Emerald City Contra Dance

with the Seattle Folklore Society present

Contra dancing every Friday at the

Phinney Neighborhood Center

6532 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle (98103)

in the "Community Hall" (the brick building near the lower parking lot)

Dance from 7:30pm to 10:00pm, beginner's workshop at 7:00

Admission prices:
$9 general admission
$8 SFS members
$8 PNA members
$8 seniors
$5 for full-time students
Free for people under the age of 16.

First time contra dancers get a coupon for free admission to their next dance.
Coupon redemption limited to first five coupons on any single night.

Please help the PNA achieve their sustainability goals. Consider carpooling, walking, biking, or riding the bus to the dance. If you drive, please park in the PNA parking lots.

Bands and callers, the 2019 booking form is now up.
Information for bands and callers.
Information for dancers.
See past caller set lists.

For information not already posted here: 206-440-9839 or emeraldcitycontra@pobox.com

All dances taught. No partner necessary.
Light, comfortable clothing recommended.

Our hall has strict capacity limits. We occasionally need to limit entry due to high attendance.

Enough of the suggestions, disclaimers, and notifications. Here is what you really want to know...

Schedule of bands and callers:

March 22 - Cascade Crossing - Carl Thor (piano, hammer dulcimer, and drum), Rich Goss (guitar, mandolin, and percussion), Sarah Goss (bass, whistle, and oboe), and Lori Prime (fiddle). Their music is influenced by many styles, with touches of baroque, Caribbean, Celtic, Klezmer, traditional, northern, southern, jazz and ragtime. You'll hear some classic tunes and a lot of original music played with a wide variety of instrumentation. Tarka Ayres calls.

Take note! On March 29, April 5, & April 12, the callers will use the terms "larks" and "ravens".

March 29 - Saving Daylight - Brian Lindsay (fiddle), Alex Sturbaum (guitar, accordion), Amy Englesberg (keyboard, accordion). Smooth grooves, big energy, and occasionally double accordions. Lindsey Dono calls.
April 5 - Continental Drift - Eileen Nicholson Kalfass on fiddle; Eric Anderson on piano, and Terry Wergeland on accordion. They'll play classic dance repertoire with percussiveness and drive. Wendy Graham Settle calls.
April 12 - Kate Powers on fiddle; Marni Rachmiel on flute & saxophone; and Anita Anderson on piano. Michael Karcher calls.
April 19 - The Time Zones - Rex Blazer (fiddle), Sue Songer (piano), and one or two other musicians. Woody Lane calls.
April 26 - MDB - Matti Mero (mandolin), Dale Hailey (percussion), and Bruce Larson (keyboard). John Gallagher calls.
May 3 - The Alphabeats: Clyde Curley (fiddle), Susan Curley (piano), Mike Haberman (mandolin), Kris Parker (bass), and Dave Nerad (banjo). Noah Grunzweig calls.
May 10 - TBD
May 17 - Redcurrants - Dave Bartley (mandolin, percussion), Claude Ginsburg (fiddle), Jack Bogard (fiddle), and Alex Sturbaum (guitar, accordion). Jesse Partridge calls.
May 24 - No dance here. Go to the Northwest Folklife Festival at Seattle Center for 4 days of dancing.
May 31 - Phoenix
June 7 - Contra Quartet
June 14 - TBD
June 21 - KGB
June 28 - Continental Drift
July 5 - Eileen Kalfass, Chuck Abell, and Eric Metzger. Rich Goss calls.
July 12 - TBD
July 19 - Dale Russ and Mike Saunders

Larks and ravens?

As society and language evolve, we want to experiment with language that doesn't infer gender identity, appearance, or expectation. Several different options exist to replace the terms "ladies" and "gents"; the words "larks" and "ravens" seem most popular on the west coast. The words are associated with the positions of the dancers when they finish a swing - the lark is on the left and the raven is on the right. The new terminology isn't perfect, but it's a good starting point.

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