2025 Calendar

Thursday Contra dances are every week (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve) at the Irish Center (Commodore Barry Club), Up-to-date COVID vaccination is strongly encouraged. Masks are optional, and are welcome. (This policy is subject to change. Read the details.)

3rd Saturday contra dances and Allons Danser Cajun and Zydeco dances may have different COVID precautions. See their pages for details, as well as for their most up-to-date schedule information.

Community members should assess their own risk in attending any dance.

The All Hands In partnership has been presenting games nights and other community-led events, along with some fun online dances with fantastic live calling. Tune in most Tuesday nights. (Page requires Facebook login.)

Stay healthy, safe, and connected!

2024 
Date Caller Band Notes
Jan. 2 Rick Mohr coordinating other callers BASS: Bill Quern (mando, banjo, fiddle, accordion), Adlai Waksman (keyboard, accordion), Steve Epstein (clarinet, sax), Sarah Gowan (guitar, concertina) "New Year, New Me" themed dance: new dances! Bring lights!
Jan. 9 Bob Isaacs coordinating SPUDS: Philly's phabulous open contradance band!
Bill Quern, Sarah Gowan, Rick Mohr and Chloe Mohr leading
 
Jan. 11 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Corey Arceneaux and The Zydeco Hot Peppers
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401
Jan. 12 (Sunday) Board meeting
Jan. 16 Jan Alter coordinating Hot Wasabi: Ben Kennedy (piano), Roberta Goren (flute), Chris Carpenter (banjo, mandolin, clarinet), Dave Miller (fiddle)  
Jan. 18 Caroline Barnes 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with Raise the Roof: Mat Clark, Judi Stellar, Kathy Talvitie and Bob Pasquarello
Jan. 23 Donna Hunt coordinating Wissahickon Express: Rick Mohr (fiddle), Cecelia Tannous-Taylor (fiddle), Evan Mohr (percussion, guitar), Chloe Mohr (piano)  
Jan. 30 Dave Rupp coordinating The Hazel Nuts: Chris Germain (fiddle), John Salmon (guitar), Keith Brand (banjo), Heidi Germain (bass)  
February
Feb. 2 (Sunday) Board meeting (moved to not conflict with the Super Bowl)

Feb. 6

Scott Higgs coordinating Gambeson: Jared Bishop (fiddle), James McPeak (cello), Adam Bodine (guitar)  

Feb. 8

(Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401

Feb. 13

Ridge Kennedy coordinating Broadside Kinetic: Rachel Hall (concertina), Amy Ksir (accordion, winds), Tom Rhoads (guitar), Jim Speer (bass), with Ben Kennedy (piano)  

Feb. 15

Jan Alter 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with Jump Fingers: Palmer Loux, Greg Loux, Bob McCluskie and Carolee Rand

Feb. 20

Michael Karcher coordinating Raise the Roof: Mat Clark (fiddle), Judi Stellar (hammered dulcimer), Bob Pasquarello (bass), Kathy Talvitie (guitar)  

Feb. 27

Sue Gola coordinating SPUDS: Philly's phabulous open contradance band!  
March

Mar. 6

Annie Kidwell Nobody's Business: Hayden Stern (fiddle), Casey Murray (cello), Helen Kuhar (guitar)  

Mar. 8

(Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Mo' Mojo for a Mardi Gras party
(costumes welcome, pot luck event, venue has a full bar).
Note location: Commodore Barry Club, 6815 Emlen St., Philadelphia, PA 19119

Mar. 9

(Sunday) Board meeting
Mar. 13 Bob Isaacs Jump Fingers: Palmer Loux (fiddle), Bob McCluskie (violin, viola), Greg Loux (guitar), Carolee Rand (banjo, tenor guitar, banjo mando)  
Mar. 15 Rick Mohr 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with TWeLve: Miranda Weinberg, Nathalie Levine and Kathy Talvitie
Mar. 20 Janine Smith Dead Sea Squirrels: Cathy Mason (fiddle), Henry Yoshimura (guitar), Craig Edwards (fiddle, banjo, mando)  
Mar. 22 Alex Burka

Darby: Adam Bodine (guitar, feet), Kate Saylor (fiddle), Laura Alexander (cello)

Saturday in Center City: Philadelphia Ethical Society auditorium, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA.
Lesson at 7, dance at 7:30.

