One of the traditions of contra dancing is that, at a few dances, there is an open mic (mike, microphone) for callers. This can range from a designated caller who organizes the evening (volunteers contact the designated caller and the caller works out an order for the dances for the evening) to a completely open mic with a sign-up list at the dance.
I have tried to list all open caller opportunities, even if the opportunity is once-a-year. Each situation has different traditions, rules or requirements, so visit the web sites before making any assumptions and showing up.
| California, Berkeley | Berkeley Wednesday Contra Dance | 5th (sometimes) Wednesday 8:00pm | Open calling sometimes on 5th Wednesdays. |
| Colorado, Glenwood Springs | Glenwood Springs Community Contra Dance | 1st Saturday 7:30pm | Callers and musicians seeking to gain experience should contact the dance organizers for information on calling and participating in a band at this dance. |
| Colorado, Westminster | Westminster Old-Time Community Dance | 1st Saturday 7:00pm-10:00pm | Callers and musicians seeking to gain experience should contact the dance organizers for information on calling and participating in a band at this dance. |
| Connecticut, Wethersfield | Hartford Community Contra Dance | 2nd Saturday in August 8:00pm-11:00pm | Call ahead for caller info. Open band that night, too. |
| Illinois, McLean | Illinois All Night Dance | Annual Saturday 2:30pm to ???? | Open stage and and open mic calling as part of this event. |
| Illinois, Urbana | Chambana Jan Jam | Annually in January Friday/Saturday 7:00pm to ???? | There are opportunities for open caller/mic as part of this event. |
| Indiana, Bloomington | Bloomington Old-Time Music & Dance Group | 1st (?) Wednesday 8:30pm-10:30pm | Open caller mic |
| Indiana, Goshen | Goshen Community Contra Dancing | Once a year Saturday | Open caller opportunity on February 2, 2008. |
| Kentucky, Berea | Berea Third Friday Dance | 3rd Friday 7:30pm-11:00pm | Note that we also dance most third Fridays upstairs at 128 N. Broadway to open-mic calling and a pick-up band. For more information on Third Friday Dances, call 859-985-5501. |
| Maine, West Farmington | Farmington Contra Dance | Occasional Saturday 7:30pm-11:00pm | The Farmington Dance occasionally has nights when "budding callers" call at the dance. |
| Maryland, Thurmont | Catocin Mountain Music & Dance Weekend - Fall | Annual Friday-Sunday ???? | Volunteers lead music and dance events during this camp. |
| Maryland, Thurmont | Catocin Mountain Music & Dance Weekend - Spring | Annual Friday-Sunday ???? | Volunteers lead music and dance events during this camp. |
| Massachusetts, Cambridge | MIT Contra Dance | Various Tuesday 8:00pm-10:30pm | Students and others are welcome to sit in with the band and/or call dances in this series! |
| Michigan, Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids Folk Arts Society Contra Dance | 4th Saturday 7:00pm-10:30pm | Bring your acoustic instrument or flat/ low-heeled dance shoes. Come to dance, play dance music, or call a dance! Callers are requested to contact us a week prior to dance night. |
| Michigan, Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo Open Mic Night | Occasional Saturday 7:00pm-10:30pm | A great opportunity for novice callers and a great opportunity for dance fun for all. Call Danika at 269-674-3078 by the preceding Wednesday to get on the caller roster. |
| New Hampshire, Dover | Dover, New Hampshire Dance - Lamprey River Band | 1st Thursday 8:00pm-10;40pm | Guest musicians and callers welcome. |
| New Hampshire, Nelson | Nelson Monday Night Dance | Every Monday 8:00pm-10:30pm | Music by regulars Bob McQuillen, Harvey Tolman, Roger Treat and Lloyd Carr. Regular callers include Don Primrose, Lisa Sieverts, and Rich Hart. Always open mike for both callers and musicians. |
| New Jersey, Princeton | Princeton Contra Dance | sporadic Wednesday 7:30pm-10:30pm | The Princeton Dance series has occasional dates for open caller opportunities. |
| North Carolina, Asheville | Thursday Night Dance at Warren Wilson College | Every (jam); Every-so-often (dance) Thursday 8:00pm | Once and a while, there are opportunities for open calling at the Thursday night dance at Warren Wilson College. |
| Ohio, Lake Logan | May Apple Stomp | Annual Saturday and Sunday Various | Musicians and Callers please come and share your talent! Band and caller sign up begins at 7:30 PM. |
| Oklahoma, Kingston | FiddlerÕs Dream | Annual Varies ???? | Volunteers lead music and dance events during this camp. |
| Oregon, La Grande | NE Oregon Folklore Society Contra Dance | Some Tuesday 7:30pm-9:00pm | On some Tuesdays there are opportunities for playing and calling at the dance. Call ahead if you want to try playing music or leading a dance. |
| Pennsylvania, Glenside | Thursday Night Contra Dance | usually, at least once a month Thursday 7:30pm-11:00pm | On many Thursdays, callers other than the lead caller are invited to participate. Please contact the lead caller if you are interested in calling a dance this evening. |
| Texas, Austin | Austin Barn Dancers Wednesday Night Dance | Occasional Wednesday 7:30pm-9:45pm | There is an occasional open caller mike. |
| Washington, Goldendale | MCFS Simcoe Mountain Music & Dance Weekend | Annual Friday-Sunday ???? | Volunteers lead music and dance events during this weekend. |
| Washington, Seattle | Seattle Community Open Band Contra Dance | 2nd Sunday 6:00pm-8:30pm | Seattle Community Contra Dance - an open-band contra dance, featuring an open mic for callers, preceded by a potluck supper (please bring a dish to share, as well as your own plates and utensils). It's a supportive place to dance, call, and make music - beginners welcome! The band and the callers' open mic are led and hosted by a different favorite local musician and caller each month. |
| Washington, Vashon Island | Northwest New YearÕs Camp | Annual Varies ???? | Volunteers lead music and dance events during this weekend. |
| Wisconsin, Madison | Madison Contra Dance Cooperative | every Tuesday 7:45pm-9:40pm | Open band and callers. |
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