Calendar

The Wisenheimers

Alan Snyder – fiddle,
Dave Goldman – keyboard
from Portland play zesty dance tunes with a sly sense of humor.

Gordy Euler

half of Shanghaied on the Willamette and co-director of the Portland Megaband has been calling good dances for 15 years.

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 6:00 p.m. Hosts: April & Craig Hall Cutting, 1975 SE Crystal Lake Dr #192, Corvallis (in CoHo Ecovillage); 541-754-7040. Directions: Drive south on SW 4^th St, which turns into SW 3^rd ST/Hwy 99 W; turn left onto Crystal Lake Dr. Drive less than ½ a mile then turn left into the CoHo Ecovillage parking lot, just past the Crystal Lake Cemetery. Park in the lot, walk back to Crystal Lake Dr. and then to the second building, Unit 192. Look for the twinkle lights!

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

Broken Top

From Corvallis:

• Bo Leyden – mandolin, flute
• Shari Ame – fiddle

From Portland

• John Light – piano

Michael Karcher

From New York via Seattle.

NOTE DIFFERENT LOCATION. 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)

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

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.

William Watson

William Watson, a resident of Eugene, OR, danced his first contra in 1989 and began calling in Texas in 1992. Having called numerous contra events in cities coast-to-coast, William’s extensive experience and soothing voice project a calm confidence. His vigilant and thoughtful dance programming ensures a variety of figures, transitions, and sequences to entertain and support new dancers while offering the occasional challenge for the more advanced. His calling proficiency and sensitivities ensure everyone has a good time.

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)

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

Zephyr

Zephyr is a quartet of seasoned contradance musicians, with Ellen Hansen on fiddle, Todd Silverstein on whistle/sax/bouzouki, Bo Leyden on banjo/mandolin, and Dave Goldman on keyboard. Their music has strong roots in the Celtic, Appalachian, Scandinavian, and Klezmer traditions. But what draws them together is the infectious energy they put out on the dance floor, just like the West Wind they’re named after. In various configurations, these musicians have played from Oregon to Massachusetts, from Alaska to Virginia, and from China to Ireland and Sweden.

Laurel Thomas

Laurel Thomas has called contra dances all over Oregon and Washington since 2008. Dancers appreciate her clear teaching, her articulate calling and her carefully crafted programs designed to build skill for beginning dancers while keeping experienced dancers happy with an appropriate level of challenge. .
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)

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

 CFS annual Corvallis Contra Weekend

Registration opens November 15

The Great Bear Trio

As one of the hottest and most influential dance bands in the country, The Great Bear Trio continues to push the boundaries and set the standard for modern contra dance music.  Multi-instrumentalist brothers Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand are ably accompanied by their mother Kim Yerton on piano.  Their driving rhythm, epic dynamics and uniquely rocking style have given them a loyal following of all ages. 

Contra Sutra

“May all beings be free to dance to the most melodious and rhythmically funky Contra Sutra”

 Bob Isaacs

Bob is a long time contra and square dance caller from New Brunswick, NJ.

Frannie Marr

While Frannie’s first exposure to contra dancing was being reluctantly dragged to an event by her sister, Frannie quickly fell in love with contra dancing. In 1998, she began teaching contra dances to her elementary school students as a vehicle to expose them to new and fun dances. After calling exclusively to children for 10 years, Frannie debuted to rave reviews at a regularly scheduled Los Angeles contra dance and was strongly encouraged to keep on calling. Since 2008, Frannie has been calling regularly, traveling from coast to coast, and has appeared in over a dozen states at some of the biggest name venues with some of the hottest and most popular contra dance musicians.

 CFS annual Corvallis Contra Weekend
Public Contra

Even if you couldn’t get into the Contra Weekend you can still dance with these amazing bands and callers (weekend dancers are also welcome).

Teaching starts at 7:00 and will segue into the dance by 8:00. Ends at 10:30 for those who must be at work in the morning.

The Great Bear Trio

As one of the hottest and most influential dance bands in the country, The Great Bear Trio continues to push the boundaries and set the standard for modern contra dance music.  Multi-instrumentalist brothers Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand are ably accompanied by their mother Kim Yerton on piano.  Their driving rhythm, epic dynamics and uniquely rocking style have given them a loyal following of all ages. 

Contra Sutra

“May all beings be free to dance to the most melodious and rhythmically funky Contra Sutra”

 Bob Isaacs

Bob is a long time contra and square dance caller from New Brunswick, NJ.

