This page tries to keep track of all contra dances in Alaska including dance camps and weekends along with other events in Alaska which include contra dancing. Because most of the information is gathered from web sites and the listings are not updated as frequently as the web sites, dancers should visit the web sites for up-to-date information. If you are aware of any dances, dance series or other events that should be included on this list, please e-mail me.

[Living in Rhode Island and a mile a way from a dance series, I do understand that creating a schedule of Alaska won't be as useful as one for southern New England, but it may be helpful so someone -- Charlie]

February 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012  Dance Series: Fairbanks Location: Fairbanks Caller(s): Barbara Braley; Band(s)/Musician(s): Swing Dogs; Note:

Saturday, February 4, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage - Mostly Waltz Location: Anchorage Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Recorded music; Note:

Friday, February 10, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): Jim Haack; Band(s)/Musician(s): Muskeg Sally; Note: Location: Wendler Middle School

Saturday, February 18, 2012  Dance Series: Fairbanks Location: Fairbanks Caller(s): Lynn Basham; Band(s)/Musician(s): Celtic Confusion; Note:

Saturday, February 18, 2012  Dance Series: Homer Location: Homer Caller(s): Laura Patty; Band(s)/Musician(s): Tonga Family Band; Note: Location: West Homer Elementary School

Friday, February 24, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): Valerie DeLaune; Band(s)/Musician(s): Fat Weasel; Note: Location: Wendler Middle School

Saturday, February 25, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau Location: Juneau Caller(s): Odette Edgar; Band(s)/Musician(s): Full Circle (AK); Note:

March 2012

Friday, March 2, 2012  Dance Series: Fairbanks Location: Fairbanks Caller(s): Barbara Braley; Band(s)/Musician(s): The Caper; Note:

Friday, March 9, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): Kenny Powers; Band(s)/Musician(s): Jubilee (AK); Note: Location: Wendler Middle School

Saturday, March 17, 2012  Dance Series: Fairbanks Location: Fairbanks Caller(s): Lynn Basham; Band(s)/Musician(s): Ice Jam; Note:

Friday, March 23, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): Brian DeMarcus; Band(s)/Musician(s): High Lonesome Sound; Note: Location: Romig Middle School, 2500 Minnesota Dr.

Saturday, March 24, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau Location: Juneau Caller(s): Odette Edgar; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA; Note:

April 2012

Friday, April 6, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): Jim Haack; Band(s)/Musician(s): Fountain of Youth; Note: Location: Square and Round Center

Friday, April 6, 2012  Dance Series: Fairbanks Location: Fairbanks Caller(s): Barbara Braley; Band(s)/Musician(s): Swing Dogs; Note:

Monday, April 9, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Alaska Folk Festival Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Numerous; Note: Week-long, mostly music festival with some dancing; event ends on April 15, 2012

Tuesday, April 10, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Alaska Folk Festival Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Numerous; Note: Week-long, mostly music festival with some dancing; event ends on April 15, 2012

Wednesday, April 11, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Alaska Folk Festival Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Numerous; Note: Week-long, mostly music festival with some dancing; event ends on April 15, 2012

Thursday, April 12, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Alaska Folk Festival Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Numerous; Note: Week-long, mostly music festival with some dancing; event ends on April 15, 2012

Friday, April 13, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Alaska Folk Festival Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Numerous; Note: Week-long, mostly music festival with some dancing; event ends on April 15, 2012

Saturday, April 14, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Alaska Folk Festival Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Numerous; Note: Week-long, mostly music festival with some dancing; event ends on April 15, 2012

Sunday, April 15, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Alaska Folk Festival Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Numerous; Note: Week-long, mostly music festival with some dancing; event ends on April 15, 2012

Friday, April 20, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): Bob Hume; Band(s)/Musician(s): Contra Cohos; Note: Location: Romig Middle School, 2500 Minnesota Dr.

Saturday, April 21, 2012  Dance Series: Fairbanks Location: Fairbanks Caller(s): Amy Steiner; Band(s)/Musician(s): Ice Jam; Note:

Friday, April 27, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): Brian DeMarcus; Band(s)/Musician(s): High Lonesome Sound; Note: Advanced dance; Location: Square and Round Center

May 2012

Friday, May 4, 2012  Dance Series: Fairbanks Location: Fairbanks Caller(s): Barbara Braley; Band(s)/Musician(s): Celtic Confusion; Note:

Saturday, May 5, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA; Note:

Friday, May 11, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): Robyn Lauster; Band(s)/Musician(s): Fat Weasel; Note: Location: Wendler Middle School

Saturday, May 19, 2012  Dance Series: Fairbanks Location: Fairbanks Caller(s): Lynn Basham; Band(s)/Musician(s): The Caper; Note:

Thursday, May 24, 2012  Dance Series: Anchorage Location: Anchorage Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA; Note: Dance is on a Thursday; pre-Dance Camp dance

July 2012

Tuesday, July 3, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA; Note: Pre-fireworks dance

August 2012

Friday, August 3, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Camp Damp Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA; Note: Weekend music and dance camp; register in advance; event ends on August 5, 2012

Saturday, August 4, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Camp Damp Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA; Note: Weekend music and dance camp; register in advance; event ends on August 5, 2012

Saturday, August 4, 2012  Dance Series: Juneau - Camp Damp Location: Juneau Caller(s): TBA ; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA; Note: Weekend music and dance camp; register in advance; event ends on August 5, 2012

Venue and dance information

Anchorage: The Dancing Bears sponsor dances at various locations in Anchorage. Cost is $10 for non-members, $8 for members. Dances go from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Call the Bear Phone - 566-BEAR or check the web site for dance information and updates. Web site: http://www.thedancingbears.org/.