Mar. 27 Liesl Jandrey Free Raisins: Audrey Jaber (fiddle), Jeff Kaufman (mandolin, feet), Amy Englesberg (piano, accordion)  
Mar. 29

Medley Marathon - Dance 'til you Drop! A special fifth Saturday at Summit Church, 7:30-10:30pm

You've danced contra medleys before, but not like this!

Non-stop calling with Liesl Jandrey * Jan Alter * Bob Isaacs * Donna Hunt * Michael Karcher * Sue Gola

Non-stop music with Alias * Rendezvous * Box & String Trio * TWeLve

This is a benefit dance to support PATMAD activities. The musicians and callers have generously donated their services; now it's your turn! (More)

April
Apr. 3 Sam Rotenberg coordinating Filament: Laura Alexander (cello), Adam Bodine (guitar, feet), Maddy Smith (fiddle), Jeremy Steinberg (clarinet)  
Apr. 10 Julian Blechner Good Company: Helen Kuhar (guitar), Cecily Mills (cello), Rohan Weedon (fiddle)  
Apr. 13 (Sunday) Board meeting
Apr. 17 Donna Hunt coordinating SPUDS: Philly's phabulous open contradance band!  
Apr. 19 Donna Hunt 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with Brooklyn Swing Ensemble: Danny Elias, Marco Brehm, Sam Zygmuntowicz, and Bob Pasquarello
Apr. 24 Dave Rupp (Different location this week: at Summit Church)
Vandalia: Ellen Gira (cello), Dakota Karper (fiddle), Gabriel Furtado (guitar)
Apr. 26 Jeremy Steinberg

Maddy Smith (fiddle), Adam Bodine (guitar, feet), Katie Stahl (piano)

Saturday in Center City at a different location: First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 2125 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Lesson at 7, dancing 7:30-10:00.

Apr. 26 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Ruben Moreno and Zydeco Re-Evolution
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401
May
May 1 Gaye Fifer Countercurrent: Brian Lindsay (fiddle, feet, vocals) and Alex Sturbaum (guitar, vocals)  
May 8 Qwill Duvall Rhythmajigs: Patti Reum (flute, whistle), Jack Maus (piano), Michael Giardano (fiddle, mandolin)  
May 11 (Sunday) Board meeting
May 15 Ridge Kennedy coordinating Midnight on the Water: Tom Krumm (fiddle, mandolin, guitar), Nathan Bishop (fiddle, viola, hardanger fiddle), Dani Hawkins (cello)  
May 17 Steve Zakon-Anderson 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with Northwoods: Casey Murray, Molly Tucker, Sam Zakon-Anderson
May 17 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Le Winston Band
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401
May 22 Jeremy Steinberg & Cristian Clothier Forge Mountain Ramblers: Jansen Wendell (fiddle), Mark Schwartz (piano), Calvin Cizek (banjo), Rich Gilligan (bass)  
May 24 Bob Isaacs

Jeremy Steinberg (clarinet), Kate Saylor (fiddle), Ben Kennedy (piano), and Jeff Gauthier (whistles, percussion)

Saturday in Center City: Philadelphia Ethical Society auditorium, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA.
Lesson at 7, dancing 7:30-10:00.

May 29 Jan Alter coordinating Jovial Beggars: Ben Kennedy (keyboard), Helene Speer (fiddle), Peggy Leiby (recorder, feet), Rachel Hall (concertina)  
June
June 5 Donna Hunt coordinating SPUDS: Philly's phabulous open contradance band!  
June 8 (Sunday) Board meeting
June 12 Christine Merryman TWeLve: Nathalie Levine (fiddle), Miranda Weinberg (fiddle), Kathy Talvitie (piano)  
June 19 Bob Isaacs coordinating Broadside Kinetic: Rachel Hall (piano), Amy Ksir (accordion, winds), Tom Rhoads (guitar), Helene Speer (fiddle), Jim Speer (bass)  
June 21 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401
June 26 Liesl Jandrey coordinating "The Orphans-ish": Ben Kennedy (piano), Miranda Weinberg (fiddle), Laura Alexander (cello), Jeff Gauthier (whistles, percussion) Community Meeting at the break
June 28 Michael Karcher

Cecelia Tannous-Taylor (fiddle), Max Thoburn (guitar), Ben Roberts (fiddle, bouzouki)

Saturday in Center City: Philadelphia Ethical Society auditorium, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA.
Lesson at 7, dancing 7:30-10:00.

