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Our next dance:Friday, March 8, 2019
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Winter dealt us a bum hand in February, but we'll be back for a hot time
when we dance on Friday, March 8th, with music by Heliotrope (Bellingham), and
dances called by Valerie Cohen (Seattle). This dance will be part of the
Cascade Promenade,
a 5 day Pacific Northwest dance party! After many years of playing together informally, Robin Brown (fiddle),
Paul Englesberg (flutes, concertina, whistle, fife), and Michael Hobart (guitar)
formed Heliotrope in 2013. With an emphasis on fluid melodies, stylish harmonies,
driving rhythms, and musical surprise, Heliotrope provides a distinctive blend of
contra dance music drawn from a wide range of musical traditions — Celtic, French
Canadian, New England, Appalachian, classical, contemporary, and even Scandinavian.
They thrive on leaving dancers with happy, tired feet and yearning for more. Valerie Cohen has been an avid contra dancer since the early '80's.
Active in the Seattle folk music and dance community as both musician and dance caller,
she enjoys sharing the energy, flow, and camaraderie of contra dancing with new
and experienced dancers alike. We look forward to welcoming all of these talented people to
our stage for the first time. Band and caller alike will be among the featured
performers at the all-day Portland Roadhouse dance on Sunday, March 10. Friday, March 8 |
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Contra Dance Community Survey
Did you know the Portland area Contra dance scene is organized by 8 different groups? Well, all those volunteer organizers began meeting together last summer, and we decided we needed to conduct a survey of our entire dance community. UPDATE: Launch of the community survey is delayed while we work on crafting a more effective information-gathering tool. Look for more details in your e-mail, this website, and at dances later this year. We want the most accurate snapshot of our dance community possible, so we are hoping everyone will show some love for the community with widespread participation. |
Why a sliding scale?
We need to raise more money to support our dance and the talented people who make it possible, without making it unaffordable to anyone. On average, it costs at least $350 to put on each monthly dance. The sliding scale opens a way, for those who can afford it, to support our dance more generously. Musicians and callers will benefit directly. Thank you for supporting Contra in the Couve! |
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Special note for Portland contra dancers: |
Friday I-5 traffic got you down? Try waiting until 7:30 or 8:00 to head north. Check traffic on your smart phone before leaving. Or come with a friend before 6pm, use the carpool lane through N. Portland, and have dinner at one of the many great eateries in “the Couve.” |
About Contra in the Couve!
We contra dance in Vancouver (WA) on the second Friday of every month at the Hazel Dell Grange, 7509 NE Hazel Dell Ave. This fine, roomy dance hall has a great wood floor and an easy-to-find location, with plenty of parking, just a few blocks from I-5, Exit 4. We welcome new and experienced dancers alike, and we invite you to come and dance with us!
What the heck is contra dancing? Contra dancing is an American social dance tradition dating back to the colonial period. It's fun, interactive, easy to learn, great exercise, and has nothing to do with Nicarauga. Some say that if you can walk, you can contra dance, because there is no fancy footwork involved. Contra dance is not country line dancing, nor is it square dancing, though we may occasionally dance a square. Contra is square's Yankee cousin and, like square dancing, is always prompted by a caller. So if you've ever done square dancing, contra will seem familiar to you — but no fancy outfit is required! To learn more about contra dancing, check out Gary Shapiro's informative page.
| No experience needed. All dances are taught. | Come alone or with a partner. |
| Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. | Always live music! |
Please wear soft-soled shoes, free of grit from outside.
Shoes with leather or suede soles, or dance sneakers make for easier turning.
The dance floor and your feet will be happier. Thanks!
Contra in The Couve! Schedule
Always the 2nd Friday.
| Date | Caller | Music |
|---|---|---|
| November 9, 2018 | Noah Grunzweig | Coriolis (Portland) |
| December 14, 2018 | David Kaynor (Montague, MA) | Hands4 (Portland area) |
| January 11, 2019 | Isaac Banner (Seattle) | The Stage Crew (Portland) |
| February 8 - CANCELLED | Rich Goss | Dan, Fran, & Heather (Portland) |
| March 8, 2019 A Cascade Promenade event |
Valerie Cohen (Seattle) | Heliotrope (Bellingham) |
| April 12, 2019 | William Watson (Portland) | Bandwidth (Keith, Gordy, & Carl) |
| May 10, 2019 | Laurel Thomas (Portland) | Cascade Crossing (Portland / Clark County) |
| June 14, 2019 | Andrea Nettleton (Georgia) | TBA |
| July 12, 2019 | TBA | TBA |
Contact us
We are committed to the enjoyment and safety of all in our dance community. Click here to view our Safe Dancing Policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. You can talk to an organizer at the dance, write a comment in our guest book at the dance, or contact us by email to
. If you email, please include your phone number if you would like to speak with a dance organizer.
Join our mailing list to receive e-mail reminders of Vancouver contra dances. Please sign up here:
Bands and callers, if you are interested in playing or calling for a future Vancouver contra dance, please send an e-mail towith information about your band or your calling.
Please send feedback on our web site to.
Like us on Facebook.
How can I help?
