This page tries to keep track of all contra dances in Montana including dance camps and weekends along with other events in Montana 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.
Arlee: Dances at Shy Bear Farm, 320 Shy Bear Lane on the 3rd Saturday of June, July, and August. Potluck: 5:30 pm. Dance: 7:00 pm. Sunday Breakfast: 9 am. Dance Cost: $5.00, Little ones free. Breakfast: $4.00 person/$10.00 Family. Bring lawn chairs, water bottles, dance shoes, warm clothes, swimsuit/towel, hiking shoes, dinner potluck food, and camping gear if staying overnight. A flashlight comes in handy when trying to find your car or camp after the dance. Please carpool. Parking is limited! Limited parking, car pooling strongly encouraged. Dogs must be leashed. Web site: http://www.missoulafolk.org.
Belgrade: Musicians' workshop (1:00pm to 4:30pm ($50/participant (includes evening dance)), potluck supper will be held from 5:30-7:00. Bring good food to share along with your own personal eating tools; dance ($7 BFS members, $9 non-members) from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Location: Wright's Dance Barn - 9466 Springhill Road. Questions? Call 406-209-0593. Web site: http://www.bozemanfolklore.org.
Boulder - Fall Fiddle Fest and Dance: At the Old Boulder Methodist Church and Boulder Hot Springs. We will provide lunch for the participating musicians from Noon to 1 pm., with informal jamming and music workshops from 1 to 3 pm in the Old Methodist Church and fellowship hall. We are currently scheduling public performances to be held in the old church form 3 to 6 pm. Followed by a no host Spaghetti dinner served in the fellowship hall from 6 to 7:00 pm. A dance will be held in the ballroom at the historic Boulder Hot Springs starting at 7:30 pm and ending at 10:30 pm. The public performances will be free and open to the public, with donations accepted for the historic old church. The dance would be open to the public: $7 adults, $5 students, children free. Performing musicians would receive a dinner pass. The Boulder Methodist Church is at 211 W. Centennial Drive and the Boulder Hot Springs is 2 miles south of town on Highway 69. Contact Dustin Farnum at wobblyboy@gci.net or (406) 465-7282. Web site: http://www.bozemanfolklore.org/ or http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156503731050201.
Boulder: No details as of yet. Web site: http://www.bozemanfolklore.org.
Bozeman: The Bozeman Folklore Society sponsors contra dances (along with other types of dancing, concerts, etc.) with the dances usually (but not always) occurring on the 1st Friday and 3rd Saturday of the month. Beginner's workshop 7:30pm - 8:00 pm. Regular dance from 8:00pm - 11:00 pm. Admission: $7 members, $9 non-members. Live music - all dances are taught - all ages are welcome and partners are not required. Please wear grit free, non-marking shoes to protect the dance floor. Most dances occur at the Eagles Lodge, 316 East Main Street. For more information regarding contra dances contact Rab at 406-586-2844. Web site: http://www.bozemanfolklore.org/.
Bozeman - Fall Celebration: Afternoon and evening dancing (English, international, contra) at Weather Rock Barn in the beautiful Shields Valley along Flathead Creek, on state Highway 86. Newcomers and early arrivals welcome - orientation to the Weather Rock property - snacks and drinks available. Dress for weather changes and cool evenings -- soft soled clean shoes of course for the dance floor. Some non-dance activities available. Check site for details. Web site: http://www.bozemanfolklore.org.
Bozeman - New Year's Eve: The Bozeman Folklore Society sponsors a special New Year's Eve Dance. Live music - all dances are taught - all ages are welcome and partners are not required. Please wear grit free, non-marking shoes to protect the dance floor. Most dances occur at the Eagles Lodge, 316 East Main Street. For more information regarding contra dances contact Rab at 406-586-2844. Web site: http://www.bozemanfolklore.org/.
Bozeman - Wintergreen: The Bozeman Folklore Society sponsors the Wintergreen Contra Dance Weekend in late January at the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture, 111 South Grand Avenue, with dances and workshops. Register in advance, although you can register at the door for the Saturday workshops. Web site: http://www.bozemanfolklore.org/.
Butte - Montana Folk Dance: Mostly music (eclectic) festival, crafts, with a little dancing, held in the first part of July in "Uptown" Butte. Web site: http://montanafolkfestival.com/.
East Helena - Montana Wild West: A Frontier Ball, which includes contra dancing, is part of this multi-faceted event sponsored by Montana Living History in mid-August. Web site: http://www.montanalivinghistory.org.
Hamilton: Dance at the Rocky Mountain Grange, South 1st Street, 2 miles south of Hamilton. Dance goes from 7:00pm to 10:00pm with a beginners' workshop at 6:30pm. Cost $5/person, $10/family. Web site: None.
