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.
Never one to miss a beat, Rhythmic Heart pumps out chamber music to raise your blood pressure. Calling arresting contras worthy of a coronary, you won’t want to bypass Bob as he leads us in the systolic stomp. Don’t let your life be in vein, come hear the murmur of the crowd and join the fibrillation.
Swingin’ Tern is fortunate to have had a close relationship with Bob Isaacs. Bob is known for his clear, concise calling. He is a prolific contra choreographer—his creative dances are called throughout the country. Bob is also known for his unusual dance forms: the Zia is a literal cross between a square and a contra while Bob’s grid squares provide a wild ride.
Not one to skip a beat, Rhythmic Heart mixes old-timey, jazz, Celtic, and New England traditional tunes with occasional notes of new age and rock. The four chambers of Rhythmic Heart are Anna Bosnick on fiddle, Norma Castle on flute and percussion, Doug Healy on guitar, banjo, and djembe, and Robin Russell on keyboard.
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!
It’s not just quadragenarians through octogenarians that love The Contragenarians. Egalitarians, totalitarians, humanitarians, disciplinarians, libertarians, vegetarians, even veterinarians, are carryin’ their dance shoes to The Contragenarians and the clarion calls of Paul the Morrisarian. Don’t be a contrarian, barbarian, or antidisestablishmentarian; come be a swinginternarian.
Paul Morris has been contra dancing for over two decades, from his hometown of Berea, Kentucky to New York City where he now hangs his hat. Paul has become a regular caller on the circuit of dances in the area. Paul has found his experience as a teacher helps him effectively teach dances to newcomers and experienced dancers alike.
Having each been on the dance scene for four decades, The Contragenarians play a mix of Old Time and traditional New England tunes that are sure to warm your feet up. Collectively, their varied musical credits include Peter Szego‘s deft rhythm guitar playing, his definitive book on Martin guitar history, and expertise in banjo lineage. Long time multi-instrumentalist Paul Sidlick‘s seamless transitions between mandolin, guitar, and five string banjo adds versatility to the band’s sound. Ed Jankowitz has played bass with bands too numerous to list, including the Hunterdon Symphony’s performance in Vienna, Austria. Garry Moore has been contra dancing and playing fiddle in the area since 1980. Come on out and give it a whirl!
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!
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!
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.
We’re currently looking for a hot band to match Qwill’s talents.
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 will go on sale in February.
.
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!
Never one to miss a beat, Rhythmic Heart pumps out chamber music to raise your blood pressure. Calling arresting contras worthy of a coronary, you won’t want to bypass Bob as he leads us in the systolic stomp. Don’t let your life be in vein, come hear the murmur of the crowd and join the fibrillation.
Swingin’ Tern is fortunate to have had a close relationship with Bob Isaacs. Bob is known for his clear, concise calling. He is a prolific contra choreographer—his creative dances are called throughout the country. Bob is also known for his unusual dance forms: the Zia is a literal cross between a square and a contra while Bob’s grid squares provide a wild ride.
Not one to skip a beat, Rhythmic Heart mixes old-timey, jazz, Celtic, and New England traditional tunes with occasional notes of new age and rock. The four chambers of Rhythmic Heart are Anna Bosnick on fiddle, Norma Castle on flute and percussion, Doug Healy on guitar, banjo, and djembe, and Robin Russell on keyboard.
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!
It’s not just quadragenarians through octogenarians that love The Contragenarians. Egalitarians, totalitarians, humanitarians, disciplinarians, libertarians, vegetarians, even veterinarians, are carryin’ their dance shoes to The Contragenarians and the clarion calls of Paul the Morrisarian. Don’t be a contrarian, barbarian, or antidisestablishmentarian; come be a swinginternarian.
Paul Morris has been contra dancing for over two decades, from his hometown of Berea, Kentucky to New York City where he now hangs his hat. Paul has become a regular caller on the circuit of dances in the area. Paul has found his experience as a teacher helps him effectively teach dances to newcomers and experienced dancers alike.
Having each been on the dance scene for four decades, The Contragenarians play a mix of Old Time and traditional New England tunes that are sure to warm your feet up. Collectively, their varied musical credits include Peter Szego‘s deft rhythm guitar playing, his definitive book on Martin guitar history, and expertise in banjo lineage. Long time multi-instrumentalist Paul Sidlick‘s seamless transitions between mandolin, guitar, and five string banjo adds versatility to the band’s sound. Ed Jankowitz has played bass with bands too numerous to list, including the Hunterdon Symphony’s performance in Vienna, Austria. Garry Moore has been contra dancing and playing fiddle in the area since 1980. Come on out and give it a whirl!
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!
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!
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.
We’re currently looking for a hot band to match Qwill’s talents.
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 will go on sale in February.
.
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!
Never one to miss a beat, Rhythmic Heart pumps out chamber music to raise your blood pressure. Calling arresting contras worthy of a coronary, you won’t want to bypass Bob as he leads us in the systolic stomp. Don’t let your life be in vein, come hear the murmur of the crowd and join the fibrillation.
Swingin’ Tern is fortunate to have had a close relationship with Bob Isaacs. Bob is known for his clear, concise calling. He is a prolific contra choreographer—his creative dances are called throughout the country. Bob is also known for his unusual dance forms: the Zia is a literal cross between a square and a contra while Bob’s grid squares provide a wild ride.
Not one to skip a beat, Rhythmic Heart mixes old-timey, jazz, Celtic, and New England traditional tunes with occasional notes of new age and rock. The four chambers of Rhythmic Heart are Anna Bosnick on fiddle, Norma Castle on flute and percussion, Doug Healy on guitar, banjo, and djembe, and Robin Russell on keyboard.
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!
It’s not just quadragenarians through octogenarians that love The Contragenarians. Egalitarians, totalitarians, humanitarians, disciplinarians, libertarians, vegetarians, even veterinarians, are carryin’ their dance shoes to The Contragenarians and the clarion calls of Paul the Morrisarian. Don’t be a contrarian, barbarian, or antidisestablishmentarian; come be a swinginternarian.
Paul Morris has been contra dancing for over two decades, from his hometown of Berea, Kentucky to New York City where he now hangs his hat. Paul has become a regular caller on the circuit of dances in the area. Paul has found his experience as a teacher helps him effectively teach dances to newcomers and experienced dancers alike.
Having each been on the dance scene for four decades, The Contragenarians play a mix of Old Time and traditional New England tunes that are sure to warm your feet up. Collectively, their varied musical credits include Peter Szego‘s deft rhythm guitar playing, his definitive book on Martin guitar history, and expertise in banjo lineage. Long time multi-instrumentalist Paul Sidlick‘s seamless transitions between mandolin, guitar, and five string banjo adds versatility to the band’s sound. Ed Jankowitz has played bass with bands too numerous to list, including the Hunterdon Symphony’s performance in Vienna, Austria. Garry Moore has been contra dancing and playing fiddle in the area since 1980. Come on out and give it a whirl!
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!
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!
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.
We’re currently looking for a hot band to match Qwill’s talents.
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 will go on sale in February.
.
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!