July
July 3 Penelope Weinberger Birch Trio: Daphne Pickens (fiddle), Molly Tucker (fiddle), Casey Murray (guitar, cello)  
July 10 Janine Smith

Brooklyn Swing Ensemble: Danny Elias, Marco Brehm, Sam Zygmuntowicz, and Bob Pasquarello

FREE ADMISSION thanks to Rich Myers, who is sponsoring this dance in celebration of his birthday. Tips for the performers are optional.

 
July 13

(Sunday) Board meeting

July 17 Sam Rotenberg coordinating Hot Feat: Mat Clark (fiddle, mandolin), Dave Wiesler (piano, guitar), Paul Morrissette (bass)  
July 24 Dave Rupp coordinating SPUDS: Philly's phabulous open contradance band!  
July 26 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401
July 27 Bob Isaacs

Oliver Scanlon (of Stove Dragon; fiddle, mandolin, feet), Alex Fortier (piano)

Sunday afternoon in Center City: Trinity Memorial Church, 2212 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA.
Lesson at 2:30, dancing 3:00-5:30

July 31 Rick Mohr coordinating High Strung: Jared Bishop (fiddle), Alec Charon (tenor banjo), Max Thoburn (mandolin), Adam Bodine (guitar)  
August
Aug. 7 Jan Alter coordinating Sleigh for Four: Steve Epstein (clarinet, sax), Laura Alexander (cello), Thane Glenn (mando), Adlai Waksman (keyboard, accordion)  
Aug. 10

(Sunday) Board meeting

Aug. 14 Scott Higgs coordinating Wissahickon Express: Rick Mohr (fiddle), Cecelia Tannous-Taylor (fiddle), Evan Mohr (percussion, guitar), Chloe Mohr (piano)  
Aug. 21 Sue Gola & Alex Burka co‑coordinating Filament: Laura Alexander (cello), Maddy Smith (fiddle), Jeremy Steinberg (clarinet), Adam Bodine (guitar and foot percussion)  
Aug. 28 Michael Karcher coordinating

Mind the Gap: Kirsten Erwin (flute, whistles), Adam Oleksa (fiddle), Jane Roberts (cello), Adlai Waksman (keyboard)

Free for PATMAD members -- you can sign up the same night!

Member­ship drive
Aug. 30 Donna Hunt

Wissahickon Express: Rick Mohr (fiddle), Cecelia Tannous-Taylor (fiddle), Evan Mohr (percussion, guitar), Chloe Mohr (piano)

Saturday in Center City - note location: The Philadelphia School, 2501 Lombard St.
Lesson at 7:00, dancing 7:30-10:00.

September
Sep. 4 Christie Riehl Audrey Jaber (fiddle) & Alex Cumming (piano, accordion)  
Sep. 11 Liesl Jandrey coordinating SPUDS: Philly's phabulous open contradance band! Member­ship drive
Sep. 14 (Sunday) Board meeting
Sep. 18 Sam Rotenberg coordinating Cecelia, Laura, and Max: Laura Alexander (cello), Cecelia Tannous-Taylor (fiddle), Max Thoburn (guitar, mandolin)  
Sep. 20 Liesl Jandrey 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with Petrichord: Colleen Holroyd, Sophie Chang, Bobby LaRose
Sep. 20 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Zydeco Jay & Creole Pressure
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401

Sep. 25 Jan Alter coordinating

Max Brown and his Band of Renown: Max Brown (fiddle), River Brown (fiddle), Ed Bonghi (guitar), Jay Kreider (banjo), Kim Kreider (bass), Rich Myers (mandolin)

This is a free, sponsored event; special thanks to Jean Anderson.

