2023 Contra Dances

December 23, 2023: Riffraff with Isaac Banner calling! The band is Lindon Toney (fiddle), Jesse Partridge (guitar), Julie Bennett (percussion), and Lisa Robinson (fiddle).

December 9, 2023: Joyride with Jesse Partridge calling! Portland mainstay band Joyride consists of Erik Weburg (flute, bombarde, harmonica), George Penk (fiddle), Sue Songer (piano), and Jeff Kerssen-Griep (guitar).

November 25, 2023: November 25, 2023: Riffraff with Elizabeth Bretschneider calling! The band is Lindon Toney (fiddle), Evo Toney (fiddle, mandolin), Jesse Partridge (guitar), and Julie Bennett (percussion).

November 6, 2023: Special Monday evening dance with the Faux Paws and George Marshall! For their new dance band lineup, Faux Paws founding members Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, foot percussion) and Chris Miller (saxophone) are joined by skilled guitarist Owen Morrison (of Elixir fame).

October 28, 2023: Riffraff with Carol Piening calling! The band is Lindon Toney (fiddle), Jesse Partridge (fiddle, guitar, piano), Eros Faulk (fiddle, guitar), and Dante Faulk (cello).

October 14, 2023: Vienna, Elise, and Patrick with Tom Wimmer calling! The band is Vienna Scheyer (fiddle), Elise Snoey (fiddle), and Patrick Gunning (guitar).

October 4, 2023: Special Wednesday evening dance for Countercurrent album release tour with Lindsey Dono calling! Countercurrent is Alex Sturbaum (guitar, accordion, vocals) and Brian Lindsay (fiddle, banjo, foot percussion, vocals).

September 23, 2023: Riffraff with Susan Michaels calling! The band is Lindon Toney (fiddle), Jesse Partridge (fiddle, guitar, piano), Eros Faulk (fiddle, guitar), and Dante Faulk (cello).

Sep 9th, 2023: Elise, Vienna, and Anita with Elisabeth Monica calling! The band is Elise Snoey (fiddle), Vienna Scheyer (fiddle), and Anita Anderson (piano).

Aug 26th, 2023: Riffraff with Noah Grunzweig (Portland) calling! The band is Jesse Partridge (fiddle), Evo Toney (fiddle), Julie Bennett (percussion), and Jay Finkelstein (guitar).

Aug 12th, 2023: Campaign for Reel Time with Eric Curl calling! The band is Betsy Branch (fiddle), Bill Tomczak (clarinet, sax percussion), and Mark Douglass (piano).

July 22nd, 2023: Riffraff with David Kreiss-Tomkins calling! Riffraff this month is Lindon Toney (fiddle), Evo Toney (fiddle), and Jesse Partridge (guitar).

July 8th, 2023: Noah and Dave with Craig Wolfe calling! Noah VanNorstrand plays fiddle and foot percussion, and Dave Bartley plays guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki.

June 24th, 2023: Riffraff with Valerie Cohen calling! Riffraff this month is Lindon Toney (fiddle), Evo Toney (fiddle), and Eros Faulk (guitar).

June 10th, 2023: Contra dance! Live music by Natterjack (Alex Sturbaum, Hayden Stern, Ezra Jane Landsman, and special guest - Julie Bennett) and calling by Amy Wimmer (robins/larks)!

May 27th, 2023: No Olympia dance Contra dancing (and so much more) at the 52nd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival May 26-29. https://nwfolklife.org/festival This event is FREE to the public. Masks and vaccines encouraged, but not required. Contra dances will have one dedicated "Mask only" line.

May 13th, 2023: Contra dance! Live music by Olympia Volunteer String Band, directed by Jesse Partridge. Calling by Isaac Banner (robins/larks)! This event is a benefit for the South Bay Grange.

April 22nd, 2023: Contra dance! Live music by Live music by Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Evo Toney, Jesse Partridge, Jay Finkelstein, and Julie Bennett) and calling by Joe Micheals (robins/larks)!

April 8th, 2023: Contra dance! Live music by ClickBait (Ryan McKasson, Dave Bartley, and Anita Anderson) and calling by Koren Wake (robins/larks)!

March 25th, 2023: Contra Dance! Live music by Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Jesse Partridge, and Evo Toney) with calling by Elizabeth Bretschneider (robins/larks)!

March 11th, 2023: Special Afternoon Contra Dance for Cascade Promenade! Live music by One Dollar Whiskey (Brian Lindsay, Penka Jane Culevski, and Alex Sturbaum) with Lindsey Dono calling (robins/larks)! Lesson at 12:30, dance 1:00-3:30. This dance is part of Cascade Promenade, a string of exciting regional dances taking place between Seattle and Portland on March 9th-12th.

February 25th, 2023: Contra Dance! Live music by Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Jesse Partridge, Alex Sturbaum, and Julie Bennet) with calling by Rich Goss (robins/larks)!

February 11th, 2023: Contra Dance! Live music by Dante, River, and Eros with Jesse Partridge calling (robins/larks)!

January 28th, 2023: Contra Dance! Live music by Riffraff with William Watson calling (robins/larks)!

January 14th, 2023: Contra Dance! Live music by Countercurrent (Brian Lindsey and Alex Sturbaum) with Isaac Banner calling (robins/larks)!