Utah Contradance Information Page

Last updated December 1, 2011

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What is Contra Dancing?

Is it legal in Provo?

Do you remember having to do square dancing back in grade school?

Have you seen square dancers at the county fair?

Contra dancing is every good thing that you have heard about square dancing, with none of the bad things. We dance in longways sets like a Virginia Reel, but everybody gets to dance instead of just having one active couple. We dance to live music, teach all of the dances, and welcome newcomers. You can walk in off the street knowing nothing about contra dancing and still have a great time.

If it's outlawed in Provo, it must be fun!

Local Dances

December, 2011
 3	Contra, Logan
17	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City
24	(Christmas Eve, no Salt Lake City Contra dance)

January, 2012
 7	Contra, Logan
21	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City
28	Contra, Salt Lake City

Febuary, 2012
 4	Contra, Logan
18	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City
25	Contra, Salt Lake City

March, 2012
2-4	Lava Meltdown Contra Dance Weekend
17	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City
24	Contra, Salt Lake City

April, 2012
 7	Contra, Logan
21	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City
28	Contra, Salt Lake City

May, 2012
 5	Contra, Logan
19	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City
26	Contra, Salt Lake City

June, 2012
16	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City

Special Events

Lava Meltdown Contra Dance Weekend

Registration is now open for the 9th(almost annual) Lava Meltdown Contra Dance Weekend being held Mar. 2-4, 2012 in Lava Hot Springs, ID. The lineup for 2012 features music by The Elftones & Bandánge à Trois with calling by Deb Comly.
Come enjoy some great music, dancing, soaking, food & company.

More information at www.lavameltdown.info.

Dance Locations and Times

Contra Dance, Salt Lake City, UT: First Unitarian Church, 569 South 1300 East; Music by Loose Shoes; Chief caller: Rob Snow; Usually fourth Saturday of the month, September through May.; Beginner Classes 7:30 PM, Dancing 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM; Cost $5.00; Contact 801-328-4742
Wasatch Contras, Salt Lake City, UT: Ladies' Literary Club; 850 East South Temple; Salt Lake City, UT; Off-street parking is available at the nearby Ear Nose & Throat Center, around the corner at 22 S 900 East; Music by a variety of bands; Calling by various callers; Usually third Saturday of the month; Beginner Workshop 7:00 PM, Dancing 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM; Cost $7 General Admission, $5 Students (16-25), $3 Youth (7-15); Contact: Brenda 801-363-7442; Wasatch Contras
Apollo 8 Contra Dance: Cancelled! Apollo 8 building is closed: Music by Two Cents and others; Calling by Will Aoki & other callers; Usually second Saturday of the month, paused for the summer, starting up again in the fall; Beginner Instruction 7:00 PM, Dancing 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM; Cost $5 per person; Contact: Debbie 801-577-7883 or Nick 607-857-8849; ralstondebra@gmail.com; Bring fingerfoods to share
Contra Dance, Logan, UT: Whittier Community Center, 290 North 400 East Logan; Music by Leaping Lulu; Chief caller: Kay Forsyth; Usually first Saturday of the month.; Dancing 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM; Cost $5.00; Contact: Kay Forsyth 435-753-2480; kforsyth@cc.usu.edu
Contra Dance, Ogden, UT: Ogden dances cancelled; Mike Iverson and the Blue Sage Trio have organized and supported the Ogden contra dances for many years, but it just never seemed to catch on. They have decided end the regular dances, and asked me to update this web site with that information.; Many thanks to Mike Iverson and his family for the many evenings spent putting on the Ogden contra dance through the years.; The nearest dances to Ogden are the Logan contra on the first Saturdays of the month, the Apollo 8 Contra on the second Saturdays of the month, the Wasatch Contra on the third Saturdays in Salt Lake City, and the Salt Lake Contras on the fourth Saturdays of the month.; Blue Sage Trio; Contact: Mike Iverson 801-782-0534; bluesage@relia.net
Contra Dance, Rockport, UT: Rockport Old Church, Wanship; Music by Loose Shoes; Calling by Rob Snow; First Saturday of April and October (Next dance Saturday October 1, 2011); Beginner Workshop 7:30 PM, Dancing 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM; Cost $5.00 (suggested donation); Contact Dani or Sharon for further directions; Awesome wood floor in a beautifully restored historic building. All dances taught and you do not need to bring a partner. Located in the Old Church area of Rockport State Park (below the dam, site of the Dam Jam), exit 155 off I-80. Sponsored by Utah State Parks, Loose Shoes, and interested members of the community.
Contra Dance, Moab, UT: Moab Arts and Recreation Center (the MARC), 111 E. 1st North, Moab; Music by the Moab Community Dance Band; Various callers, including our own; Usually third Saturday of the month.; Dancing 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM, instruction at 7:30 PM; Cost: We are non-profit and the admission charge is a donation to a worthy local charity of the month (such as the Food Bank, the Youth Garden Project,the Humane Society, etc).; Contact: Bob Phillips 435-259-4270; raphillips@frontiernet.net
Contra Dance, Pocatello, Idaho: Pilgrim Hall, United Congregational Church; 309 North Garfield Ave Pocatello; Music by a variety of bands; Calling by various callers; Usually second Saturday of the month, October through May.; Instruction for Beginners starts at 7:30pm; Dancing 8 PM - 11 PM; Cost $5.00 per person; Contacts: Sandy Wilbanks and Don Allen; sandy_wilbanks@yahoo.com; alledone@gmail.com
Contra Dance, Idaho Falls, Idaho: First Presbyterian Church; 325 Elm St., Idaho Falls; Music by Wild Coyotes; Calling by various regional callers; Usually fourth Saturday of the month; Beginner Workshop 7:30 PM, Dancing 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM; Cost $5.00 per person; Contact: Robin Piet, (208) 535-7580; robinpiet@msn.com

Dance Related Sites on the Web:

Bridger Folk Music Society Contra Dance Page
Leaping Lulu, Cache Valley based band
Wasatch Tango Club
Zivio Ethnic Arts Ensemble
Israeli Folk Dancing, SLC
Idlewild Recordings
Boise Contra Dance Society
Colorado Contra: Locations and Schedules for Colorado dances
New Mexico Folk Music & Dance Society
Southern Nevada Old-Time Contra Dancers
Country Dance and Song Society
National Grange
Seattle Folkdancing
Instrument Jokes, including banjo

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