Contra Dance / Contradance in New England

This page is devoted to listing contra dances in the New England region of the United States along with bands, musicians, callers, and organizations that are based in the region. URLs and e-mail addresses are listed when available. New entries, additional information, and changes in information are always welcome. Links to other pages in the www.contradancelinks.com web site are listed at the bottom of the page.

New links are simply new to me, not necessarily new to the World Wide Web. Change in URL means that a link has changed its WWW address or URL.

Note: New Hampshire dance organizer (only one of his interests), Patrick Stevens, passed away on December 19. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 12 at 4:00 PM at the South Church Unitarian Universalist Church, 292 State Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Peter Yarkensky has more details and an appreciation.

Regional

The Dance Gypsy's pages cover much of New England. Greg Scragg maintains the site.
The Seacoast Country Dance Newsletter lists all dances that the editor knows of from Nelson, New Hampshire in the west to Rockport, Maine in the east and Tamworth, NH in the north.
The contradancelinks.com web site now includes a schedule for dances for Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Connecticut

Bruce Meyer produces a page of contra dance information for Connecticut.
The Dance Gypsy provides information about dances throughout the state. Greg Scragg serves up the data.
Mickey Koth and Christine Hale have produced the CONNtra CONNection which covers everything related to contra dancing in Connecticut.
Other than in August, the New Haven Country Dancers meet in Branford on the 1st and 3rd and most 5th Saturdays of the month. Bruce Meyer handles the web duties.
The Danbury Contra Dance occurs mostly on 4th Saturdays, although the dance is suspended until September 2008. Mickey maintains the page.
The Powder Mill Barn contra dance is on the 4th Sunday of each month, October through May, in Enfield, with Ralph Sweet and and others handling the calling duties.
Heart's Ease plays for the 1st Friday family dance series in Granby from September to June.
The Round Hill Country Dances are located in Greenwich and are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month except in August. In addition, there is a dance on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The dances in the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut have recently moved from Chaplin to Hampton but still occur on the 1st Saturday of each month from September to June.
The dances that were in Mystic, which moved to New London are now back in Mystic but still occur on the 2nd Saturday of each month from September to May. Part of the fun of the dance is the monthly sale of pie. Check ahead for details. Change of location (January 4, 2008)
The NOMAD Festival of Traditional Music, Art, and Dance is held in New Haven in early November. Rob Lindauer maintains the site.
There is contra dancing and English country dancing on the first and third Fridays each month September thru June in Norwalk.
Rob Lindauer runs the Hartford Community Dance page where the contra dances happen on the 2nd Saturday of each month in Old Wethersfield. The group also hosts Cajun/zydeco, swing, and waltz events along with jams.

Maine

The Downeast Friends of the Folk Arts home page includes a list of regularly scheduled dances in Maine. Richard & Pam Green provide the information.
The Dance Gypsy provides information about dances throughout the state. Greg Scragg serves up the data.
The Seacoast Country Dance Newsletter lists all dances that the editor knows of from Nelson, New Hampshire in the west to Rockport, Maine in the east and Tamworth, NH in the north.
The College of the Atlantic hosts contra dances in Bar Harbor on the 4th Saturday of the month. Check the press releases for future dances (although sometimes the press releases are not released; the dance continues and at least you can get directions to the 8pm dance at Gates Auditorium).
The Belfast Flying Shoes Dance Series is on the 1st Friday of each month in Belfast with a community dance with the all-comers band at 6:30pm, a 7:30pm tasty treat pot luck and an 8:00pm dance.
Scrod Pudding plays at the third Saturday dances in Bowdoinham. Greg Anderson maintains the page.
Including contras among its international dance weeks, the Mainewoods Dance Camp goes on from early August to early September in at Indian Acres in Fryeburg. Kay Demos provides support for the site.
The Southern Maine Folk Association provides information about the 2nd Saturday dance in North Yarmouth along with information about other dances in the area.
The Down East Country Dance Festival occurs in March in Topsham and the organization sponsors occasional other events around the state throughout the year.
The West Farmington contradance series usually occurs on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Massachusetts

The Dance Gypsy pages include a list of regularly scheduled dances in Massachusetts.
The Along the River web site has information about the 2nd and 4th Saturday dances in Amherst at the Munson Library.
There is a regular series of 1st Saturday dances in Berlin with music by the Berlin Country Orchestra and dances called by a variety of folks. There are also family dances on a variety of dates.
Boston Gay and Lesbian Country Dancers (New England Contra & Squares) holds dances throughout the year in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston.
The Folk Arts Center includes pages include a good calendar of Boston metro events including contradancing.
The MIT Folk Dance Club sponsors a series of contra dances on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month in Cambridge. There is an alternate URL for the site. Both sites are maintained by Scott Ehrlich and Larry Stone.
Sue Rosen calls and Debby Knight, David Titus, Bruce Rosen, and Walter Lenk are the musicians for the 2nd Friday dance in Carlisle from October through June.
The 4th Saturday dances in Centerville, in the town of Barnstable on Cape Cod begin on May 24, 2008. New entry (March 26, 2008)
A variety of dances on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays happen at the Scout House in Concord. While most of the dances have their own web site, the Scout House does have some basic information and links to the individual dances.
NEFFA and The Folk Arts Center also sponsor a family dance series on some Sunday afternoons in Concord (pdf file).
Yankee Ingenuity plays at the Scout House in Concord on Monday nights.
The Country Dance Society - Boston Centre sponsors dances at the Scout House on 2nd Saturdays in Concord from October through June.
The First Friday Committee continues a series of Challenging Contra Dances in Concord.
In addition to the dances mentioned above, CDS-Boston Centre is also conducting a number of uncommon events irregularly on "Occasional Sundays" at the Concord Scout House. The dances can range from an evening of New England and Southern Squares to an evening of English and Contra Dances or from an evening of classic and back to Roots Contra Dances to an evening of Contras and Other Odd Formations.
There's an informal list of the Concord Contras on Summer Saturdays available.
There is some information about the 3rd Saturday contra series in Concord at the Hands Four/Parkes site.
NEFFA runs the Thursday night contra in Concord and lists a number of dances in the area. Andrea Setzer has several short Quicktime/mpg movies of contradancing from the VFW Hall in Cambridge (a previous location for this dance series).
The 2nd Saturday dances in Cotuit on Cape Cod are in the town of Barnstable and happen at Freedom Hall. New entry (March 26, 2008)
The 3rd Saturday dances in East Sandwich on Cape Cod happen at the Grange Hall (by a bubbling brook). New entry (March 26, 2008)
In Groton, the Contra Banditos host a series of Family Barn Dances on the 3rd Saturday of some months.
The Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield is probably one of the best known contra dance venues in the nation and generally has contra dances once or twice a week along with a variety of other events.
Out in the Berkshires, the dances in Lenox occur on the 3rd Saturday of each month.
Roaring Jelly plays in Lexington on 3rd Fridays. Donna Slonim provides the information.
The New England Folk Festival is held each year in April in Mansfield and includes a large amount of contradancing but is not limited to that.
The Medway Contra Dance Schedule (1st Saturdays) is posted by Charlie Seelig.
There are contra dances and family dances at the Grange in Montague on various Saturdays and Sundays each month. In addition, the Guiding Star Grange website has information about the dances in Montague.
There are gender-free dances in Montague on occasional Saturdays.
Tony Pisano writes: "The North Adams dance is still going on every third Friday at St John's Social Hall on Summer Street. The music is now provided by an all-comers band which is a mix of some of the [Flying] Garbanzos and anyone else who wants to sit in, preferably with melody instruments. The new contact person is Eric Buddington. You can reach him at 413-663-9331." Some information is available at the Country Life, Dance & Music Society (CLDMS) of Pittsfield site.
The The Polymorphous String Band hosts a dance on the 3rd Saturday of each month in Northboro. Jon Weinberg supports the page.
The Pinewoods Dance Camp in Plymouth includes contra dancing in their programs that involve American dance.
Of course, instead of using the link at the bottom of the page, you can visit the Rehoboth Contra Dance page (generally 2nd and 4th Friday).
The Rehoboth, Massachusetts Jammers hold, along with their weekly Sunday sessions, a Community Dance, generally but not always on the 2nd Sunday of each month.
The band, Mountain Laurel, hosts the 4th Saturday dance series in Sheffield with a variety of callers.
The Sudbury Minutemen hold a series of contra dances throughout the year in Sudbury including a Twelfth Night Ball in January and a Regimental Ball in March or April.
There's a new, 4th Saturday, dance series in Westford sponsored by the Parish Center for the Arts.
In addition to the 4th Saturday dances mentioned above, there are now Family Dances on various dates (mostly on Sundays) in Westford sponsored by the Parish Center for the Arts.
There is an irregular series of dances in Whately including a Mother's Day dance.
There are contra dances at Williams College in Williamstown sponsored by Dancing Folk with the band Rude Cider bringing the music and student callers. Generally, once or twice a semester, though, the club brings in a professional band, which adds a whole new level of energy to the event. New entry (January 24, 2008)
The 1st Saturday dances in Woods Hole, Massachusetts (part of Falmouth) on Cape Cod happen at the Community Hall. New entry (March 26, 2008)
The folks in Worcester continue to hold dances on the 2nd Saturday of the month.