Anchorage - Folk Festival: Mostly music festival held over two weekends and the week between in late January. Dances on some nights. Web site: http://www.anchoragefolkfestival.org/.

Anchorage - Winter Wonderland: Special dance held in December. Cost: $25. Call the Bear Phone - 566-BEAR or check the web site for dance information and updates. Web site: http://www.thedancingbears.org/.

Anchorage - Mostly Waltz: Paul Arneson presents his mostly waltz night on the 1st Saturday of each moth at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios, 1300 East 68th Street, Suite 202 (upstairs), from 8pm to 11pm, for $5. Music for waltzing plus swing, cha cha, night club 2, and free yummy stuff to eat. Web site: http://www.akswing.com/.

Anchorage - Heifer International Benefit: Barn Dance at Wendler Junior High School. This is a family event! Contra dancing and a silent auction to raise funds for Heifer International! Entrance is by donation. Event is from 7pm to 11pm. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119325971476026.

Fairbanks: The Contra Borealis Dancers sponsor dances at Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 8:00pm to 11:00pm. Admission: Adult non-members - $8.00; Adult members - $5.00; Student non-members - $5.00; Student members - $3.00; Dancers under 13 - Free. Web site: http://contraborealis.latitude65.org.

Fairbanks - University Equestrian Network: Dance starts at 8pm. $5 admission. The University Equestrian Network, a UAF campus/community club, is having a contradance on campus at the Hess Recreation Center in Moore Hall on campus. We'll also have a de...ssert (and baked goods) auction. We are raising funds for our sustainable horse and small livestock keeping project, and plan to host Alayne Bickel of Horses for Clean Water to give a workshop in April on sustainable, green horse property management. She will also do a workshop for dog mushers if there's interest. Parking is available in front of and behind Moore Hall (on the road to the museum) and is free without a decal after 5pm. If you have questions, contact me at 458-0118 or at clhardy@alaska.edu - Web site: None.

Homer: Dances at the West Homer Elementary School (995 Soundview Ave) or McNeil Canyon Elementary School (52188 East End Road) or Kachemak Community Center, 41770 Bear Creek Drive, beginning at 7:30pm. $6 admission. Kids under 16 (or over 65) get in free. Please bring clean, soft-soled shoes to dance in. Beginners welcome. Contact Willy Dunne at wdunne907@gmail.com or call Laura Patty at (907) 235-0173 for information. Web site: None.

Juneau: The Juneau Folk Dance Community sponsors dances from September to May at various locations and dates. Dances usually run from 7:30pm to 9:30pm or 7:30pm to 11:00pm. Web site: http://www.juneaucontras.org/index.html.

Juneau - Alaska Folk Festival: Week-long, mostly music festival, held in the first part of April. Web site: http://akfolkfest.org/.

Juneau - Camp Damp: Held at the East River Methodist Camp in early August with music and dance workshops, dances, etc. Register in advance. Web site: http://www.juneaucontras.org/campdamp.html.

Juneau - New Year's Eve: The Juneau Folk Dance Community sponsors a New Year's Eve dances. Dances usually run from 7:30pm to 11:00pm but this one may be different. Check site for details. Web site: http://www.juneaucontras.org/index.html.

Kenai: Dances are sponsored by the Kenai River Folk Dancers and are held third Saturdays from September through April from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School, 1049 East Poppy Lane, between Kenai and Soldotna. Web site: None.

Lost Lake (outside Fairbanks) - Dance Camp North: Weekend music and dance camp held in early September at a Boy Scout Camp approximately 50 miles from Fairbanks. Register in advance. Sponsored by the Contra Borealis Dancers. Web site: http://contraborealis.latitude65.org/.

Matanuska River Gravel Bar Dance: Annual event held in mid-July. Go down from Hicks Creek with an overnight on a gravel bar and then to Chikaloon/King Mt the next day. Contact Jim Haack jhaack@gci.net for more information, advice, requirements, etc. Web site: None.

Seldovia - Summer Solstice Music Festival: Mostly music festival held in mid-June with concerts, workshops and and at least one dance event. Web site: http://seldoviamusicfestival.wordpress.com.

Wasilla - Dancing Bears Dance Camp: Dance weekend held at King's Lake Camp on Memorial Day (U.S.) weekend in late May. Register in advance. Web site: http://www.thedancingbears.org/.

This page is part of the Contrdancelinks.com web site. For more information about contra dancing, visit these other site pages:

*The Colorado link will bring you to Dancing on the Web. The Iowa link will bring you to the Central Iowa Barn Dance Association. The Maine link will bring you to the Downeast Friends of the Folk Arts. The New Mexico link will bring you to the New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society. The Utah link will bring you to Utah Contradance Information. These fine organizations and individuals already have complete listings for these states and there is no reason for me to duplicate their efforts.

**As far as I know, there are no regular dances or events in Louisiana, Mississippi, South Dakota or Wyoming, but I have created pages if something changes in the future.

http://www.contradancelinks.com/schedule_ak.html
Produced by Charlie Seelig
Last updated on January 31, 2012