Emerald city

(Last update: June 16, 2025)

 

Emerald City Contra Dance

with the Seattle Folklore Society present

Contra dancing nearly every Friday at the

Phinney Neighborhood Center

6532 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle (98103)

 

in the Community Hall of the brick building, near the lower parking lot

 

For all of the other dances, we have a beginner’s workshop at 7:00 pm (or thereabouts). Dance from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

We no longer require masks while dancing – however, we still encourage you to wear them if you can.   We still require you to sign a registration form (for contact tracing) and waiver upon entry.   If you have attended a dance elsewhere, you’ll still need register at this dance as well.

We also recommend that you keep up-to-date with vaccinations.  We may reinstate mask and vaccination requirements at a later date, if  COVID conditions change or we receive more reports of illness within the community.
– As always, we suggest you check Public Health – Seattle & King County for more information about COVID.
– For information about COVID practices and cases from earlier dances, check here.

Admission prices (cash, check or Venmo only):
– Sliding scale $10-$20.
– Students $5 with a school ID.
– Free for people under the age of 16.

Admission limited to 125 people. This total includes paying & non-paying dancers, musicians, callers, children, and adults acting like children. (In short, everyone.)

If this is your first contra dance ever you’ll get a coupon for free admission to your next dance.
Coupon redemption limited to first five coupons on any single night.

Follow us on Facebook. There’s a Lost and Found “Featured” file on that page where you can find items that you left behind at the dance.

 

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.

All dances taught. No partner necessary.
Light, comfortable clothing recommended.
Please join us without perfumes, colognes, aftershave, scented lotions, etc.

 

More information for dancers.
Information for bands and callers.
Past caller set lists.
Bands and callers: please contact us at EmeraldCityContra@pobox.com

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

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

Callers will use the terms “larks” and “robins” for dance roles.

  • June 20 GinSu (KGB meets Contra Sutra): Peep, swoopstake, and huggermugger ensue. Dave Bartley (various fretted instruments), Claude Ginsburg (fiddle), Marni Rachmiel (flute & Aerophone). Jesse Partridge calls.
  • June 27 Threebeard is Ryan McKasson (fiddle), Hayden Stern (fiddle), and Ezra Jane Landsman (guitar). They will deliver a potent groove rooted in Scottish and Irish tradition. Victoria Fox calls 
  • July 4 No dance.  Enjoy some summertime fun.
  • July 11 Natterjack is a Seattle-based dance band featuring Hayden Stern on fiddle, Ezra Jane Landsman on guitar and bouzouki, and Alex Sturbaum on button accordion, bouzouki, and bodhran. The trio lay down a complex, layered soundscape, and can still go quite hard when the situation requires.
  • July 18 Groove out to the iridescent harmonic slime trails of Snail Haven! Hayden Stern (fiddle), Vienna Scheyer (fiddle), and Sam Vogt (guitar). Caitlin Bannan (who recently moved to Seattle from New Mexico) and Ali Webb will share the calling.
  • July 25 The Luddite Ramblers: Craig Shaw (flute, whistles), Laurel Stone (fiddle), Olga Hauptman (fiddle), Jay Finkelstein (guitar).
  • August 1 The Sage Thrashers:  Hayden Stern on fiddle, Jesse Partridge on fiddle, and Patrick Gunning on guitar. Fiddles & guitar cavort merrily for our dancing pleasure!
  • August 8 To be determined.
  • August 15 Anglerfish (Hayden Stern on five-string fiddle, Rae Eaton on bass, and Alex Sturbaum on mandocello) explore the depth of sonic spaces when they play for dances. Expect powerful grooves in low sonic registers!
  • August 22 Countercurrent is Brian Lindsay (fiddle & feet) and Alex Sturbaum (guitar & accordion). The powerhouse acoustic duo features fiddle, guitar, harmony vocals, and foot percussion. When dancers and listeners experience the blend of lyrical melodies, groovy chords, thumping percussion, and vocal harmonies all simultaneously, the reaction is invariably, “How does so much music come from just two people?!” Abigail Hobart calls.
  • August 29 The SonoOnos play wicked, joyful tunes with lyrical harmonies and driving rhythms for maximum ‘danceability’. Fiddlers, Sono Hashisaki and Olga Hauptman, Laurie Andres (accordion), and Jay Finkelstein (guitar) draw from wide-ranging musical traditions, including Metis, Quebecois, northern, Irish, old timey and more for your dancing pleasure.
  • September 5 Contra Quartet is Jesse Partridge (fiddle), Jay Finkelstein (guitar), Steve Cifka (cello), and Julie Bennett (percussion). Jesse plays melodies effortlessly and Jay plays chords and rhythm to back up the melody. Julie plays even more percussion to emphasize the beat and the energy.  Steve fills what’s left with growling low sounds, harmony, and maybe melody. Shannon Horst calls.