Swingin' Tern Dances
Location: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main Street, Chatham, NJ a smoke and alcohol-free environment. See photos and video below. DIRECTIONS
Time: Beginner's workshop at 7:00 PM. Dance follows, 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM (unless otherwise indicated). Please carry in clean, soft-soled shoes for dancing. Dance at your own risk.
Admission: $15 per adult, $5 per student with Student ID.
For More Information: (973) 535-3274 or send email to swingintern@folkproject.org
Proof of Covid vaccination is no longer required.
40th Anniversary Swingin' Tern Name Buttons
Order your 40th Anniversary Name Button here! Your button will be available at our 40th Anniversary Dance on January 6th, 2024. Buttons are $3.00 apiece plus a 50 cent service fee if ordered online. You may save the service fee by ordering in person at one of our December dances. List your first name for the front of the button. Your last name will be written on the back of the button. The background color is random.
Bands and callers, email our booking contact at booking@swingintern.org.
Swingin' Tern Dances
Location: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main Street, Chatham, NJ a smoke and alcohol-free environment. See photos and video below. DIRECTIONS
Time: Beginner's workshop at 7:00 PM. Dance follows, 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM (unless otherwise indicated). Please carry in clean, soft-soled shoes for dancing. Non-dancing children must be supervised at all times. Dance at your own risk.
Admission: $15 per adult, $5 per student with Student ID.
For More Information: (973) 535-3274 or send email to swingintern@folkproject.org
40th Anniversary Swingin' Tern Name Buttons
Order your 40th Anniversary Name Button here! Your button will be available at our 40th Anniversary Dance on January 6th, 2024. Buttons are $3.00 apiece plus a 50 cent service fee if ordered online. You may save the service fee by ordering in person at one of our December dances. List your first name for the front of the button. Your last name will be written on the back of the button. The background color is random.
Click the image below to check out the joy at our Retern to Tern from July 17th, 2021.
Jump Fingers gets a jump on the digital age as they nail down tunes from their file of polished favorites. Thumbing through their index cards, Sunny keeps the dancers in the palm of their hand while pointing out the little ring of four in the middle that loses touch. Cuticle women and handsome men will be tendon to knuckle in when this joint is jumpin’.
Sunny Lawrence grew up in New York City and began dancing there in 2011. With the tools learned through Brooklyn Contra’s Caller’s Workshop series, Sunny’s goal as a caller is to bring a clear, calm, and joyful presence to the mic, to make contra accessible to new dancers, and to strengthen her beloved dance communities.
Jump Fingers is a collaborative ensemble composed of two longtime professional musical pairs, Palmer Loux and Greg Loux and Bob McCluskie and Carolee Rand. Mat Clark joins them on upright bass. Jump Fingers hails from the Philadelphia area and the band gathers weekly to share their music, learn tunes, and craft their medleys. The members have performed at the Glenside Contra, Summit Church Contra, Glen Echo Contradance and Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo, Clifftop American String Band Festival in West Virginia, and Cape Fear Contradance in Wilmington, North Carolina. The band’s instrumentation of two fiddles, added viola, guitar, bass, banjo and tenor guitar provides joyful combinations of Old Time, early Bluegrass, Ragtime, and New England music. The band is dedicated to a unified melodic and rhythmically solid sound to provide a fun and fabulous dance experience.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Qwill will prevent a civil war between the larks and robins as the Contra Rebels leave us Gone with the Wind. Duvall don’t know nothin’ ’bout birthin’ babies but they sure know ’bout callin’ dances. Contra Rebels will Rhett your appetite for Scarlet-hot tunes with Melanies to get your Ashley in gear. As the band brings down the curtain to dress you in style, remember that tomorrow is another dance.
In Qwill Duvall‘s words: I am a contra dancer and caller from the Midwest. I began contra dancing in 2015 shortly after moving to Chicago. A couple years later I began regularly traveling for dancing and I started calling in 2019. I called regularly in the Chicago area during 2019 and the beginning of 2020, and I was just thinking about going on tour when the pandemic hit. Fortunately, I am now back on the road and touring! I’ve been at it since the beginning of 2023. I’ve called from the Midwest to the west coast and will be reterning to Swingin’ Tern for the third time.
