Emerald city

(last updated April 20, 2024)

(Masks required… masks required… masks required…masks required…masks required…)

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

Beginner’s workshop at 7:00 pm (or thereabouts). Dance from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Based on feedback from the community, we decided to pause our transition to a mask-optional environment.   We will keep the following practices in place:
– 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.
– Bring and wear a well-fitting mask with no exhaust vent.

We also recommend that you keep up-to-date with vaccinations.  We may reinstate 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 community-level transmission in King County, check here.  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: we’ll have an online booking form available soon.

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…

Schedule of bands and callers:

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

  • April 26  Ginsu is Claude Ginsburg on fiddle, Marni Rachmiel on flute & saxophone, Dave Bartley on guitar, mandolin, other fretted instruments, and maybe percussion.  Morna Leonard calls.
  • May 3  Natterjack is Hayden Stern on fiddle, Ezra Jane Landsman on guitar, and Alex Sturbaum on accordion, bouzouki, and percussion.  Susan Petrick calls.
  • May 10  One Dollar Whiskey – Brian Lindsay and Penka Jane Culevski (fiddle), and Alex Sturbaum (guitar). David Kreiss-Tomkins calls.
  • May 17  Nimbus – Cedar Stanistreet (fiddle), Brian Lindsay (fiddle & banjo), Alex Sturbaum (guitar). Susan Michaels calls.
  • May 24  * * No dance here * *   Go to Northwest Folklife instead.  Enjoy music, dance, and more for 4 days at Seattle Center.
  • May 31  To be determined
  • June 7  Alex Sturbaum, Leah Wollenberg, & Ida Hoequist.
  • June 14  Bandwidth brings together three of Portland’s contra dance music veterans, Gordy Euler (fiddle, whistle, piano), Keith Moe (fiddle), and Carl Thor (piano, mandolin). Be ready for an exciting, full spectrum of contra dance music when these gents take to the stage. They’re having fun up there, and it shows!
  • June 21  JHG – George Penk (fiddle), Heather Pinney (piano, fiddle), & Jesse Schafer (cello, guitar)
  • June 28  The Sage Thrashers are Hayden Stern on fiddle, Patrick Gunning on guitar, and Jesse Partridge on fiddle as well.
  • July 5  Corwin & Grace is a London-based duo that plays traditional Irish, Scottish and old English tunes. They bring an evening of fiery fiddlin’ and foot stompin’ piano and play with a passion that will get you up and dancing!  Koren Wake calls.
  • July 12  To be determined
  • July 19  Anita Anderson & Company.
  • July 29  Contra Quartet
  • August 2  To be determined (yup, they are so good that we’ve booked them multiple times).
  • August 9  Countercurrent – Brian Lindsey on fiddle & banjo;  Alex Sturbaum on guitar & accordion.