Frannie Marr

While Frannie’s first exposure to contra dancing was being reluctantly dragged to an event by her sister, Frannie quickly fell in love with contra dancing. In 1998, she began teaching contra dances to her elementary school students as a vehicle to expose them to new and fun dances. After calling exclusively to children for 10 years, Frannie debuted to rave reviews at a regularly scheduled Los Angeles contra dance and was strongly encouraged to keep on calling. Since 2008, Frannie has been calling regularly, traveling from coast to coast, and has appeared in over a dozen states at some of the biggest name venues with some of the hottest and most popular contra dance musicians.

Hat Band

The Hat Band is a three-piece all-purpose string band that includes dual fiddles Sue Gray and Syd Newell; and Jon Neff, melody and rhythm guitar. Sue is a Reiki master from Vancouver, Syd is a retired technical writer and former chemistry professor from Portland, and Jon is a document management consultant from Portland.

The band plays for contradancing and other events throughout Oregon and Washington.   The three also play together in the Portland Megaband.

Tarka Ayres

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)

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

LanjoVic

From Portland:

• Victor Fiore – fiddle
• Lanny Martin – piano
• Jon Neff – guitar

Michael Karcher

From New York via Seattle.

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)

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

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. .

Woody Lane

Woody Lane has been calling contra dances throughout the Pacific Northwest for more than 25 years, and when he’s not calling you can find him dancing.

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

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

No Potluck tonight.

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

Penk, Pinney & Lindsay

George Penk — fiddle
Heather Pinney — piano
Deborah Lindsay — percussion

George Penk is a well-known fiddle player across the USA, especially in the Pacific Northwest. He lives in Portland where he currently plays with the bands Joyride and Jigsaw. George collaborates with many musicians in various musical adventures, including being part of the Portland Collection project through his playing on the Portland Selection CD’s. His spirited and rich fiddle style is a delight to listen to. George is widely appreciated as a consummate dance fiddler working with callers to make sure the music is in-tune with the spirit of the dances. The Penk, Pinney, Lindsay trio, which includes Heather Pinney on piano and fiddle (also a member of Jigsaw) and Deborah Lindsay (from Corvallis) on percussion, works most often with the caller Erik Weberg, who also lends his expertise on wind instruments to the tune medleys.

Erik Weberg

Erik has been calling contra dances and English Country dances for over twenty years. He has called local dances, festivals and weekends in many parts of the USA and Canada and has developed a style and repertoire that dancers enjoy very much. Erik lives in Portland, Oregon where he is active in the music and dance scene and is co-organizer of the annual Portland Megaband contra dance.

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 6:00 pm~ Hosts: Diane Rainsford & Paul Catullo, 830 SE Bridgeway Ave; Phone: 541-753-1019

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Directions: Drive south on SW 4th St/Hwy 99 W. This becomes SW 3rd St/Hwy 99 W. Turn Left onto SE Bridgeway; Keep left to stay on Bridgeway. House will be on your right.

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

Euphemists

• Dave Goldman – keyboard
• Alan Snyder – fiddle
• Paula Hamlin – sax, whistle, flute
• Kaye Blesener – trombone
• Jerry Nelson – guitar, sax, clarinet;

Enjoy contradancing but miss that Big Band sound? Then you’ll love the Euphemists, a band whose motto is “All fiddle tunes get better with horn riffs!” Over the past few years, various pairings of these Portland musicians have said, “We should form a band!” Finally, inspired by the recent immigration of fiddler Alan Snyder from warmer climes, The Euphemists congealed in 2011.

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 Nils Fredland, whose callers’ workshop at American Week (BACDS) in 2012 spurred me down the caller’s path.

When calling, I consider myself a conduit between the dancers and the band, helping to channel the  joy of the musicians’ music through flowing, interesting dances.  

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 6:00 pm~ Hosts: Ginnie Clarke & Paul Vignaski, 3138 SE Hathaway Drive, Corvallis. Phone: 541-913-5538.
Directions: Travel southbound on SW 3rd St/Hwy 99 W about 1.7 miles. Turn left onto SE Rivergreen Ave. Take the next left onto SE Villa Drive. Turn left onto SE Hathaway Drive. House is on the right side of the street.