New Hampshire

Dance Gypsy's list of regularly scheduled dances in New Hampshire. Greg Scragg supplies the information.
Richard Hart (having inherited from Chris) runs the site for the New Hampshire dance calendar.
The Seacoast Country Dance Newsletter lists all dances that the editor knows of from Nelson, New Hampshire in the west to Rockport, Maine in the east and Tamworth, NH in the north.
I-Brattleboro sometimes has information about the 2nd Saturday dance in Chesterfield.
The Mountain Top Music Center hosts a contradance at Runnells Hall in Chocorua on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month. Dance appears to be on hiatus/defunct (January 4, 2008)
The Concord Contra Dance is on the 3rd Saturday of each month, except in July and August.
There's a 1st Thursday dance at the Dover City Hall with the Lamprey River Band playing the music and Peter Yarensky and Sarah Mason calling.
The New England Folk Festival Association sponsors the New England Dance Legacy Weekend in Durham every year in January.
The 2nd Saturday dance in Exeter is held at the First Unitarian Society of Exeter (UU Church). There is a beginners' workshop at 7:30pm and the dance begins at 8:00pm. The cost is $6.00 with students admitted for $3.00 and kids under 10 free. To get to the dance, take Route 101 to Exeter, to Exeter Center, to "Kiosk" (Bandstand), up hill to Elm Street. Left onto Elm Street. The dance is at the SECOND church on the left, just before Court Street. For more information, (phone): 603-679-1915; (email): holt.e@comcast.net. Slight change in URL (January 4, 2008)
Chapel Arts in Gorham sponsors a contra dance on the 2nd Saturday of the month in the former Methodist Church in Gorham from May through October.
The public library in Keene hosts a family dance, generally once a month and usually on the 1st Friday from November to May.
The Fiddler's Loft in Kingston hosts jams featuring contra dance tunes at various time. Albert Brien hosts the page.
Manchester is host to a series of contra dances on the 2nd Friday of each month.
There is a contra dance, year-around, on the 3rd Friday of each month in Manchester.
The Milford Parks and Recreation Commission sponsors contra dances on the 4th Friday of each month.
The dances in Nelson have been happening for centuries. Stop by on a Monday night and see why.
There is a second dance series in Nelson on the 2nd Saturday each month. There is a second site for this dance in Nelson that has additional information. New entry (November 24, 2007)
The Monadnock Folklore Society sponsors a dance in Peterborough on the 1st Saturday of the month. New entry (November 24, 2007) ��
On 3rd Saturdays, you can find a contra dance in various locations in Walpole or even in Brattleboro.
The Windham Recreation Committee hosts a contra dance on the 1st Friday.

Rhode Island

RIdance, hosted by Deborah Nash, covers all types of dance in the Ocean State.
There are Community Contra Dances on Aquidneck Island in Middletown on various Saturdays. Change of location (January 28, 2008)
There will be a benefit dance for the Scituate (RI) High School NEED Project on April 4. Check the listings for details. New entry (March 26, 2008)
Dances at Brown University in Providence usually occur on the 1st Friday and 3rd Friday of each month when Brown is in session.

Vermont

The Dance Gypsy's lists regularly scheduled dances in Vermont. Greg Scragg supplies the information.
The Brattleboro Dawn Dances are continuing on Memorial Day (U.S.) and Labor Day (U.S.) weekends.
There's a new contra dance series in Brattleboro on the 4th or 5th Sunday of each month at the Stone Church.
The Otter Creek Contras happen on the 4th Saturday of each month in Bristol. The information is provided by the Bristol Recreation Department.
The Queen City Contras sponsor contradances in Burlington, generally on the second Friday of each month.
The Champlain Valley Folk Festival is in Kingsland Bay, in Ferrisburgh in late July and/or early August.
The village dances in Dummerston happen several times a year, generally on the 1st Saturday of the month. (e-mail only)
I-Brattleboro and I-Putney many times have information about the 4th Friday contra dance series in East Putney.
Contracopia supplies information about the dances in Montpelier which happen on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturday of each month.
Brendan Taaffe plays with guest musicians and callers each non-summer 4th Friday in Tinmouth.
The Skinner Barn in Waitsfield holds contra dances during the summer and early fall.

