Olympia Contra Dance

COVID preferences 2023 survey link! We are assessing our current covid policy to see how it aligns with current community preferences. We'd love to hear from you! Please also encourage your friends to complete this as, especially if they have not been dancing with the current (2022) protocols.

What is Contra Dancing?

Contra is community-oriented social folk dancing to live music. It's lively, joyful, welcoming, modern, traditional, and fun! No partner or experience is needed to have a great time, so we hope to see you on the dance floor!

The Details

Our dances are typically held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month - check the schedule regularly or sign up for occasional email reminders

When:

• Lesson: for new dancers: 7:00 pm.
• Dance: 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Cost: Sliding scale $10-20 ($5 for under 18). We prefer cash (so we can easily pass it along to the performers), but also accept checks and online payment forms using your smart phone.

Where: Dances are held at the South Bay Grange at 3918 Sleater Kinney Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98506. There is a gravel parking lot just to the south of the building along Sleater Kinney and you are welcome to use the school parking lot across the street.

Community: contra dancing is not just about dancing to great music, it's also about being part of a safe, supportive, and inclusive community. Check out our community standards.

COVID: We recognize that contra dancing is a high-risk activity for spreading covid and we care deeply about the health, safety, and joy of this community. For now, proof of vaccinations, booster (if eligible), and well-fitting masks are required. These protocols align with the practices of other active contra dance communities in the PNW. Review our full covid protocols below.

Who: For now, these contra dances are being hosted by the South Bay Grange, rather than the Olympia Contra Dance Community (OCDC). In order to stay connected, sign up for our new email list or join the group on Facebook.

Upcoming Dances

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

April 22nd, 2023: Contra dance! Live music by Riffraff and calling by Joe Micheals (robins/larks)!

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 Northwest Folklife Festival.

May 27th, 2023: No Olympia dance Contra dancing (and so much more) at the 52nd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival May 27-30. https://nwfolklife.org/festival

Covid protocols

To mitigate some of the risks, we are doing the following: 1) require well fitting masks - we will supply KN-95s at the door for those who need them, 2) require proof of full covid vaccination (including boosters, when eligible), 3) collect emails of attendees for contact tracing purposes, 4) open doors and windows for better ventilation. Out of concern for our community and the health care system, we ask that those at higher risk or in regular contact with higher risk individuals not attend at this time (including unvaccinated housemates and young children). We will all dance together again one day.

Please bring your ID and proof of vaccination, and be prepared to fill out a registration form at the door. We ask that if you have symptoms or test positive (or negative) within 3-7 days of the dance that you let us know. We will contact dancers if another dancer reports symptoms or a positive covid test. Once you have verified your vaccination status, you will need to check in at the door for future dances, but no longer need to show proof of vaccination.

If you have any questions, please contact SBGrangeEvents@gmail.com.

Of course, all of this is subject to change with the fluctuating status of COVID-19.

Past Dances

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)! All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. One dancer reported a positive covid result on 3/1 and all dancers were notified. Another dancer reported that they tested as a precaution on 3/2 and tested negative.

February 11th, 2023: Contra Dance! Live music by Dante, River, and Eros with Jesse Partridge calling (robins/larks)! All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. No dancers reported positive COVID results or symptoms.

January 28th, 2023: Contra Dance! Live music by Riffraff with William Watson calling (robins/larks)! All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. No dancers reported positive COVID results or symptoms.

January 14th, 2023: Contra Dance! Live music by Countercurrent (Brian Lindsey and Alex Sturbaum) with Isaac Banner calling (robins/larks)! All attendees were notified by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive. One dancer tested positive for COVID-19 on 1/16.

December 24th, 2022: no dance

December 10th, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by KGB (Claude Ginsburg, Dave Bartley, Julie King) and calling by Tom Wimmer (robins/larks)! All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. No dancers reported positive COVID results or symptoms.

November 26th, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Jesse Partridge, Dante Faulk) and calling by Kelsey Hartman (robins/larks)! Kelsey is visiting from California. All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. One dancer reported a positive covid result on 12/2 and all dancers were notified. Two other dancers reported symptoms of head colds (starting on 11/27 and 11/29), each reporting negative Covid test results.

Monday, November 7th, 2022: Live music by "The Engine Room (Noah VanNorstrand, Alex Sturbaum, and Kelsey Wells) with George Marshall calling (robins/larks)! This dance replaced our regular 2nd Saturday dance - we did not dance on Nov. 12th. One dancer reported a positive COVID result after developing symptoms on Nov. 8th. All attendees were notified by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive. No other dancers reported positive covid results or symptoms.

