence is a mother-daughter duo from Western New York State. Nadine Dyskant-Miller contributes the flute and foot percussion, Barbara Dyskant contributes the piano, and we both contribute our joy of playing traditional music from Québec, New England, Ireland, and Scotland, original tunes, and more, for contra dances, English country dances, and concerts.

Contact Info:

• Phone: (716) 969-2286
• Email:
• Performer Web Site

Performs for: Contra, English Country, Modern Contra

Kathy Selby (fiddle), Gordon Bonnet (flute), John Wobus (piano)

Kathy Selby - Fiddle
Gordon Bonnet - Flute
John Wobus - Piano

This Ithaca-based high-octane trio specializes in music for contradance and English dance. We will get you out of your seat and up on your feet!

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Performs for: Contra, English Country

An English Country dance trio

Laurel Sharp (winds and oboe)
Kit Fallon (violin)
Meg Grindrod (piano, concertina)

Performs for: English Country

Eileen Kalfass (violin)
Laurel Sharp (whistles, recorders & oboe)
Meg Grindrod (piano)

Performs for: English Country

A duo that plays for English Country dance

Katie Marshall (violin and viola)
Jane Knoeck (piano & accordion)

A duo that plays for English Country dance

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Performs for: English Country

An English Country dance duo

Chris DeGolyer (piano)
Laurel Sharp (winds & oboe)
Margaret Ball (violin)

Performs for: English Country

An English Country dance trio

Jane Knoeck (piano)
Laurel Sharp (winds & oboe)
Margaret Ball (violin)

Performs for: English Country

A trio that plays for English dances.

Mark Dumont (flute)
Jenna Taylor (clarinet)
Chris DeGoyler (piano)

A trio that plays for English dances.

Performs for: English Country

Molly Jaynes Wilson (violin)

Molly’s vibrant and sensitive playing has been adding energy to our dances for years.

Performs for: English Country

ECD trio

Molly Wilson (violin)
Ben Hockenberry (octo mandolin, penny whistle & bodhran)
Meg Grindrod (piano & concertina)

Performs for: English Country

ECD quartet

Molly Wilson (violin)
Ben Hockenberry (octo mandolin, penny whistle & bodhran)
Ben Goering (violin)
Jane Knoeck (piano)

Performs for: English Country

A duo that plays for English Country dance

Molly Wilson (violin)
Katie Marshall (violin and viola)
Jane Knoeck (piano & accordion)

A trio that plays for English Country dance

Performs for: English Country

A terrific trio that plays regularly for Rochester English dances.

Molly Jaynes Wilson (violin)
Mark Dumont (flute)
Chris DeGolyer (piano)

A terrific trio that plays regularly for Rochester English dances.

Performs for: English Country

A recorder duo playing for English dances

Pat Hanley (recorders)
Mark Grey (recorders)

Performs for: English Country

A flute and piano duo who plays for English Country dances

Roberta Truscello (piano)
Laurie Giroux-Gillman (flute)

Performs for: English Country

A flute and piano duo who plays for both English and Contra dance

Barb Seppeler, Piano
Laurie Giroux-Gillman, Flute

Pianist, music teacher and choral director, Barb Seppeler, fell hard for the beauty of the English Country Dancer repertoire, and she has made it her own with deep understanding and delicacy. Laurie Giroux – Gillman, a fellow music teacher and extraordinary flute player, is the other half of this delightful ensemble. Barb and Laurie have played regularly for dances in Rochester and all over the North East since 2012. They really have  that teamwork thing worked out.

Performs for: Contra, English Country

A trio of musicans who play for both contra and English Country dancing

Eileen Kalfass (violin)
Rebecca McCallum (violin)
Jane Knoeck (piano & accordion)

The musicians in Shandy have played together in various combinations for years and are now performing as a trio, playing for both English country and contra dancing.  Past English events include the 2017 Rochester Jane Austen Ball and a Colin Hume ECD weekend in Toronto in 2019. Rebecca contributed her classically trained violin style to Rochester contra and English dances for many years, until she moved out of the area, and Eileen and Jane, as Sister Haggis, play often at the Rochester English dances.

Eileen has a new (award winning) CD, available on her website.  Jane is the doyenne of Rochester dance piano for both English country and contra. Both Jane and Rebecca have played in the nationally known touring band, The Groovemongers, as well as River Bend, New Brew, and others.