Bands and Musicians

Airdance, a New England contra dance band, has gone through various incarnations but now includes features Rodney Miller (fiddle), Elvie Miller (piano, accordion), Owen Morrison (guitar, mandolin), and Michael Ayles (flute, tenor banjo, guitar).
The Amidons play music, tells stories and call dances and are from Brattleboro, VT. MySpace page for Peter Amidon. MySpace page for Mary Alice Amidon. Added MySpace pages (November 15, 2007)
Sam Amidon, fiddler with Assembly and other groups of musicians now has his own web site. He is based in Vermont and New York. MySpace page. Added MySpace pages (November 15, 2007)
Greg Anderson is a contradance musician living and working in the great state of Maine since 1983, has played the hammered dulcimer since 1977, and plays the band with Scrod Pudding, BAJA and The Foot in the Door String Band.
Apple Crisp is a modern contra dance band, based in the Boston, Massachusetts area, featuring teen pianist, Jonathan Fagan. Apple Crisp also has the only vibraphonist playing contras (that they know of!)
Assembly, formerly known as Popcorn Behavior, is Sam Amidon, Stefan Amidon, Keith Murphy and Thomas Bartlett. They are based in New England.
From Vermont, Atlantic Crossing plays music carried to northern New England and eastern Canada during the European immigration of the last three centuries. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 11, 2007)
Seth Austen & Beverly Woods play an eclectic variety of international folk music styles including Celtic, Appalachian, Klezmer, eastern European and more on a fantastic array of acoustic instruments combining over 100 resonating strings and are based in New Hampshire.
The Boston-based Bare Necessities play music for English Country and contra dances and feature Earl Gaddis and Mary Lea (violin and viola), Peter Barnes (flute and whistles), and Jacqueline Schwab (piano).
Peter Barnes is a musician, especially known for his work on piano and flute and author of books on English Country Dance Tunes and piano accompaniment and is based in New England. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 15, 2007)
The Beat Greens play driving rhythms with no MSG or trans-fats in Maine.
The description of the players in the Vermont band Beeswax Sheepskin reads as follows: Roger Kahle navigates skillfully between Irish, old-time, swing, and French Canadian styles, Chuck Corman (of The Moving Violations) holds down the low end of the fort with his rock solid bass and dumbek accompaniment and sweet fiddle (Ethan Hazzard-Watkins) and clarinet (Anna Patton) melodies round out the Beeswax sound.
The Berlin Country Orchestra plays on a regular basis in Berlin, Massachusetts and other locations.
Big Bandemonium featuring Lise Brown, Van Kaynor, Keith Murphy, Dave Langford, Corey DiMario, Brian Bender, Adam Scott, Peter Barnes, and Becky Tracy is based in Massachusetts.
Big Moose, composed of David Quimby, Jim Vekasi, Emma Watson, David Towle, Charlie Richardson, Ruth Grierson, Chuck Donnelly and Keith Davis play at the Bar Harbor dance in Maine. (e-mail only) New entry (April 21, 2008)
Big Table features prominent players from both the southern and northern dance music traditions. From this blend emerges a strong rhythmic groove over which the fiddle and accordion dance together. The group is based in New England.
Montpelier, Vermont's Sarah Blair is plays fiddle as a member of The Sevens and plays with other musicians and at dances from time to time.
Greg Boardman plays violin, but also on viola, cello and bass, at dances and other events in Maine and elsewhere.
Bondeaux Redux plays oldtime wangy twangy music with gumption in Augusta, ME. (e-mail only)
The Bowdoinham String Band plays at venues from dances to farmers' markets and tunes from Irish and Scottish to American roots from the South and West. The band is based in Maine.
Adam Boyce is a caller and musician from Williamstown, Vermont. (e-mail only)
Mary Cay Brass has been playing for traditional New England contra dances all over the country since the early 1980's on both piano and accordion. She is based in southern Vermont.
Lise Brown is a saxophonist, flutist, arranger, composer and is well-known for work in the bands Big Bandemonium and Dark Carnival. She is based in Western Massachusetts. New entry (October 27, 2007)
While Buzzard's Bayou plays mostly zydeco and cajun music, the Cape Cod based band also plays at an occasional contra dance.
Calenda Maia plays traditional folk music with a modern and sometimes untraditional sensibility. The band is based in Guilford, CT and its repertoire includes tunes and songs ranging from Irish to bluegrass to medieval dance music.
While it is rare now for Hanneke Cassel to play at a contra dance, this Boston based fiddler has played them in the past. MySpace page. New entry (November 12, 2007)
Catharsis (Maine edition) (Paul D'Alessio, Michele Roy, Zeba Weidler, & Fred White) unleashes their high-grade traditional music at festivals, squaredances, contradances, and special events from coast to coast. Catharsis regularly plays at dance halls throughout their home state of Maine, and they work with some of New England's finest callers. (e-mail only)
The Celtic Knots are from Connecticut and include Cynthia Eller, Dana Plazcek, Casie Runkle and Jeff Friedman. New entry (January 4, 2008)
Celticladda is Randy Miller's contra dance band, with Tom Hodgson and Eric Anderson and is based in New Hampshire and plays melodic, vibrant, exciting dance music with a Celtic twist.
Presenting traditional and original songs and tunes in Québécois, Cajun French, and English, Chanterelle is based in western Massachusetts. Site has problems (January 10, 2008)
Although based in Boston, Childsplay has members from at least seven states and two countries who play instruments made by Bob Childs. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 11, 2007)
The Clayfoot Strutters play contra dance music from the New England, Appalachian, Irish, Quebecois and other traditions, laid over a hot bed of Texas swing, Cajun, Zydeco, and Afropop. They are primarily based in Vermont but play coast to coast.
Flynn Cohen has played with musicians and groups including Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, Joe Derrane & Frank Ferrell, and Lissa Schneckenburger. He is based in Massachusetts. New entry (November 12, 2007)
The Cold River Band consists of Marcos Levy, Mary Barron, and Eric Baierlein, and their repertoire ranges from the Celtic traditions to traditional music from South America and Europe.
Liz Constable plays in The Sevens, Rumblestrip, Chanterelle, and the Blue Ox Swing Band. She is based in New Hampshire. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 14, 2007)
The Contra Banditos play traditional New England Contra Dance music with just a twist of Lemon! i.e. We might throw in the Texas Tango (David Lindley) or Bob Dylans I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (in waltz time of course) just for the fun of it here or there (there being Groton, Massachusetts).