October 22nd, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Jesse Partridge, Evo Toney, and Julie Bennett) and calling by Eric Curl (robins/larks)! Want to sit in with the band and play a couple tunes? All are welcome! All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. No dancers reported positive COVID results or symptoms.

October 8th, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by Contra Quartet (Jesse Partridge, Julie Bennet, Steve Cifka, and Jay Finkelstein) and calling by Craig Wolfe (robins/larks)! All attendees were notified by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive. One dancer tested positive for COVID-19 on 10/10. No other dancers reported positive covid results or symptoms.

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022: Evergreen contra dance! 5-7pm at Red Square on the Evergreen State College campus. Live music by a collection of wonderful local musicians led by Alex Sturbaum (including River Scheuerell, Julie Bennet, and Dante & Eros Faulk) and calling by Jesse Partridge (robins/larks)! Donations are welcome at this free event. ** Note that vaccinations and masks will not be required at this outdoor event, but are strongly encouraged.

September 24th, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by Riffraff and calling by Amy Wimmer (robins/larks)! Want to sit in with the band and play a couple tunes? All are welcome! All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive.

September 10th, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by River Scheuerell and Dante & Eros Faulk and calling by Jesse Partridge (robins/larks)! All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. No dancers reported positive COVID results or symptoms.

August 27th, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by Riffraff (Jesse Partridge, River Scheurerell, Lindon Toney) and Koren Wake calling (robins/larks)! Want to sit in with the band and play a couple tunes? All are welcome! All attendees were notified by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive. One dancer developed a fever and tested positive for COVID-19 on 9/2. No other dancers reported positive covid results or symptoms.

July 23rd, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Alex Sturbaum, and Jesse Partridge) and Susan Michaels calling (robins/larks)! All attendees were contacted by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. No dancers reported positive COVID results or symptoms.

July 9th, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by Jesse Partridge and Alex Sturbaum (plus special guest Julie Bennet) with Isaac Banner calling (robins/larks)! One dancer developed symptoms (headache / fever) and tested positive for COVID-19 on 7/11. All attendees were notified by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms and/or tested positive. No other dancers reported positive COVID results.

June 25th, 2022: Contra dance! Live music by Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Jesse Partridge, and WB Reid) with Lindsey Dono calling (robins/larks) All attendees showed proof of vaccination, booster, wore masks, and were asked by email to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive for COVID 19. No dancers reported positive COVID results or symptoms.

June 11th, 2022: no dance

May 28th, 2022: No Olympia dance Contra dancing (and so much more) at the 51st Annual Northwest Folklife Festival May 27-30. https://nwfolklife.org/

May 14th, 2022: Noah VanNorstrand (of The Faux Paws / Great Bear) with Craig Wolfe calling (larks/robins) All attendees were asked by email to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive for COVID 19. No dancers reported positive COVID results.

April 23rd, 2022: Riffraff! (Lindon Toney, Evo Toney, Dante Faulk, Jesse Partridge) with Eric Curl calling (larks/robins) -- One dancer developed mild symptoms on 4/27 and later tested positive for COVID-19. All attendees were notified by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive. No other dancers reported positive COVID results. Many dancers reported negative test results (one with mild / unrelated symptoms).

April 9th, 2022: No dance Mas Uda Dancers 7:00 pm Benefit Performance proceeds support the South Bay Grange - Tickets & Info at www.mas-uda.com

March 26, 2022: Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Jesse Partridge, River Scheurerell) with William Watson calling (larks/robins) All attendees were fully vaccinated and wore well fitting masks. Everyone was sent a follow up email asking to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive for COVID. There were NO reported cases of COVID or similar symptoms.

March 13, 2022 (Sunday): No dance, but supported the Portland Roadhouse Film Festival: films celebrating what we all love so much about folk music and dance.

February 26, 2022: Riffraff (Lindon Toney, Evo Solkoloff-Toney, WB Reid) with Joe Michaels calling (ladies/gents)! One dancer tested positive for COVID on 2/28. All attendees were notified by email and asked to report if they developed symptoms or tested positive. No other dancers reported COVID or similar symptoms. Many dancers reported negative test results.

December 20th, 2021: Riffraff! No cases of COVID were reported after the dance.