The Contra Rebels are fronted by the twin fiddles of musical and personal partners Todd Clewell and Barb Schmid, joined by the rhythm guitar of Henry Koretzky, and the bass of Aaron Blouin. The Contra Rebels have played for dances as far afield as Tennessee, Georgia, Oregon, and Washington State, and have a recording called Down the River.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
DOUBLE DANCE
3:45 – 5:45 pm **Afternoon Advanced Contras $20 adults/$5 students
5:45 – 7:00 pm Dinner Break at the many walkable Chatham restaurants
7:00 – 7:30 pm Beginners’ Workshop
7:30 – 10:30pm All-Level Evening Dance $20 adults/$5 students
Combo admission for both sessions $30/$10 students.
Advanced tickets for this dance are now on sale. Given the caliber of the talent for this event, we may reach the capacity of our hall. Don’t miss out! Reserve your tickets now.
.
Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight, all the while keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about the dancers!”
Four exceptional New England contra musicians join forces as Stove Dragon, the kindly dance-beast, breathing in notes and breathing out smoldering rhythms and flickering melodies, igniting dancers’ feet and toasting listeners’ ears.
Oliver Scanlon and Rose Jackson fill the room with melodic lift and tight, dynamic double-fiddle harmony, while Sam Zakon-Anderson and Max Newman are a beating heart of fiery piano-guitar groove.
Stove Dragon draws on the combined tool kits of their individual experiences touring with Pete’s Posse, Nor’easter, Polaris, The Stringrays and more. Infused with the subtle warmth of excellent musicianship, their music propels through snappy New England tunes, punchy French Canadian sets, smooth and driving Irish reels, delightful improvisations, and trad-inspired originals.
Come in from the cold and let Stove Dragon set your heart and dancing feet afire!
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We no longer require vaccination. Masks are optional.
- All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins.
- **The Afternoon Advanced Contras session is for Experienced Contra Dancers only. You should be familiar with ricochet heys, petronellas, Rorey O’More, pass the ocean, etc., with minimal prompting. If not, please join us for the evening dance.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Hailing from the DC area, Penelope Weinberger has been calling and organizing dances for over 20 years, and is welcomed around the country for her clear and convivial calling.
Birch Trio unites fiddlers Daphne Pickens and Molly Tucker alongside cellist/guitarist Casey Murray. Childhood friends Daphne and Casey are natives of Rochester, NY who have been playing tunes and improvising together at the Kanack School of Music since they were 4 years old. Daphne and Molly, a native of Thousand Oaks, CA, later met at Oberlin College and Conservatory, overjoyed to find their mutual love for the New England contra dance repertoire. The three first came together in 2016 at the Dandelion Romp, Oberlin’s contra dance weekend, where they discovered an immediate joyful spark in making music with one another. With roots in traditional New England, Celtic, Québécois, and Old-Time music, the three bring a fresh spirit to dance music through their improvisatory style, vocal harmonies, and original compositions. Their rich harmonies, flowing lines, and driving grooves fill dance halls with warmth and propel dancers across the floor.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Jump Fingers gets a jump on the digital age as they nail down tunes from their file of polished favorites. Thumbing through their index cards, Sunny keeps the dancers in the palm of their hand while pointing out the little ring of four in the middle that loses touch. Cuticle women and handsome men will be tendon to knuckle in when this joint is jumpin’.
Sunny Lawrence grew up in New York City and began dancing there in 2011. With the tools learned through Brooklyn Contra’s Caller’s Workshop series, Sunny’s goal as a caller is to bring a clear, calm, and joyful presence to the mic, to make contra accessible to new dancers, and to strengthen her beloved dance communities.
Jump Fingers is a collaborative ensemble composed of two longtime professional musical pairs, Palmer Loux and Greg Loux and Bob McCluskie and Carolee Rand. Mat Clark joins them on upright bass. Jump Fingers hails from the Philadelphia area and the band gathers weekly to share their music, learn tunes, and craft their medleys. The members have performed at the Glenside Contra, Summit Church Contra, Glen Echo Contradance and Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo, Clifftop American String Band Festival in West Virginia, and Cape Fear Contradance in Wilmington, North Carolina. The band’s instrumentation of two fiddles, added viola, guitar, bass, banjo and tenor guitar provides joyful combinations of Old Time, early Bluegrass, Ragtime, and New England music. The band is dedicated to a unified melodic and rhythmically solid sound to provide a fun and fabulous dance experience.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Qwill will prevent a civil war between the larks and robins as the Contra Rebels leave us Gone with the Wind. Duvall don’t know nothin’ ’bout birthin’ babies but they sure know ’bout callin’ dances. Contra Rebels will Rhett your appetite for Scarlet-hot tunes with Melanies to get your Ashley in gear. As the band brings down the curtain to dress you in style, remember that tomorrow is another dance.