Contra Loco features Pan Chan on fiddle, banjo and mandolin, Barb Kirchner on piano, Phil Pitha on accordion and Rudi as "the loco dog". The band is based in Massachusetts.
Maine's Contrapuntal Iguanas plays music for contra dances & parties and features Maggie Robinson (fiddle), Glen Loper (Mandolin) Jeff Raymond (guitar) and Tony Simmons (bass). (e-mail only)
Back in the first few years of the century, fiddler Laura Cortese played at contra dances, but these days she is better known for touring nationally with indie rock/folk drummer Neil Cleary. She is based in Massachusetts. MySpace page. New entry (November 11, 2007)
While John Cote started playing the guitar following the chops of Eddie Van Halen, he has added traditional dance music, mandolin and fiddle while living in Maine. MySpace page. New entry (April 27, 2008)
Crooked Stovepipe remains available for parties, dances, junkets etc. in Portland, Maine. (e-mail only)
Crowfoot, featuring Adam Broome, Jaige Trudel and Nicholas Williams plays contemporary dance music from the Celtic traditions and is based in Maine. MySpace site. Added MySpace site (October 13, 2007)
Dark Carnival is comprised of Mary Lea, Peter Barnes and Lise Brown and plays Irish, Contra, English Country Dance, Waltzes, Swing, Vintage or as Peter Barnes puts it, "we'll-play-whatever-you-throw-at-us-and have-a-good-time-doing-it trio" including rent parties. The band is based in Massachusetts. New entry (October 27, 2007)
Andy Davis has been dancing since 1976 and playing accordion and calls dances as well as playing banjo and piano since that time. He is based in southern Vermont.
The Dixie Butterhounds are based in Massachusetts and play southern Appalachian fiddle tunes and songs, though they also branch out into rags and bluesy numbers as well.
From Connecticut, Dogtown, comprised of Becky Miller (fiddle, piano); Tom Randall (piano, banjo, guitar, mandolin); and Norb Spencer (accordion) play old time country songs, honkey-tonk swing, and hot northern and southern fiddle tunes.
The Eastern Trio is a Maine band whose primary focus is to play traditional music (Celtic music to Southern Appalachian Old Time music as well as contra dance styles from New England and Eastern Canada) for dances. (e-mail only)
Eric Eid-Reiner is based in Arlington, Massachusetts and plays at contra dances from time to time but his influences range from traditional fiddle tunes to jazz, from Jewish music to modern folk, from ragtime to the blues.
einstein's little homunculus plays at an increasing number of contra dances in New England.
Elixir is a contra dance band that believes in ensuring that the big brass sound plays a role in the music. The band is based in Vermont.
The Falmouth Fiddlers used to sponsor a contra dance on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and still play together in concert and in sessions.
Fiddle player Frank Ferrel plays at a contra dance on occasion along with his many concerts and maintains the traditions of Dudley Square in Boston.
Adam Sweet (fiddle) and Brian Bender (piano) comprise Fiddle Hill, a contra dance band based in Western Massachusetts. You can also find them on their Myspace page or on Adam Sweet's MySpace page. Added Adam Sweet's MySpace page (November 11, 2007)
New Haven's venerable contradance band, The Fiddleheads, include Jim Sirch (banjo, whistles, and bodrhan), Willow Sirch (fiddle), Gary Wikfors (mandolin and mando-ephemera) and Norman Plankey (guitar) with appearances by Colin Healy (fiddle/mandolin) and other local musicians. Norman Plankey designed and maintains the page.
Fiddlehedz plays at dances and concerts in Maine along with organizing jam sessions. New entry (May 3, 2008)
The Figments are a mix of northern and southern styles and repertoires and include Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, Anna Patton and Owen Morrison and is based in Vermont.
The trio Firefly features fiddle and banjo, playing mostly Old Time Southern tunes for contradances, weddings and other events. They are based in Maine. (e-mail only) New entry (April 20, 2008)
Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, Anna Patton and Seth Houston are the members of the Vermont band Firetruck which makes dance music that's fresh and fiery, and for which they have a great time doing it.
The Flying Garbanzos are a contra/Celtic band from Berkshire County, Massachusetts and play at lots of dance in western Massachusetts and eastern New York State.
The Franco-Americans are a Rhode Island contra dance band in the French-Canadian Tradition of the Blackstone Valley.
The Franklin County Fiddlers is comprised of talented high school students from Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Maine and plays at dances and other events. New entry (April 21, 2008)
Frigate is a band from Maine playing traditional and Americana music with Irish, Scots, and French roots for all occasions on land and sea. (e-mail only)
The Further Adventures includes Ethan Hazzard-Watkins on fiddle, Lydia Ievins on fiddle, Bob Mills on guitar & vocals, and Erica Morse on bass, cello & vocals. It is based in Vermont.
Jessie Gagne-Hall plays fiddle with Wake the Neighbors and a variety of other musicians. She is based in Vermont. New entry (October 13, 2007)
The Maine duo, Ellen Gawler and Maggie Ericson, are two veterans of the dance music scene who have come together to create a vibrant sound that gets you going! (e-mail only)
Get Reel is a Rhode Island based band that plays Traditional Southern tunes for contra dancing--with some spice throughout New England and includes Howie Bursen on banjo, Martin Grosswendt on fiddle, Marie Malchodi on guitar, and Deck Nieforth on harmonica and spoons.
The Newton, MA family band Gift of the Marcii is a high-energy contra dance band, using an unusual combination of instruments and a many original tunes to create its unique sound.
While best known for his extensive knowledge and work in cowboy music, Skip Gorman also plays old-time and Celtic music on a variety of instruments and at an occasional contra dance. He is based in New Hampshire.
Green Mountain Railway is a high-energy band based on Mount Desert Island, Maine that specializes in Celtic, old-time, bluegrass, polka and swing tunes.
Given it's new recording, The Greenfield Dance Band is hardly dormant. It is generally based in Massachusetts, has a page of information about the band and its members. David Kaynor provides the data.
Billy Hardy, while specializing in the fiddle, is a multi-instrumental player who sometimes plays at contra dances. He is based on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Hay 44 is Glen Loper (mandolin, banjo), Rod Pervier (bass), Jaige Trudell (fiddle, cello) and Fred White (guitar, percussion) and is based in Maine. (e-mail only)