Putting on a contra dance really is a community effort, and there are many ways you can get involved to help keep this dance series going strong. Here are a few of the valuable and important contributions you might make:
- attend the dance regularly
- arrive early enough to help new dancers during the teaching session
- ask someone new to dance and offer your encouragement
- invite a friend to come to the next dance with you
- put up flyers and help get the word out
- provide housing for out-of-town callers and musicians
- help clean up after the dance (sweeping floor and taking out trash)
- donate an item for the raffle (no commercial endorsements, please)
- help staff the entrance table (organizers like to dance, too)
- join the organizing committee
To volunteer or to learn more about how you can help, please email
.
And here's something you can do right now! Just download the Flyer for our next dance, print two or three copies, and post them at your workplace, church, school, favorite cafe, or neighborhood bulletin board. Or, better yet, give one to a friend and invite him or her to come with you to the next dance.
Thank you for your ongoing support of this dance series!
Directions to Hazel Dell Grange
- From the south or southeast:
Take I-5 N (or I-205 N / SR 14 W / I-5 N) to Vancouver.
Take Exit 4 for 78th St.
Turn left onto 78th St. and proceed west to Hazel Dell Ave. at the second signal.
Turn left onto Hazel Dell Ave and go south about 2 blocks.
Hazel Dell Grange is on the left, with parking on either side of the building. - From the east:
Take SR500 W towards central Vancouver.
Take the exit for 15th Ave., 39th St and I-5 N.
Turn left on 15th Ave., go under the freeway, then right onto 39th St.
Go back under the freeway on 39th St., and turn right at the signal for I-5 N.
Now follow the directions above. - From the north:
Take I-5 S into Vancouver.
Take Exit 4 for 78th St.
Turn right onto 78th St.and proceed west to Hazel Dell Ave. at the second signal.
Turn left onto Hazel Dell Ave and go south about 2 blocks.
Hazel Dell Grange is on the left, with parking on either side of the building.
Map to Hazel Dell Grange
View Larger Map
Videos: Contra Dance Training for Beginning Dancers
The Chattahoochee Country Dancers in Atlanta, GA, have produced a great series of contra dance instructional videos. If you are new to contra dancing, these short videos offer an opportunity for you to review some of the basics, away from the dance floor. Then you can have even more fun the next time you come to a dance. The YouTube versions are listed below. CCD also has a very informative page for new dancers at their web site.
- Introduction - Watch this first
- Two Dancers
- Four Dancers or Hands Four
- A Contra Line & Progression
- Come Dance With Us
- A Called Dance #1
- A Called Dance #2
- Tips for New Dancers
- Contra Video Credits
- Welcome New Dancers -- Susan Davis
- Welcome New Dancers -- Rob Harper
CCD also offers a higher resolution
DVD version of these videos.
Links
- Contra dancing in Portland: There is a contra dance in Portland nearly every Saturday. The Portland Country Dance Community (PCDC) web site is your gateway to contra dance and English country dance events in the region.
- Helpful Hints and Etiquette for Contra Dancers: Useful information from the Cincinnati Contra Dancers for dancers at all levels of experience.
- Information for new dancers: Aimed at new dancers in Atlanta, this page from the Chattahoochee Country Dancers web site offers up a lot of helpful information for contra dancers anywhere.
- National Folk Organization: Contra in the Couve! is an affiliate of the NFO, which is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of a wide variety of folk dance traditions.
- Norske Runddansere Dancing: This group offers Scandinavian dancing (with teaching) every Monday at the Nordia House in SW Portland, plus special events, and links to other Nordic culture events and resources.
- Northwest FolkLife Festival: This huge festival of folk music, dance and arts is presented free (donations encouraged), at the Seattle Center grounds, Memorial Day weekend every year.
- Old-Time Music in Portland: This site is devoted to Old-Time music, bands and events, including traditional square dancing. Includes calendar of events.
- Oregon - Ashland Contra Dance: Dance in Ashland, usually on the 3rd Saturday, September through May.
- Oregon - Bend Contra Dance: Dance in Bend, on the 2nd Saturday, except in the summer.
- Oregon - Corvallis Contra Dance: Dance in Corvallis, usually the 1st and 3rd Saturday, September through June.
- Oregon - Eugene Contra Dance: Dance in Eugene, 2nd and 4th Saturday, September through June.
- Oregon - Hillsboro Contra Dance: Dance in Hillsboro, 3rd Friday every month.
- Portland Dancing: A comprehensive listing of upcoming events in the Portland area for dancing of all kinds, from Balkan to Zydeco.
- Portland Dance Eclectic: Waltz dancing every Thursday night, Waltz Brunch on the 3rd Sunday of the month, Waltz Balls, and other events including Blues, Swing & Tango.
- Smooth Waltz: Monday night waltz dancing at Lenora's Ballroom in Portland, hosted by our friend, Eric Singer.
- Square Dance clubs in Washington: From the Square & Folk Dance Federation of Washington.
- Washington - Bellingham Contra Dance: Dances in Bellingham are usually the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays of the month, Sept. through May or June.
- Washington - Olympia Contra Dance: Dance in Olympia, WA on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Saturdays every month.
- Washington - Seattle Contra Dancing: Dance in Seattle on Thursday, Friday, and 2nd Saturday.
- Washington - Tacoma Contra Dance: Dance in Tacoma on the 3rd Saturday, except in November and December, when it's on a Sunday.
- Washington Dance Schedule: An extensive listing of contra, square and waltz dance events in the state of Washington, with links (at the bottom of the page) to schedules for all other states.
- What is contra dance? Gary Shapiro's informative page provides many answers, from the whimsical to the technical, to this oft-asked question.