In Qwill Duvall‘s words: I am a contra dancer and caller from the Midwest. I began contra dancing in 2015 shortly after moving to Chicago. A couple years later I began regularly traveling for dancing and I started calling in 2019. I called regularly in the Chicago area during 2019 and the beginning of 2020, and I was just thinking about going on tour when the pandemic hit. Fortunately, I am now back on the road and touring! I’ve been at it since the beginning of 2023. I’ve called from the Midwest to the west coast and will be reterning to Swingin’ Tern for the third time.
The Contra Rebels are fronted by the twin fiddles of musical and personal partners Todd Clewell and Barb Schmid, joined by the rhythm guitar of Henry Koretzky, and the bass of Aaron Blouin. The Contra Rebels have played for dances as far afield as Tennessee, Georgia, Oregon, and Washington State, and have a recording called Down the River.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
DOUBLE DANCE
3:45 – 5:45 pm **Afternoon Advanced Contras $20 adults/$5 students
5:45 – 7:00 pm Dinner Break at the many walkable Chatham restaurants
7:00 – 7:30 pm Beginners’ Workshop
7:30 – 10:30pm All-Level Evening Dance $20 adults/$5 students
Combo admission for both sessions $30/$10 students.
Advanced tickets for this dance are now on sale. Given the caliber of the talent for this event, we may reach the capacity of our hall. Don’t miss out! Reserve your tickets now.
.
Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight, all the while keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about the dancers!”
Four exceptional New England contra musicians join forces as Stove Dragon, the kindly dance-beast, breathing in notes and breathing out smoldering rhythms and flickering melodies, igniting dancers’ feet and toasting listeners’ ears.
Oliver Scanlon and Rose Jackson fill the room with melodic lift and tight, dynamic double-fiddle harmony, while Sam Zakon-Anderson and Max Newman are a beating heart of fiery piano-guitar groove.
Stove Dragon draws on the combined tool kits of their individual experiences touring with Pete’s Posse, Nor’easter, Polaris, The Stringrays and more. Infused with the subtle warmth of excellent musicianship, their music propels through snappy New England tunes, punchy French Canadian sets, smooth and driving Irish reels, delightful improvisations, and trad-inspired originals.
Come in from the cold and let Stove Dragon set your heart and dancing feet afire!
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We no longer require vaccination. Masks are optional.
- All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins.
- **The Afternoon Advanced Contras session is for Experienced Contra Dancers only. You should be familiar with ricochet heys, petronellas, Rorey O’More, pass the ocean, etc., with minimal prompting. If not, please join us for the evening dance.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Hailing from the DC area, Penelope Weinberger has been calling and organizing dances for over 20 years, and is welcomed around the country for her clear and convivial calling.
Birch Trio unites fiddlers Daphne Pickens and Molly Tucker alongside cellist/guitarist Casey Murray. Childhood friends Daphne and Casey are natives of Rochester, NY who have been playing tunes and improvising together at the Kanack School of Music since they were 4 years old. Daphne and Molly, a native of Thousand Oaks, CA, later met at Oberlin College and Conservatory, overjoyed to find their mutual love for the New England contra dance repertoire. The three first came together in 2016 at the Dandelion Romp, Oberlin’s contra dance weekend, where they discovered an immediate joyful spark in making music with one another. With roots in traditional New England, Celtic, Québécois, and Old-Time music, the three bring a fresh spirit to dance music through their improvisatory style, vocal harmonies, and original compositions. Their rich harmonies, flowing lines, and driving grooves fill dance halls with warmth and propel dancers across the floor.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Jump Fingers gets a jump on the digital age as they nail down tunes from their file of polished favorites. Thumbing through their index cards, Sunny keeps the dancers in the palm of their hand while pointing out the little ring of four in the middle that loses touch. Cuticle women and handsome men will be tendon to knuckle in when this joint is jumpin’.
Sunny Lawrence grew up in New York City and began dancing there in 2011. With the tools learned through Brooklyn Contra’s Caller’s Workshop series, Sunny’s goal as a caller is to bring a clear, calm, and joyful presence to the mic, to make contra accessible to new dancers, and to strengthen her beloved dance communities.