Ethan Hazzard-Watkins plays fiddle in contra dance bands such as Beeswax Sheepskin and Elixir, composes his own tunes (see his A is for Avocado tunebook) and is based in Brattleboro, Vermont. MySpace page. New entry (November 11, 2007)
Heart's Ease is a 10-member contra dance band from Connecticut playing French-Canadian circle dances, English country dances square dances, Virginia Reels and contra dances.
The New England band, Heathen Creek, with members Pete Johannsen, Mark Koyama and Maia Rutman plays at dances and festivals throughout the region.
Matt and Shannon Heaton sometimes play at a contra dance along with gigs featuring their amalgam of Irish traditional, neo-traditional, and original song writing. They are based in the Boston area. MySpace page. New entry (November 14, 2007)
A fiddler in the band Chanterelle, Donna Hébert, teaches and plays in a variety of venues. Site has problems (January 10, 2008)
Nat Hewitt is a fiddler from New Hampshire who plays all over the country.
Hope Hoffman composes original fiddle tunes and plays with various groups such as Bowdoinham String Band and Kittlish in Maine. New entry (November 7, 2007)
Honk the Moose, based in northern New England and comprised of Nat Hewitt (fiddle and electric guitar), Adam Broome (guitar and cittern) and Seth Houston (piano and guitar), plays a high energy in the groove mix of styles for dances, festivals and events. They offer workshops on instrument technique, improvisation and accompaniment. (e-mail only)
In Eastern Massachusetts, Cal Howard plays a number of instruments for a number of bands. (e-mail only)
Ed Howe plays fiddle, electric or otherwise, with folks like John Cote at dances in Maine and the rest of New England. New entry (April 27, 2008)
lydia ievins plays fiddle with a wide variety of musicians in numerous venues in New England for contra and English dances.
The Jackson Pike Skifflers play old-time music for dances and other events and are based in SW Connecticut.
Just Plain Folks, a traditional New England barn dance band, based in Boston and includes Hanneke Cassel, Steven Cushing, Casey Driessen, Cathy Goode, Louis Kaplan, Jodi Maranchie, Damaris Rohsenow, Thaddeus Sze, and April Verch and is available for gigs and dances. Steve Cushing supports the site.
Living in Massachusetts, you can now find David Kaynor at his new web site. He is a contra dance caller and fiddler and the author of Calling for Beginners by Beginners.
The Kennebec Highlands Band plays a lively variety of Celtic, New England and Old Time Southern tunes for dances and other gatherings. The band is based in Maine. New entry (April 21, 2008)
Upright bass player, Stuart Kenney, plays with a variety of bands and musicians and has his home base in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
The Klezmer Contraband plays assorted dances in the Boston area following the long-standing tradition among klezmer musicians of infiltrating all sorts of other dance styles and subverting the music with the high-energy Eastern European sound.
Debby Knight is a contradance fiddler and pianist from eastern Massachusetts. (e-mail only)
The Lamprey River Band plays regularly in New Hampshire and especially the sea-coast region and southern Maine (Kittery).
Dave Langford is a contradance fiddler and guitar player from the metro area of Boston, Massachusetts who plays in The Latter Day Lizards, Big Bandemonium and the mega fiddle band Childsplay. Change from e-mail to URL (November 11, 2007)
The Latter Day Lizards feature Dave Langford on fiddle/guitar, Bill Tomczak on clarinet/saxophone/banjo uke/dumbek and Peter Barnes on piano/guitar/flute/harmonica. They are, for the most part, based in Massachusetts.
Mary Lea plays with the contra dance band, Dark Carnival, and the English Country dance band, Bare Necessities, along with other groups such as Yankee Ingenuity and is known for her recordings of music for couple dances. She is based in Vermont. New entry (October 27, 2007)
Peter Leibert is from Connecticut and has been a caller and musician for more than 45 years.
Live Bait is a way downeast-based (Maine) fiddly band, with guitar, banjo, button and piano accordion, bass, whistles, lap steel and mandolin playing hot hot hot fiddle tunes for contra dances, as well as original, traditional and contemporary songs and airs, waltzes, polkas, and more for smelt fries. (e-mail only)
Amy Larkin, Shirley White and Linda Henry are the members of the Massachusetts-based band, LocoMojo.
Glen Loper plays mandolin and banjo with the band Rumblestrip, Frigate and Calliope. He is based in Maine. New entry (January 10, 2008)
Along with classical, bluegrass, western swing and music of the first half of the second millennium, Eden MacAdam-Somer plays at contra dances occasionally. She is based in Massachusetts.
Tom MacKenzie plays music ranging from French Canadian to American Old Time to Scandinavian to Ragtime to Classical. Clarinet Polka on the Dulcimer, why not. Hall of the Mountain King on Banjo, Sure! And he plays at contra dances, too! He is based in Vermont. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (January 13, 2008)
The Marsh Island Band is a traditional string band specializing in Old Time Southern and plays on a regular basis at the Orono, Maine contra dance with more than 26 years of experience. (e-mail only)
Vermont's Owen Marshall plays guitar and other instruments and when not playing for contra dances, you may find him out on the dance floor. New entry (October 13, 2007)
Matching Orange is a three piece band from the Boston area, specializing in traditional folk/fiddle styles and contra dances and playing anything from Bluegrass to Celtic, Cape Breton, Quebecois, Old Time and others. New entry (March 16, 2008)
Colin James McCaffrey plays guitar at an occasional contra dance among his other gigs. He is based in Vermont.
Composer and musician Eric Merrill plays with a numerous contra dance musicians at times. He is based in West Newton, Massachusetts. MySpace page. New entry (October 13, 2007)
Elvie Miller plays piano and accordion with a number of musicians and bands while handweaving some fantastic scarves and other items in New Hampshire. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 11, 2007)
New Hampshire's Randy Miller is well known for his fiddle tunes, recordings and tune books.
Rodney Miller is a fiddler and violin maker who was designated a "Master Fiddler" in 1983 by the National Endowment for the Arts. He plays with a variety of musicians and is based in New Hampshire. New entry (October 25, 2007)
Bob Mills plays mandolin, banjo and acoustic and electric guitar for contra dance, old-time and Irish music and recently moved to Vermont.
Rick Mohr is a contra dance caller and fiddler from eastern Massachusetts.
The Montville Project is the name of the quartet of veteran Maine and New Hampshire dance musicians who perform the traditional New England dance tunes. New entry (March 16, 2008)