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

The Quarks

• Terry Wergeland – piano, accordion
• Betsy Branch – fiddle
• Bill Tomczak – clarinet, saxophone, percussion

Betsy and Terry have played together for dances since 1994, and when Bill moved to Portland in 2012, he was thrilled to join forces with them. With their mix of instruments and improvisatory natures, you never know what to expect from this trio. Their delight in playing together translates to the dance floor, and you are likely to hear plenty of laughter from the stage. When not playing, the three of them love to pontificate about the mysteries of the universe (like how 3 quarks form a particle), thus inspiring the band name.

Sue Baker

Sue has been calling dances all over the Pacific Northwest since 2001. Sue says “Dancing is a joy and I try to make every one a wonderful experience for everyone in the hall.” From her store of “dorky” wedding dances to complex technical dances, she’s danced most of them and draws on the ones she thinks each crowd will like and be successful at. And as she likes to add, “It’s just a dance.”

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 & CFS’s Annual Members’ Meeting: Saturday, May 7^th, 2016, before the regular contra dance, at the home of Diane Arney, 770 SW Lookout Drive, Corvallis. It will take place during the pre-Contra dance potluck dinner. (Open to everyone.) Please bring a dish to share; arrive for snacks and socializing at 5:30. The purpose is to provide CFS members an opportunity to talk with the current board, to vote on the proposed slate for 2016-17 and, most importantly, to help support, expand and improve CFS activities.

Members for the annual meeting should arrive around 5:30 pm. The potluck will begin at 6 pm, and the business meeting at about 6:15.  Members who don’t wish to eat, are encouraged to come just for the meeting. Diane’s home is a short walk from FCC’s Gatton Hall. Parking at Diane’s is somewhat limited, so please consider walking, biking or carpooling from the parking lot at First Congregational Church.

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

Hands4

Since 2004, Hands4 has delivered high-energy music to dance halls throughout the Pacific Northwest, and in Texas during a 2006 tour. Combining seldom-heard traditional tunes with originals by band members and other musicians, Hands4 has created a unique blend of music that is definitely not your usual contra tunes. Hands4 features rock-steady leads by Keith Moe on fiddle and mandolin, soaring whistle and flute lines from Fran Tewksbury, and a clockwork rhythm engine driven by Rich Goss (percussion) and Carl Thor (piano).

Eric Curl

Eric started calling in 1996 and called in California and Colorado before moving Seattle in 2006. A mechanical engineer working for Boeing, he now enjoys calling in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia on a semi-regular basis. In his spare time, he likes to hike, snowshoe, camp, visit friends and family, play music, and of course, dance and call.

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 6:00 p.m.  Host: Relan Colley, 745 NW 16th St; 541-753-2617. (Located near the south side of Corvallis High School and several blocks east of Fred Meyer. The closest intersection is NW Taylor & NW 16th.) Map: https://mapq.st/1cyFC3m

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

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. .

Lindsey Dono

Massachusetts transplant Lindsey Dono is rapidly establishing herself as a Northwest mainstay. With her serene teaching, meticulous programming, and sunny demeanor, Lindsey transforms absolute beginners into confident regulars. Known for her creativity on the dance floor, Lindsey incorporates knowledge of waltz, swing, and blues to lead a variety of workshops, including the ever-requested “advanced contra flourishes.” By day, Lindsey is a devoted research scientist.

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 6:00 p.m. Host: Diana Jenner, 3675 SE 3rd St; (last house on the left); phone 605-201-9863.  Directions: Head south on SE 3rd St (Hwy 99 W). After passing SE Rivergreen, drive just a little bit more. Last house on the left. Map: https://tinyurl.com/h68n7w6

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

Uncle Farmer

Uncle Farmer is Ben Schreiber on fiddle and Michael Sokolovsky on guitar. With an Irish and New England sound at its core, the duo is known for its original dance tunes, modern twists on old favorites, and sets mixed with pop rhythms and improvisational flair. Their performances range from sweet and nostalgic to gritty and energetic, and their sound truly fills both the room and the hearts of dancers.

Susan Petrick

Susan Petrick has been calling all over the country for more than a decade. Her gracious manner along with her clarity and confidence on stage have made her one of the most sought after callers in the Pacific Northwest.
As a dancer herself, she knows what makes dancers happy and as a caller, she is always conscious of what is happening on the dance floor. Susan brings with her a diverse collection of dances featuring many flowing and flirty contras that will please your feet and satisfy your soul!

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)

(No potluck)

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