Utah Contradance Information Page

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.

P.S. It is not legal in Provo. We don't have metal detectors, security guards, and surveillance cameras, we are not sponsored by a church or school, and we are open to the public, so contra dancing would not be legal in Provo. If it's outlawed in Provo, it must be fun!

Local Dances

May, 2008
 3	Contra, Logan
10	Contra, Ogden
17	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City
24	Contra, Salt Lake City

June, 2008
21	Wasatch Contra, Salt Lake City

Special Events

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 $4.00

Contact 801-328-4742

Wasatch Contras, Salt Lake City, UT

Columbus Senior Center

2531 South 400 East

Salt Lake City, UT

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 $5.00 donation suggested.

Contact: Melanie 801-566-1006, Brenda 801-363-7442

Wasatch Contras

c/o Melanie Sleeth

1646 Jolly Circle

Taylorsville, UT 84123

Alternate Contact:

koalabear_@hotmail.com

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 have a venue!

First Presbyterian Church

(Dance is in building to the north west in the church parking lot)

880 28th Street, Ogden

Music by Blue Sage Trio

Chief caller: Mike Cottle

Usually second Saturday of the month.

Beginner Workshop 7:30 PM, Dancing 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM

Cost $5.00 adult, $3 youth

Contact: Mike Iverson 801-782-0534

bluesage@relia.net

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 fourth Friday of the month.

Dancing 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM, instruction at 7:00 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, September through May.

Instruction for Beginners starts at 7:30pm

Dancing 8 PM - 11 PM

Cost $5.00 per person

Contact: Kristi Austin, (208) 232-8731

austkris@isu.edu

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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