Mountain Laurel plays New England-style contra and square dance music and works with numerous well-known callers to provide exciting and pleasurable events for a variety of music and dance venues and is based in the Massachusetts Berkshires.
The Moving Violations play on a regular basis in Greenfield, Massachusetts and at other venues on occasion. Based on personal experience, they have an awesome string section.
Steve Muise is a fiddler and teacher, a member of the bands Boréal Tordu, Frigate and Muisette and is based in Maine. New entry (January 10, 2008)
Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy now have their own site featuring bios, information about the bands they play in, CDs, and a music book. They are based in Vermont.
The Neil Hill Caravan hosts a contra dance on the 1st Friday of each month in Wolfeboro.
Connecticut's Neo-contras are Bill Shevin, Ed Dale, Howie Levine, Louise Muller and Tim St. Jean. New entry (January 4, 2008)
New Boston Fancy is described as a feckless foursome of musicians believes in having fun playing their distinctive brand of traditional music, lightly laced with a traditional disregard for tradition. They offer a hearty New England stock, based in Celtic and other old world music, enriched by old American standards, and well seasoned with the heady flavor of French-Canadian tunes.
Deck Nieforth makes violins and plays in two Rhode Island contra dance bands, Get Reel and the Franco-Americans.
Night Watch is a new Boston based band composed of Naomi Morse, Elvie Miller and Owen Morrison.
Nightingale is based in Vermont and consists of Becky Tracy (fiddle), Keith Murphy (piano, guitar, foot percussion, vocals), and Jeremiah McLane (piano, accordion). Their music travels through Quebec, Newfoundland, Ireland, France, Scandinavia and beyond. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (February 24, 2008)
The North Star Sisters are Gail Lipfert (guitar, flute, recorder, accordion), Elaine Malkin (fiddle, mandolin), and Colleen Micue (piano) who plays at contra dances, concerts and parties in Maine. (e-mail only)
Northern Routes is a group of musicians who play high energy, traditional and original Old Time and New England style dance music. The band is based in Vermont.
Based in New Hampshire, Northern Spy includes Thal Aylward, Rick Barrows, Rachel Clark, Carol Compton, Alan Graham, Bill Shepard, Mary Jo Slattery, Andy Stewart. (e-mail only)
Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger are the members of Notorious which brings together traditional and contemporary acoustic music from around the world, creating a dynamic, swinging sound that is sure to get you on your feet. The band is based in Massachusetts. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (March 4, 2008)
The Oakum Bay String Band are the host band for regular first Saturday contra dances at Blue Hill (Maine) Town Hall with occasional guest appearances elsewhere. (e-mail only)
Old Grey Goose plays on a regular basis in its home in Maine, but also plays in exotic places such as Tajikistan.
Old New England includes Deanna Stiles on flute and fiddle, Jane Orzechowski on fiddle, and Bob McQuillen on piano and accordion. The band combines driving rhythms with a solid beat, tight sound and lively melodies, and features contemporary and traditional tunes with exciting two-part harmonies created by Jane and Deanna. Richard Hart supports the page. (e-mail only)
The Old Paint String Band is from Boston, Massachusetts and plays Appalachian mountain music from high energy fiddle tunes to original songs. (e-mail only)
Out on a Whim are Bill Fischer and Mickey Koth, a Connecticut duo that play for family and contra dances as well as for special events.
Headquartered in Rhode Island, the Parallel String Band combines smooth vocal harmonies and accomplished instrumentals for their folk, bluegrass, swing, and Old Time string band influenced music. Their material is drawn from American traditional and contemporary folk music, ranging from cowboy ballads to uplifting Appalachian instrumentals. Frederick Theilig designed the page.
Will Patton has been playing all kinds of music for over 30 years now, including celtic, jazz, rock and roll, bluegrass and Brazilian choro and is best known for his work on bass and mandolin. He is based in Vermont.
Phantom Power is composed of fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger and pianist Bruce Rosen and plays traditional New England fiddle repertoire for today's contemporary dance crowds. It is based in Eastern Massachusetts. New entry (October 27, 2007)
The Connecticut Commission on the Arts provides some basic contact information for The Please & Thank You String Band, which includes Bill Wallach (e-mail only), Will Welling, and Dave Howard.
The Polymorphous String Band plays in Northboro, Massachusetts, among other locations, on a fairly regular basis. Jon Weinberg hosts the site.
From the Boston, Massachusetts area, The Poubelles play lively French-Canadian music for contras and squares. (e-mail only)
You can turn to the Racket Factory for its combined experience producing the finest reels, jigs, waltzes, hambos and polkas for the people of New Sharon, Vienna, and Central Maine.
Fiona Rae plays fiddle at contra dances in Maine with a variety of musicians. New entry (April 27, 2008)
In western Connecticut, The Reel Thing provides sparkling live music for contra, 18th century/colonial, English country and barn dances. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 15, 2007)
The Central Massachusetts group Riverbend playing lively tunes in aid of celebration and joyful dance, blends vocals with a variety of stringed instruments. New entry (January 29, 2008)
Also from Eastern Massachusetts, Roaring Jelly plays a monthly dance in Lexington, Massachusetts along with other gigs.
Don Roy is a Franco-American fiddler in Maine who occasionally plays at contra dances and custom crafts violins and violas.
Rude Cider is the only student contradance band this side of the Hoosic. Change in URL (January 13, 2008)
Vermont's Saltash Serenaders play at farmers markets, coffee houses, contra dances, benefits, weddings, ham suppers, special events like First Night and political rallies.
Lissa Schneckenburger is a fiddler from New England playing all over the place. MYSpace page. Added MySpace page (November 11, 2007)
Jacqueline Schwab plays piano for English country dancing, New England contra, Scottish country, couple dancing, vintage and tango. She is based in the Boston area.
Scrod Pudding plays at the third Saturday dances in Bowdoinham. Greg Anderson maintains the page.
The Sea Slugs have been performing steadily throughout southern Maine for twenty years with experience with family dances and school workshops.
The Sevens, a high-energy Celtic ensemble that unites traditional Irish tunes with world rhythms and American songs in a highly original and exciting mix, are based in Connecticut River Valley, but play all over including "All Things Considered".