Jump Fingers is a collaborative ensemble composed of two longtime professional musical pairs, Palmer Loux and Greg Loux and Bob McCluskie and Carolee Rand. Mat Clark joins them on upright bass. Jump Fingers hails from the Philadelphia area and the band gathers weekly to share their music, learn tunes, and craft their medleys. The members have performed at the Glenside Contra, Summit Church Contra, Glen Echo Contradance and Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo, Clifftop American String Band Festival in West Virginia, and Cape Fear Contradance in Wilmington, North Carolina. The band’s instrumentation of two fiddles, added viola, guitar, bass, banjo and tenor guitar provides joyful combinations of Old Time, early Bluegrass, Ragtime, and New England music. The band is dedicated to a unified melodic and rhythmically solid sound to provide a fun and fabulous dance experience.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Qwill will prevent a civil war between the larks and robins as the Contra Rebels leave us Gone with the Wind. Duvall don’t know nothin’ ’bout birthin’ babies but they sure know ’bout callin’ dances. Contra Rebels will Rhett your appetite for Scarlet-hot tunes with Melanies to get your Ashley in gear. As the band brings down the curtain to dress you in style, remember that tomorrow is another dance.
In Qwill Duvall‘s words: I am a contra dancer and caller from the Midwest. I began contra dancing in 2015 shortly after moving to Chicago. A couple years later I began regularly traveling for dancing and I started calling in 2019. I called regularly in the Chicago area during 2019 and the beginning of 2020, and I was just thinking about going on tour when the pandemic hit. Fortunately, I am now back on the road and touring! I’ve been at it since the beginning of 2023. I’ve called from the Midwest to the west coast and will be reterning to Swingin’ Tern for the third time.
The Contra Rebels are fronted by the twin fiddles of musical and personal partners Todd Clewell and Barb Schmid, joined by the rhythm guitar of Henry Koretzky, and the bass of Aaron Blouin. The Contra Rebels have played for dances as far afield as Tennessee, Georgia, Oregon, and Washington State, and have a recording called Down the River.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
DOUBLE DANCE
3:45 – 5:45 pm **Afternoon Advanced Contras $20 adults/$5 students
5:45 – 7:00 pm Dinner Break at the many walkable Chatham restaurants
7:00 – 7:30 pm Beginners’ Workshop
7:30 – 10:30pm All-Level Evening Dance $20 adults/$5 students
Combo admission for both sessions $30/$10 students.
Advanced tickets for this dance are now on sale. Given the caliber of the talent for this event, we may reach the capacity of our hall. Don’t miss out! Reserve your tickets now.
.
Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight, all the while keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about the dancers!”
Four exceptional New England contra musicians join forces as Stove Dragon, the kindly dance-beast, breathing in notes and breathing out smoldering rhythms and flickering melodies, igniting dancers’ feet and toasting listeners’ ears.
Oliver Scanlon and Rose Jackson fill the room with melodic lift and tight, dynamic double-fiddle harmony, while Sam Zakon-Anderson and Max Newman are a beating heart of fiery piano-guitar groove.
Stove Dragon draws on the combined tool kits of their individual experiences touring with Pete’s Posse, Nor’easter, Polaris, The Stringrays and more. Infused with the subtle warmth of excellent musicianship, their music propels through snappy New England tunes, punchy French Canadian sets, smooth and driving Irish reels, delightful improvisations, and trad-inspired originals.
Come in from the cold and let Stove Dragon set your heart and dancing feet afire!
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We no longer require vaccination. Masks are optional.
- All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins.
- **The Afternoon Advanced Contras session is for Experienced Contra Dancers only. You should be familiar with ricochet heys, petronellas, Rorey O’More, pass the ocean, etc., with minimal prompting. If not, please join us for the evening dance.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!
Hailing from the DC area, Penelope Weinberger has been calling and organizing dances for over 20 years, and is welcomed around the country for her clear and convivial calling.
Birch Trio unites fiddlers Daphne Pickens and Molly Tucker alongside cellist/guitarist Casey Murray. Childhood friends Daphne and Casey are natives of Rochester, NY who have been playing tunes and improvising together at the Kanack School of Music since they were 4 years old. Daphne and Molly, a native of Thousand Oaks, CA, later met at Oberlin College and Conservatory, overjoyed to find their mutual love for the New England contra dance repertoire. The three first came together in 2016 at the Dandelion Romp, Oberlin’s contra dance weekend, where they discovered an immediate joyful spark in making music with one another. With roots in traditional New England, Celtic, Québécois, and Old-Time music, the three bring a fresh spirit to dance music through their improvisatory style, vocal harmonies, and original compositions. Their rich harmonies, flowing lines, and driving grooves fill dance halls with warmth and propel dancers across the floor.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
- 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.
- We have open windows on three sides and air-conditioning when needed.
- 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 kitchen sink.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
- We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!