Calendar

Song Circle

Share a song, lead a song, request a song, or listen as we go round the circle. Song Circle is free and open to all who wish to participate.  Bring your own instrument, borrow one, or just sing.

Tunestruck

Gordy Euler – fiddle & whistle;
Karen Iglitzin – fiddle;
Lori Shaffer – fiddle;
Sue Songer – Piano;
A great combination of some of our favorite Portland musicians, Tunestruck lives up to its name.

Rich Goss

Rich was introduced to contra dancing in 1990 in Austin, Texas and was immediately hooked. He began calling dances in 1992. He has a feel for what makes a dance fun, and a concise teaching style that makes contra dancing seem easy. Now transplanted to the west coast, Rich is living in Portland, Oregon, calling and dancing in the Pacific Northwest. A dance gypsy his whole dancing life, he has collected many interesting and fun dances in addition to composing a few dances of his own.

Beginners lesson starts at 7:30pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 8:00pm

Each dance is taught.  No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)

*Potluck at 6 pm: Ginnie & Paul, 3138 SE Hathaway Drive; Phone: 541-913-5538

First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.

Ralph Penunuri
Folksinger

Played in Marin County bands Fairfax Street Choir (Gospel Rock), Happy Valley (Progressive Folk); and in Corvallis, Oregon, played in Two Hits & a Ms. (Orig. Roots & Swing), Bon Ton Roulet (Cajun-Zydeco) and Inner Strength Gospel Quartet (Black Congregational style covers — Blind Boys of Alabama, Dixie Hummingbirds, etc…).

Played in front of thousands at UC Berkeley Amphitheater, San Francisco Cow Palace & Golden Gate Park Festivals. Played for just a handful too. Most memorable was SF Cow Palace with Fairfax Street Choir, opening for Crosby-Stills-Nash & Young.

Currently write, play, sit in with friends and host a monthly vocal jam in Corvallis, OR.

Westwind Weekend

of music and dance

A beautiful setting on the Oregon Coast.  A pristine, sheltered beach, tidepools galore, wildlife in the water, woods, and air, hikes that lead to superb vistas up and down the coast.  It’s a weekend at the beach, with music and friends old and new.  It’s always sunny at Westwind, AND it almost always rains.  Which is to say, any weather can happen.

A growing, family friendly community.  More than a fourth of those who attend the Westwind Weekend are young people.  Kids bring their friends.  They dig in the sand, play Frisbee, hike, play cards, dance, play music, drink hot cocoa, help out, hang out, and build lasting memories.

Non-stop music jams.  At any moment you’ll find swing favorites on the front porch, old-time in the shed, and Irish/contra tunes in the kitchen.  Some of the finest musicians in the Willamette Valley come to Westwind and are joined by folks just learning to play and everyone in between.

Contra dancing and more.  Friday and Saturday evenings feature the Westwind All Star Orchestra playing tunes, and dance programming that’s aimed at all ages and abilities. Expect family dances, contras and squares, and a set of Scandinavian favorites. Also find musicians jamming and swing or zydeco dancing underway outside the main hall.

Camper-led workshops.  Gumboot dancing, daisy chain squares, swing chords, beach talk, favorite folk songs: come with your special talent to share or learn something you’ve never heard of before. Sunday morning expect time for singing the gospel of our non-denominational love of community.

A Saturday camper concert. Enjoy listening to the crazy, creative, and sublime as your fellow campers perform, or put together your own high or low art performance and step up onto the whale bone stage.

Happy, hearty vegetarian food.  Beth Littlewolf has been our cook for 25+ years. She makes wonderful fare that brings us all together in the historic Wilson Lodge for family-style meals.  Meals at Westwind include snack Friday evening, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, and early-wake up breakfast fare plus brunch on Sunday.

The Hat Band

Sue Gray – fiddle;
Syd Newell – fiddle;
Jon Neff – guitar
Portland regulars, the Hat Band brings traditional as well as innovative contra music.

Susan Petrick

By profession Susan Petrick is a cognitive psychologist. In contra dance circles, she has been teaching and calling for ten years and is a local treasure rapidly gaining national prominence. Her efficient guidance, expert pacing, and gracious manner make even complex dances accessible to all. Susan travels and calls throughout the country in addition to up and down the West Coast.

Beginners lesson starts at 7:30pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 8:00 p.m.

Each dance is taught.  No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner).

*6:00 pm Potluck. Hosts: Jennifer Carlin & Duane Walrod, 1837 SW Roth St, Corvallis; Phone: 541-754-1336.  Directions from central Corvallis: Drive south on SW 4^th St, take the ramp onto OR-34 W, also known as SW Philomath Blvd. Turn left at SW Brooklane Drive. Turn right at SW Knollbrook Ave. Turn left at Roth Street. 1837 SW Roth near the intersection with SW Long Ave, and on the left: the house sits back off the street. Park on the street then walk up the driveway. The house number is clearly marked on a section of fence next to the driveway.
Map:  https://tinyurl.com/27ptaxs

First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.

All levels Welcome!
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First Sunday Vocal Jam Circle

Vocal improv singing for all skill levels and ages.

Song Circle

Share a song, lead a song, request a song, or listen as we go round the circle. Song Circle is free and open to all who wish to participate.  Bring your own instrument, borrow one, or just sing.

The Nettles

Laura Brophy – fiddle;
Kevin Johnsrude – guitars;
Michael Proctor – bass;
Brian Bucolo – percussion;
The Nettles are well-known on the West Coast for their original approach to contra dance music. Playing traditional music from all over the world, The Nettles create a strong rhythmic groove under soaring improvisations. Rhythmic drive and melodic fluidity allow The Nettles to propel contra dances into the stratosphere. .

Kelsey Hartman

Since I am a “contraholic,” I can often be found any given weekend dancing or calling a contra dance. My inspiration for calling comes from Frannie Marr, who got me thinking that there was life in contra off the dance floor, and Nils Fredland, whose callers’ workshop at American Week (BACDS) in 2012 spurred me down the caller’s path.

Beginners lesson starts at 7:30pm (experienced dancers welcome) dance starts at 8:00pm

Each dance is taught.  No partner necessary (it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner)

Potluck: 5:30 pm; Host: Diane Arney, 770 Lookout Drive.  The annual CFS membership meeting will coincide with the pre-dance potluck.

First and Third Saturdays of the month except July, August. Occasional special dances.