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… Read more »
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Filtered by Performer Style: Contra
Sherry Nevins
Noted Washington state Contra dance caller Sherry Nevins graces our stage annually.
Chuck Abell
In his caller persona, Chuck Abell brings us challenging dances that will exercise your mind and tickle your fancy with their intricate beauty. Chuck organizes the monthly caller meetings in Rochester to workshop new dances. He debuted his “DJ Abell” persona at our 2017 Thanksgiving Festival, with a Taste of Techno Contra session.
Tom Calwell and Myra Hirschberg
Toronto dance callers and teachers Myra Hirschberg and Tom Calwell are Dancingthread: bringing people together on the dance floor with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of fun.
Maxine McDonald
Young Maxine McDonald calling has a locked-in sense of timing that is never off, and never obtrusive. Quiet and unassuming, she puts the music first for a sweet evening. Her enthusiasm for the dance is contagious, and stems from a love of historical re-enactment at the Genesee Country Village and Museum–and a delight in twirling… Read more »
Peregrine Road
RACHEL BELL (accordion) has been gracing the stages of contra dance halls, concert venues and bal folk dances for many years. Pair Rachel up with pianist KAREN AXELROD, widely known for her lyrical and powerful English Country Dance playing, and you get Peregrine Road. These two seasoned musicians provide an exhilarating dance experience infused with… Read more »
Arugula
Dependably enjoyable Rochester regular, Arugula plays for both Contra and English Country dances.
Serendipity
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… Read more »
Blue Dance
The cure for the blues is the fantastic local ensemble Blue Dance. This band electrifies the contra stage with their singable, danceable fusion tunes. Expect the unexpected as this band wows the crowd with classics from Stevie Wonder, Sinatra, Sam Cooke, and Louis Armstrong.
Ginger Majority
Casey Murray, Daphne Pickens, Liza Sommers, and Audrey Potter are back with that high energy fiddle and cello dance music. They formed at the Kanack School of Music, an outstanding resource in Brighton. Now Casey is attending the Berklee School of Music in Boston, and Daphne is attending Oberlin. Liza and Audrey are in high… Read more »
Crooked Sixpence
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!
Sister Haggis
Known as Sister Haggis, Eileen Kalfass and Jane Knoeck have been making music together for over 15 years. Bringing their wealth of experience to both Contra and English dance, Eileen’s lilting fiddle and Jane’s dynamic piano provide both high energy and exceptional musicality to the dance floor. Their repertoire features both traditional and modern tunes… Read more »
Glenrose
Glenrose is primarily a traditional instrument music ensemble. Glenrose was formed as a Contra Dance band in 1991. Most of us still live in North Rose, NY. The band also plays for English Country dances and many types of traditional folk dance and listening music, as well as more classically oriented material for weddings, dances… Read more »
Eloise & Co.
Eloise & Co. features the combined creative force of two of the country’s most sought-after dance musicians, Becky Tracy and Rachel Bell. These two, sometimes playing as a duo and other times joined by various guest guitarists including Owen Morrison, Owen Marshall, and Andrew VanNorstrand, crank out dance music with unbridled energy and soaring beauty…. Read more »
Fried Oatmeal
Fried Oatmeal is a Buffalo staple!
Tempest
Dynamic music from Tim Ball on fiddle, Chuck Abell on guitar, and Eric Metzgar on percussion. A variation of this band is “Tempest with Horns” which ramps up the already full sound with amazing brass instrumentalists.
Dugan Murphy
Dugan Murphy is a contra dance caller performing across the U.S. and Canada, whose smooth-voiced and joyful teaching has the precision of clockwork.
Sarah VanNorstrand
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… Read more »
Bob Fabinski
Clear and affable, Bob never forgets the beginner’s experience in contra, so he always gives you what you need to get dancing and to have fun right away.