Jim Kitch Memorial Dance
(free admission)

Sep. 27 Dave Rupp

Bill Quern, Sarah Gowan, and Jared Bishop

Saturday in Center City: Philadelphia Ethical Society auditorium, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA.
Lesson at 7, dancing 7:30-10:00.

 

October
Oct. 2 Julian Blechner Cojiro  

Oct. 9

Michael Karcher coordinating Hot Wasabi: Dave Miller (fiddle), Chris Carpenter (banjo, mandolin, guitar, and clarinet), Roberta Goren (flute), Ben Kennedy (piano)  
Oct. 12 (Sunday) Board meeting
Oct. 16 Donna Hunt coordinating Coracree: Jane Rothfield (fiddle), Bill Quern (mando, banjo, melodeon), Allan Carr (bass), Sarah Gowan (guitar)  
Oct. 18 Scott Higgs 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with Hijinks: Carey Rose, Miranda Weinberg, Kathy Talvitie
Oct. 23 Alex Burka The Turning Stile: Joanne Garton (fiddle), Aaron Marcus (piano, concertina)  
Oct. 25 Liesl Jandrey

Torrent: Nadia Gaya (accordion), Sarah Parker (fiddle) and Ross Parker (piano)

Saturday in Center City: Philadelphia Ethical Society auditorium, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA.
Lesson at 7, dancing 7:30-10:00.

 
Oct. 25 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Corey Arceneaux and the Zydeco Hot Peppers
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401
Oct. 30 Rick Mohr coordinating SPUDS: Philly's phabulous open contradance band!  
November
Nov. 2 Callers including Joanna Reiner Wilkinson, Alex Burka, and Chrissy Gore

Sunday, 1:30-4:30, at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Widener Hall

A special 3-way English/Scottish/Contra Party!

Music by Hijinks: Miranda Weinberg, Kathy Talvitie, Carrie Rose

More info about the full ESC weekend, October 30 - Nov. 2: escdance.org
(Sponsored by Delaware Valley RSCDS Branch, Germantown Country Dancers, and PATMAD)

Nov. 6 Scott Higgs coordinating Alias: Adam Oleksa (fiddle), Kirsten Erwin (flute, whistles), Adlai Waksman (keyboard)  
Nov. 13 Harris Lapiroff Here on the Hill  
Nov. 15 Jan Alter 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with Caravan: Adam Oleksa (fiddle), Ben Kennedy (piano), Kirsten Erwin (flute/whistles), and Thane Glenn (mandolin)
Nov. 15 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting Dennis Stroughmatt
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401

Nov. 20 Bob Isaacs coordinating Neon Creek: Chloe Rosenthal (piano, electronics), Jared Bishop (fiddle, electronics)  
Nov. 27 No dance (Thanksgiving) - but join us for ContraCopia dance weekend Nov. 28-30 in Bethlehem, Philadelphia, and Swarthmore!
Nov. 29

(Saturday) 2:00pm until 11:00 pm: ContraCopia Saturday!
3 AWESOME bands: River Road, North Woods, Midnight on the Water
× 3 AMAZING callers: Janine Smith, Qwill Duval, Michael Karcher
= 9 hours of contra dances, squares & waltzes! (Read more)

December
Dec. 4 Deanna Palumbo Raven & Goose: Corwin Zekley (fiddle), Grace Fellows (piano)  
Dec. 11 Dave Rupp Kaleidoscope: Minda Cowen (fiddle), Larry Unger (guitar, banjo, jaw harp), Dominique Gagne (flute), Marco Brehm (bass)  
Dec. 13 (Saturday) Allons Danser presenting a holiday potluck with Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble
Location: Holy Saviour Club, 436 E Main St., Norristown, PA 19401

Dec. 18 Dave Winston SPUDS: Philly's phabulous open contradance band!  
Dec. 20 Rick Mohr 3rd Saturday at Summit Church with Oliver Scanlon and Alex Fortier
Dec. 25 No dance (Christmas)
Dancing continues every Thursday night (except Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Watch this space for more fantastic callers and bands!
2024