The Winter Harbor dance in Maine features the Sheep Island Rovers with Jon Archer, Ruth Grierson, Geoffrey Warner, David Quinby and Carl Karush. (e-mail only)
Along with his work with the Berverwyck String Band and other groups playing at contra dances, Vermont's Peter Siegel plays and sings in a variety of musical styles. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 15, 2007)
Mark Simos plays fiddle, guitar, and piano and across New England and other locations and weaves a lifetime's love of many traditions--Irish, Southern old-time, New England, Quebe�ois, bluegrass, and Klezmer among others--into innovative musical forms.
Smoke and Mirrors is comprised of Deborah Gerstein (piano) Damaris Rohsenow (Hammer Dulcimer), and Ryan Thomson (Fiddle, Flute, Banjo). They play for dances throughout New England.
Julie Sorcek plays flute, piccolo, saxophone and bodhran as part of the contra dance band The Reel Thing, and also plays periodically with the group Out on a Whim and other musicians. She is based in Connecticut. New entry (November 14, 2007)
On piano and flute, Bill Matthiesen and Liz Stell, comprising Spare Parts, play a variety of historic dance music, including contra, English Country, ragtime, 19th century Victorian and Civil War re-enactments, and early Argentine tangos. They are based in western Massachusetts.
Begun in 2005 in Connecticut, Step It Up! includes Linda Thomas, Britt Goodman, Gary Mitchell and Ken Mitchell. New entry (January 4, 2008)
David Surette along with his solo work and performances with Susie Burke, plays guitars, mandolin and bouzouki at contra dances with a variety of musicians and groups. He is based in New Hampshire. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (Janaury 13, 2008)
The Connecticut band, The Swivets is comprised of Stacy Phillips, Ellen Cohn and Baba David Coleman. New entry (Janaury 4, 2008)
From Western Massachusetts, Swallowtail includes George Marshall, Ron Grosslein, Tim Van Egmond, Timm Triplett, and David Cantieni and has been playing for more than twenty years.
Sweetbriar plays music firmly rooted in tradition and fully vested in the contemporary and is availabble for contra, family & barn dances in Maine. (e-mall only) New entry (April 21, 2008)
Swinging on a Gate has been playing high-energy music for New England contras and squares since 1986.
Captain Fiddle aka Ryan J. Thomson plays the Cajun, Zydeco, and Celtic music on his fiddle. He is based in New Hampshire.
The Thread City String Band is based in Willimantic, Connecticut and includes Chuck Morgan, June Bisantz-Evan, Noreen Morgan, Larry Boisvert and John Soltys. New entry (January 4, 2008)
Three Cats and a Dog includes Richard Gregory-Allen, Jim Shaw, and John Alden, who play tunes and songs and is based in Eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod.
Ti'Acadie means "a little Acadia". They sing and play traditional music from French and Maritime Canada, French Louisiana, the southern Appalachians, and New England for contradances, family dances, school functions, concerts and any festive occasion. The band includes Pam Weeks, Bill Olson, and Jim Joseph. Change of URL (March 5, 2008)
Tidal Wave (Raz-de-Mar&ecutee) is grounded in traditional Quebec rhythms and melodies but not limited by it. The band includes Sabin Jacques, Rachel Aucoin and Stuart Kenney with guest musicians Andr&ecute Brunet, Eric Favereu et Claudine Arcand with occasional guests Benoit Bourque et Kimberly Holmes. The band is based in New England and Quebec. New entry (May 7, 2008)
Timezones is a transcontinental collaboration of veteran dance musicians: Rex Blazer, David Kaynor, Sue Songer and Peter Siegel.
Bill Tomczak plays clarinet and saxophone with several groups including The Latter Day Lizards and Northern Comfort. He hails from Putney, Vermont.
Tripping Up Stairs features Jan Drechsler on piano, Bob Mills on banjo, mandolins and fiddle, and John Pranio on fiddle and 5-string banjo. While named for an Irish jig, they became popular playing old-time music for contra dancing. They are based in Vermont.
Jaige Trudel and Adam Broome, a fiddle and guitar duo, play energetic and uplifting music for contra dances, weddings and special occasions and are based in Maine. (e-mail only)
Jacqueline & Dudley Laufman call and play fiddles (as Two Fiddles) from New Hampshire.
Two for the Show, featuring Jake Kensinger and Ellen Schmidt, play at contradances in between their numerous other gigs. They are based in Massachusetts.
Ubertuber is Alex Jarrett on flute, whistle and piano, Dhyana Miller on fiddle, Christopher Walsh on percussion, Jonathan Vacanti on mandolin, banjo and guitar, and Tim Dolan on guitar and banjo and is based in Western Massachusetts.
Musician Larry Unger, banjo & guitar player extraordinaire, has been a professional musician since 1984.
Wake the Neighbors, a quartet of musicians from Maine, has a unique music full of fire and passion that recognizes no cultural or stylistic boundaries, best described as "high-octane music for the new millennium."
Maine's Pam Weeks is a mountain dulcimer player, fiddler in Cajun, Quebecois, New England, and old-timey styles, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and educator.
In Maine, Kate Wegner and Chuck Donnelly fuse Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton Celtic musical forms with Old-Time influences into a musical fabric that is being called Celtic Old-Time Fusion.
Jonathan Weinberg is a hammer dulcimer musician from Massachusetts.
The White Cockade, based in Concord, New Hampshire, plays at Scottish Country, English Country and New England Contra Dances. You can also e-mail them.
White Squall are Andrew Grover, Alice Pace and Ned Quist. The band is based in Rhode Island. New entry (April 27, 2008)
Wild Asparagus, based in Western Massachusetts, is one of the best known contra dance bands. It features Ann Percival on piano, guitar, and vocals, David Cantieni, on flutes, tin-whistle, oboe, saxophone and bombard. George Marshall on English concertina player, bodhran and bones, Stuart Kenney on bass, and Becky Tracy's on fiddle.
Wild Goose Nation plays a variety of hot traditional music from America, including blues, old-time Appalachian, country, swing, and Cajun. They are based in Connecticut.
The Wild Notes, formerly The Wingnuts, are based in Connecticut and include Mickey Koth on fiddle and recorder, John Kalinowski on concertina, accordion, fife, and bones, Kasha Breau on harp and vocals, Peter Delaney on guitar and vocals, and Dan Hocott on bass and vocals. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 15, 2007)
The Wintergreen Trio a folk trio, performs a mixture of traditional and contemporary music from the British Isles and America, along with their own compositions and is based in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 15, 2007)
Yankee Ingenuity featuring Peter Barnes, Cal Howard, Mary Lea and Jack O'Connor, plays in Concord each Monday with a variety of guest musicians and callers.