Hamilton - Bitterroot Scottish Irish Festival: Contra dance labeled as a ceilidh happens during the festival on the Friday of the festival from 6pm to 9pm at the Marcus Daly Mansion. Web site: http://www.bitterrootscottishirishfestival.org/.
Helena: Contra Dances on the first Friday (mostly) of each month from September to May. Cost: $7 for adults, $5 students, $4 for kids 14 and under, family rates. Location: Plymouth Congregational Church (corner of Winnie and Oakes), Helena, MT. Beginners Workshop at 7:30 pm; Main Dance: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Contact: For directions or information, call 406-495-0935. Come join us for lively music and fun dancing. No partner or experience necessary; beginners and singles welcome. Web site: http://www.missoulafolk.org.
Helena - Territorial Ball: Location to be determined. This is an 1880's military ball that all are welcome to attend. Location: St. Peters Cathedral. 511 North Park. For more information you can call Vince Pontillo at 406 431 3288. Web site: http://2nduscavalry.mysite.com/main.htm.
Helena - Hey for Four: In addition to our monthly dances with live music, Helena Contra Dancers presents a new series. The dances are free, but donations happily accepted to help cover the cost of the room. These dances are all taught and called to recorded music, with the following goals in mind: give dancers an opportunity to dance more frequently than once a month; to give our local callers more practice calling dances; to help beginning dancers master the basic steps; to introduce all dancers to more complicated figures; to work on dance aesthetics, like flow and embellishments. Location: St. Peter's Episcopal Church 511 N. Park Ave, Helena - 7:30 pm. Web site: http://www.bozemanfolklore.org.
Kalispell: Dances on various Saturdays of the month from October to May at the Salvation Army Church, 110 Bountiful Drive from 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm. Prices: $7 individuals; $5 high school and college students; $15 family. Snacks: Feel free to bring snacks to share for any dance: sliced fruit, nuts, (banana, pumpkin, zucchini, whatever) bread, crackers, chips, whatever YOU like to eat!Contact: For directions or info on band/callers, please call Joe at 406-752-7469 or e-mail him at fisherdogshots[at-sign]live.com. Web site: http://www.missoulafolk.org.
Missoula: The Missoula Folklore Society sponsors dances on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from October to May, generally on the second floor of The Union Hall, 208 East Main Street, in Missoula. There is a beginner's (or newcomer's) workshop at 7:30 p.m. and dancing from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Cost is $6 for MFS members (bring your membership card!) and $9 for all others. All dances are taught from scratch. Everyone is welcome including singles, couples, groups, and families. Web site: http://www.missoulafolk.org.
Missoula - Complex Contra Dances: Roy Curet is sponsoring a short series of dances. He writes: "Over the years I have collected many fine dances at dance camps. I do not get to call these on a regular basis because they are to complex to teach at a regular Saturday night contra dance. I want some experience leading these dances and I hope you will help me by attending this series. I'll be trying out some new things so there may be some flubs but I think I can guarantee that a good time will be had by all. This series is not for new dancers. In fact, aside from some rare and esoteric figures there will be no teaching. You can expect some good recorded music and six to eight dances in an hour and a half session. The series will occur on 3rd Fridays January thru April 2011 starting January 21 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at The Barn Movement Studio, 2926 S. Third West (down the alley in the middle of the block across from Hawthorne School). There is a map here: http://sites.google.com/site/thebarnllc/ Bring dancing shoes. NO STREET SHOES will be allowed in the hall. Bring your own water bottle, there is no water available at the hall. This series is primarily for my own benefit so I will not be charging any admission fee. Donations will be happily accepted. Web site: None.
Missoula - New Year's Eve: Dance is a part of Missoula's first night celebration. Location: UC Ballroom from 3:30pm-5:30pm. Web site: http://www.missoulafolk.org.
Monarch - Montana Fiddle Camp - Week 1: Week long camp (multi-instrumental) at the St. Thomas Church Camp. Held in the first part of June. A little dancing (much of the time). Register in advance. Web site: http://www.montanafiddlers.org/camp.html.
Monarch - Montana Fiddle Camp - Week 2: Week long camp (multi-instrumental) at the St. Thomas Church Camp. Held in the first part of June. A little dancing (much of the time). Register in advance. Web site: http://www.montanafiddlers.org/camp.html.
Rollins - Bear Hug Mountain Festival: Weekend of music, dancing and storytelling at the Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp, held in mid-September. Register in advance. Web site: http://www.missoulafolk.org/bearhug/Current_Bear_Hug.htm.
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.