Diane Hartzell & High Strung
It’s never a hard sell when Hartzell makes your heart swell as High Strung highlights the highlife with highflying high notes. The highfalutin highbred highbrow high society joins the highwaymen and hijacked to hightail it to the highspot at Tern.
When Diane Hartzell discovered Contra Dancing 28 years ago in Bethlehem, PA she didn’t miss a dance for 5 years. With a smile ever at the ready, she loves sharing the joy of Contra—the dancing and the music—with both new and seasoned dancers. Diane is known for patiently guiding dancers, seeing to it that everyone has a great time!
High Strung is Philadelphia’s new Contra supergroup. A rocking quartet of multi-instrumentalists with bi-coastal roots, their music reinvents the string band by combining bold North Atlantic energy with cool West Coast sensibilities. From banjo-driven Québécois reels to foot-stomping Old-Time marches, inspiring originals, and silky-smooth modern jams you just can’t get out of your head, High Strung explores fresh and exciting textures of trad music, guaranteed to keep dancers moving until the last waltz.
High Strung features Jared Bishop on fiddle, Max Thoburn on mandolin and guitar, Alec Charon on guitar and tenor banjo, and Adam Bodine on bass and foot percussion.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- We have a sliding admission scale of $15 to $20+ for adults. If you are able, you can allow us to continue booking this amazing talent by paying $20 or more at the door. If that’s a stretch, stay at the regular $15 or volunteer and get in for free. Student admission is $5. We accept Apple/Google Pay and credit cards.
- Newcomers are welcome to come at 7pm for an introductory lesson on the basics of contra dancing. No partner is necessary. All dances are taught with a “walk-through” by the caller.
- Masks and vaccines are optional.
- All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins.
- Our hall is air-conditioned with the option to open windows on all four sides.
- Our dance is two blocks from the Chatham station on the Morris/Essex line out of Penn Station, NYC.
- We welcome contributions of home-baked [or not] goodies to share at the break.
- Please bring your own water bottle. Water bottles may be filled at the orange Igloo cooler.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Hourly Schedule
Dance Schedule
- 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
- Beginner's Workshop
- Learn the basics or help the newcomers.
- 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
- Dance
- The main event.