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Performs for: Contra, English Country

Bob is a veteran caller from Syracuse. He’s totally focussed on fun, accessible dances. His dance repertoire is deep and his memory is amazing. A versatile caller, Bob handles both Contra and English Country dances with ease, and events from advanced to weddings to introductory workshops.

Contact Info:

• Phone: (315) 479-5844
• Email:

Performs for: Caller, Contra, English Country

Hailing from Syracuse, Carmen is popular with our dance group for his patient teaching manner and his interesting and varied choice of dances.

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• Performer Web Site

Performs for: Caller, English Country

A longtime member of our dance community, Colleen initiated live music at our dances, arranging music and organizing the first bands when the English dance series began in  the 1980s. Colleen currently books our performers and has more recently turned her considerable enthusiasm towards calling. In addition to calling for us, she and her husband, John, host dances on their back porch.

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Performs for: Caller, Contra, English Country

A Rochester caller and choreographer of English dances with a talent for finding new and delightful dances and the confidence to try difficult material.

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• Performer Web Site

Performs for: Caller, Contra, English Country

David Smukler leads evenings of contras and squares, English country dances, family dances, school programs, and special events such as weddings, festivals, etc. He has also presented workshops on numerous dance related topics. His taste in dances is eclectic, and he presents a wide variety of dances. His repertoire includes plenty of New England contras, as well as an assortment of squares, singing calls, mixers, old chestnuts and freshly minted dances. He has a special fondness for English country dances, and his English programs also blend old favorites with new gems.

David grew up singing folk songs with his mom and began dancing contras in New Hampshire as a teen. In 1981 he was drafted to call for his local dance and has been calling ever since. David calls contras and squares, English country dances, and family and community dances, and is also a choreographer.

David is a retired inclusive early childhood and childhood educator who has also taught for years at the college level in a teacher preparation program. He has frequently used dance and song in his teaching, both with children and adults, sometimes to the great surprise of his students. A teacher through and through, David believes that people can always learn and grow. While welcoming change and evolution, David has enormous respect for the value of folk traditions and is the author (with David Millstone) of Cracking Chestnuts: The Living Tradition of Classic American Contra Dances, published in 2008 by CDSS.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 315-474-0710
• Email:
• Performer Web Site

Performs for: Caller, Contra, English Country, Trad Squares

Ithaca-based caller Katy Heine has been leading contras and community dances in the Finger Lakes region and beyond for more than 30 years. She’s known for her clear teaching style and for her large repertoire of fun and flowing dances. Whether the hall’s full of experienced dancers or first-timers, they’re sure to have a great time at one of Katy’s dances!

Contact Info:

• Phone: (607) 273-0249
• Email:

Performs for: Caller, Contra, English Country

Lisa is dedicated to bringing the joys of English country dance to all by specializing in teaching newcomers to dance. She directs our demonstration team, the Meryton Assembly Dancers, and is also known for her encyclopedic knowledge of Regency Era clothing and history. During the Pandemic, Lisa created English Country Dance bingo, Early Music Bingo, Jane Austen Bingo, and other specialty bingo games. She has called Zoom and in-person bingo for thousands of enthusiastic fans. Lisa was president of the Country Dancers of Rochester from 2016-2019.

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Performs for: Caller, English Country, Games, Organizers

Ithaca caller and singer Pamela Goddard has an engaging, confident and witty style. Her clear and patient teaching make her popular with our dancers.

Contact Info:

• Phone: (607) 273-8678
• Email:
• Performer Web Site

Performs for: Caller, Contra, English Country

Richard is the founder of Rochester’s current English dance series. His clear and persistent vision, quietly developed with his elegant, urbane style, is singularly responsible for the strong English Country Dance program Rochester has today. Beloved by all, his calling is always a pleasure to dance to.

Contact Info:

• Phone: (585) 442-4681
• Email:
• Facebook Page

Performs for: Caller, English Country

Sarah VanNorstrand has been calling, organizing and teaching contra, square, and family/community dances for seven years, and more recently has been expanding into calling English dances. She has a clear and engaging teaching style and a great repertoire of dances to share. Instantly hooked from her first contra dance as a teen, Sarah’s love of dance and her joy in sharing it with all who will is evident and infectious. Above all, her goal as a caller is to make sure the dancers are having as much fun as she is!

Contact Info:

• Phone: (315) 663-6432
• Email:
• Performer Web Site
• Facebook Page

Performs for: Caller, Contra, English Country