Details

Join us as we come together to celebrate the magic of live music and dance. You’ll groove to the jazzy stylings of Lake Effect, this promises to be a night where the dance floor comes alive.

Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or stepping onto the dance floor for the first time, this event is your ticket to an evening of joy, connection, and shared experiences. So mark your calendar, rally your friends, and join us for an enchanting night of music, movement, and camaraderie that you won’t want to miss! We can’t wait to dance the night away with you.

If you’re new to contra dance, have no worries. We offer an introduction to the moves about 15 minutes before the dance. Just let us know when you arrive. The entrance fee is a sliding scale; pay what you can, with a suggested amount of $10.

This will be our last regular dance at Harmony House. We’ve found a new home in a newly renovated dance hall on Gregory Street in the South Wedge of Rochester.

Caller

Margaret Mathews at the microphone

Margaret Mathews

With more than 35 years experience as dancer, musician and caller, Margaret’s easy-going, engaging style gets everyone out on the dance floor. Her ability to smoothly adjust the dances to the experience level of the dance community make it a fun and accessible evening for everyone. In addition to contra dances, she calls for traditional Old Time square dances, Civil War reenactments, hoedowns, weddings and other joy filled occasions. Her dance calling has taken her up and down the East coast, from the Carolinas to Vermont, as well as the Northwest and Canada. When not calling, Margaret plays bass in Wild Root String Band, a Southern Old Time band.

Band

Lake Effect duo are Matt Sloboda on fiddle and Chuck Abell on guitar.

Lake Effect

Matt Sloboda (fiddle), Chuck Abell (guitar)

For nearly five years, Lake Effect has been honing its sound while playing for dances and concerts both locally and in New England and along the Eastern Seaboard. Founded initially by Matt Sloboda and Chuck Abell, the band has grown to include Eastman Jazz graduates Grace Frarey and frequent collaborator Jack Courtright. With a shared vision that encompasses the best in folk, Celtic, swing, and World Music, the band has melded seamlessly into a unique and soulful ensemble which values both precision and musical variety.