Callers

Caller Dean Allemang's has plenty of information and discussion about gender-free contra dancing. He is based in the Boston, Massachusetts area.
The Amidons play music, tells stories and call dances and are from Brattleboro, VT. MySpace page for Peter Amidon. MySpace page for Mary Alice Amidon. Added MySpace pages (November 15, 2007)
Along with playing a variety of musical instruments and telling stories, Jennifer Armstrong calls at family dances. She is based in Maine. New entry (April 19, 2008)
Peter Barnes is a musician, especially known for his work on piano and flute and author of books on English Country Dance Tunes and piano accompaniment and is based in New England. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 15, 2007)
David Bateman calls many contra and English country dances in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. (e-mail only)
Jacob Bloom leads Klezmer dancing, New England dancing, Contra dancing and Square dancing. He lives in metropolitan Boston.
Adam Boyce is a caller and musician from Williamstown, Vermont. (e-mail only)
Allan Brozek started dancing in the 1950's and has called since the 1960's. He is based in Connecticut.
Patricia Campbell is a dance leader with experience calling for school, family, and community dances and her repertoire includes New England contradance, Colonial/18th century dance, square and folk dances. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 15, 2007)
Mary DesRosiers calls dances often in New Hampshire and she travels to other parts of the country for dances. (e-mail only)
Jan Drechsler is a caller who once lived in New Jersey and now lives in Vermont. (e-mail only)
Susan Elberger calls contras, squares and circles from Eastern Massachusetts. (e-mail only)
Maine-based Joseph Fabian calls dances, family events, contras and beginning square dances. Square and fun dances for all ages are his specialty. (e-mail only) New entry (April 19, 2008)
Bill Fischer calls from Connecticut.
Based in Maine, Chrissy Fowler calls at for contras, family dances, weddings and other joy-filled occasions. (e-mail only) New entry (April 19, 2008)
James H. Fownes is a caller in Massachusetts. Page has problems (January 13, 2008)
Richard and Pam Green are dance callers for contradances, community and family dances, weddings, birthday parties, or any special occasion. They are based in Maine. (e-mail only) New entry (April 20, 2008)
Lisa Greenleaf is a caller from central Massachusetts, but calls across the nation and beyond. (e-mail only)
Jim Gregory calls on a regular basis at the dance series in Granby, Connecticut. He lives in Hartford, Connecticut.
Christine Hale hails from Connecticut and calls there and in Massachusetts.
Besides providing support for a variety of dances and organizations in New Hampshire by maintaining web pages for them, Richard Hart also calls at dances.
Steve Holland is a caller living in Connecticut and is known for calling medleys that change each time through the dance.
From the Amherst area, Jack Janssen calls contra dances. (e-mail only)
Cindy Larock is a dance instructor/caller, specializing in contras-for-beginners (both New England and French Canadian), along with a variety of other dance types. She is based in Maine. (e-mail only) New entry (April 20, 2008)
Kathyrn Larson is a caller and teacher of community dances, family dances, dance parties regularly calling at the second Saturday Wescustogo Hall dance in North Yarmouth, Maine.
Jacqueline & Dudley Laufman call and play fiddles (as Two Fiddles) from New Hampshire.
Living in Massachusetts, you can now find David Kaynor at his new web site. He is a contra dance caller and fiddler and the author of Calling for Beginners by Beginners.
Peter Leibert is from Connecticut and has been a caller and musician for more than 45 years.
Linda Leslie calls from the New Bedford, Massachusetts area (e-mail only)
George Marshall is best known as a musician and caller for Swallowtail and Wild Asparagus but also calls with a number of other bands from time to time. He is based in Western Massachusetts. (e-mail only)
Patrick McCullough calls in Vermont and other locales and runs the Contracopia (Purveyor of fine contra dance music CDs). He is setting up his van as a mobile office, so you may see him in your community some day.
John McIntire calls traditional and contemporary New England style contras, squares and circles and usually calls for the regular 1st Saturday dance in Norridgewock, Maine. (e-mail only) New entry (April 20, 2008)
Katie McNally of Concord, Massachusetts is an active member of the Boston Celtic music scene and can be seen playing with Scottish fiddle band 5 A.M., local contra-dance band, Oh CONTRAire!, and the bluegrass group Boston Road. New entry (November 14, 2007)
Will Mentor, from Cambridge, Massachusetts calls in the area and all around the United States. (e-mail only)
David Millstone is a contra and square dance caller from New Hampshire (e-mail only)
Sylvia Miskoe is a caller and musician from New Hampshire. (e-mail only)
Rick Mohr is a contra dance caller and fiddler from eastern Massachusetts.
For the last twenty years, Gregory Moore has been calling dances mostly in midcoast Maine. (e-mail only) New entry (April 20, 2008)
New England Dancing Masters is made up of Andy Davis, Mary Cay Brass, and Peter and Mary Alice Amidon.
Bill Olson's Contra Corner includes some musings on contradancing and dance compositions. Change of URL (March 5, 2008)
Beth Parkes is a caller who regularly works with Swinging on a Gate.
Tony Parkes is a caller from Massachusetts and is the author of Contra Dance Calling: A Basic Text.
Dan Pearl, from Massachusetts, is a caller for contra dances, square dances, and other types of folk dance. (e-mail only)
Jeffrey Petrovich lives in New Hampshire and calls throughout the state and in other parts of New England. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 14, 2007)
Cynthia Phinney calls at dances in Maine at places like Skowhegan and West Farmington and other dances from time to time. (e-mail only) New entry (April 20, 2008)
Connecticut's Ed Potter has called dances, including contras, for more than 50 years.
Chris Ricciotti calls contras and squares, and international & English Country Dancing. He specializes in Gender-Free Calling and Teaching, as well as community dances. He is based in eastern Massachusetts. (e-mail only)
Bryon Ricker calls and runs a number of dances in the northern part of New Hampshire. He is also an active member of the White Mountain Folklore Association. (e-mail only)
Tom Roby has been calling and teaching dances (Balkan line dances, improvisational Hungarian dances, and English & American set dances) since at least the mid-1980s. He is based in Connecticut. New entry (April 17, 2008)
Sue Rosen calls from eastern Massachusetts. (e-mail only)
Lisa Sieverts calls contra dances and family dances along with holding style workshops and contra calling classes. She is based in New Hampshire.
J.B. Sweeney calls from eastern Massachusetts. (e-mail only)
Ralph Sweet has been calling contra and square dances since 1948 and continues to do so in Enfield, Connecticut and elsewhere.
Ryan J. Thomson calls along with being Captain Fiddle playing the Cajun, Zydeco, and Celtic music on his fiddle. He is based in New Hampshire.
Marcie Van Cleave calls in the New England area. (e-mail only)
Lucia Watson is one of the regular callers in Rehoboth and frequently calls at other venues in southeastern New England. (e-mail only)
Kathryn Wedderburn is based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and calls throughout New England. (e-mail only)
Chris Weiler is a contra and traditional square dance caller from Goffstown, New Hampshire.
Rose White lives in Rhode Island and calls in southeastern New England and at dances ranging from beginner groups to various dance series. (Telephone 401-762-4253.)
Peter Yarensky calls dances in New Hampshire and publishes the monthly Seacoast Country Dance Newsletter.
Steve Zakon-Anderson is one of the best known callers in New Hampshire, usually calls the first Saturday Peterborough dance, and he travels for dances in other states, as well. He also runs the Fiddleheads Cafe, in Hancock, New Hampshire. (e-mail only)

Organizations

Peter Barnes's Canis Publishing specializes in books of dance tunes.
The Country Dance and Song Society in Haydenville (near Northampton center), Massachusetts, is an association of people and groups with a common interest in English and Anglo-American folk dance, music and song.
Dance Gypsy is a monthly calendar/newsletter covering northern New England, western Massachusetts, and part of New York State and, now, Connecticut and Maine.
Downeast Friends of the Folk Arts covers the Maine scene.
The Folk Arts Center based in Cambridge, includes international folk dancing and music along with contra dancing in the events that it sponsors.
It may not be dancing, but it is right next door, The Folk Song Society of Greater Boston.
Lavender Country and Folk Dancers provides a schedule of dances in New England and links to other dances in the United States.
The University of New Hampshire hosts the Library of Traditional Music & Dance as part of their special collections including papers of a number of individuals involved in contradance.
Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont includes the Helen Hartness Flanders Ballad Collection which contains a wealth of New England folk song and folklife materials.
The New England Folk Festival is held each year in April in Mansfield, Massachusetts and includes a large amount of contradancing but is not limited to that. There is a significant amount of international dancing, morris dancing, and traditional folk music, workshops abound, and there is a crafts show.
Along the River is an exciting new collection of reels, jigs, waltzes, and other dance tunes written in the last twenty-five years by musicians of the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts and southern Vermont and is edited by Susan F. Conger. A companion CD was released at the end of 2000.
The Monadnock Folklore Society was founded in 1980 was to increase the visibility of folk dance and music events in southern New Hampshire, provide new venues for performers, and provide educational services in the folk arts to the community. It supports several regular dances in New Hampshire. Richard Hart supplies the information.
Contracopia is where you can find contra dance music, CD's, and tapes from all over the country. Some music is available for listening on Real Audio or MP2 formats. It is based in Vermont.
Great Meadow Music has a catalog of contra dance music, specializing in New England Contra Music, on CDs.
The Folk Times supplies information about a wide range of folk music (from baroque and Renaissance to country and bluegrass) and dance in New York, Vermont, and western Massachusetts.

Contra Dance / Contradance in New England

http://www.contradancelinks.com/newengland.html Produced by Charlie Seelig Last updated on May 7, 2008

http://www.contradancelinks.com/newengland.html
Produced by Charlie Seelig
Last updated on May 7, 2008