Friday Halloween Contra Dance – Hayden Stern & Patrick Gunning with Isaac Banner

Contra dance has returned to a regular schedule in Corvallis this fall! The dance will start at 7:00 PM with a newcomer’s lesson and community meetup, helpful for all dancers. Following the lesson will be dancing from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM. No partner necessary. Dance calling and role terms will be Larks & Robins. The cost is $12 – $20 sliding scale.

Because of the Covid-19 situation:

All attendees must sign a waiver for the First Congregational UCC (our dance hall) before their first dance of the 2024-25 season. Please read the waiver here before you arrive in order to speed up the check-in process at the door.

Thank you for helping to keep our dance community safely dancing! For more information on attendance requirements and other precautions, please see our current COVID-19 policy here, to be further updated soon.

Hayden Stern
& Patrick Gunning

From Seattle we have

• Hayden Stern on fiddle
• Patrick Gunning on guitar

Hayden Stern’s fiddle playing seamlessly blends Scottish and Cape Breton tradition with contemporary composition and improvisation. Blending influences comes naturally to Hayden, who grew up in Spain, Portugal, coastal California, and Panama. His musical career began in the contra dance world, and the skills he gained there shine in his concert sets: layers of rhythm, harmony, and groove that keep the audience asking for more. He has toured nationally, playing shows at venues, contra dances, and dance camps all over the US.

He is joined by powerhouse Pat Gunning, who blends Scottish, bluegrass, and Scandinavian influences on guitar. Pat’s playing moves fluidly between forcefulness and delicacy, expertly pulling the audience’s
heartstrings.

Isaac Banner

A long-time contra dancer and Seattle transplant, I’ve worked for several years to become known in the Pacific Northwest for my particular blend of humor and dance instruction. With contagious excitement, a warm cadence, and a cheerful personality, I strive to bring moments of magic into the lives of newcomers and veteran dancers alike. Contra has always held a special place in my heart and I try to share that love with every dance I visit.

Newcomers lesson starts at 7:00pm (experienced dancers encouraged)
Dance starts at 7:30pm.
Each dance is taught.  No partner necessary
(it’s traditional to dance each dance with a different partner).