Welcome Spring, Contra Dance in Williamstown

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Welcome the spring season at a friendly contra dance!   North Berkshire Community Dance will hold its monthly contra dance on Saturday, April 11th.  The caller, Hannah Johlas, will teach every dance to live traditional fiddle music from The Vintons.

The dance will run 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main St., Williamstown. Admission is pay-as-you-can, $12 – $20 suggested, and barter (especially help with cleanup) is also welcome.

Everyone is welcome. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive at 7:15 for an introductory lesson. Come with or without a partner; most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening.

Our caller, Hannah, loves sharing the joy of contra with new and experienced dancers alike, and is known for her clear, welcoming, and concise teaching. Her number one priority is always that dancers have a great time!

The band, “The Vintons,” is a collaboration of three long-time musician friends with a love for the classic New England contradance sound: George Wilson – fiddle, Andy Davis – accordion & piano, and Marko Packard – guitar & flute. With many decades of musical experience of all kinds between them, from George with Fennig’s All-Star String Band & teaching at dance camps, Andy

Respiratory Illness Policy: Please stay home if you feel ill or have cold symptoms. We’ll be glad to see you next month!  Masks appreciated but not required.

For optional extra fun, come to our pre-dance calling playgroup, 2 – 4PM at Goodrich Hall, 863 Main St. Bring a dance you’d like to try calling – or simply help out as a biddable dancer on the floor.

March 14th Dance with Open Band — More Fun for the Whole Dance Hall?

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**** LATE BREAKING NEWS: PETER STIX WILL CALL TONGIHT, 3/14. LARKS AND ROBINS ROLE TERMS.

(Peter is substituting for Maggie who woke up feeling poorly, and regretfully cancelled.)

THANK YOU, PETER!

******

Come on out for a lively community contra dance on Saturday, March 14th. Bring your fiddle!

As usual, the evening will open with a lesson for beginners at 7:15 PM, followed by dancing for all from 7:30 on.

Where: In the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
When: 7:30PM (7:15 for introductory lesson), on Saturday, March 14th
Who: Maggie McRae will call, the open band (possibly including you!) will be anchored by Rebecca Weiss and Seamus Connor. And you, and lots of other people, will dance.
How much: $12 – $20 suggested donation; no one turned away for lack of funds
Role Terms: non-gendered, probably Larks and Robins

This will be the fourth time Maggie has called for us, and we have no doubt she’ll be cheerful, calm, and encouraging, just like always. Rebecca, on fiddle, and Seamus, on guitar, will gladly welcome you (or your friends and family members) onto the stage to participate in the music making for all, or a few, of the evening’s dances. A tune list for interested musicians is here: https://northberkshiredance.org/tune-list/

If you want to start early, you may also come to our calling playgroup, which runs from 2-4PM. This will be in Goodrich Hall, 863 Main St, Williamstown, MA 01267. The main door for the building is under the bell tower, near the driveway. We’ll be in the first floor meeting room, which has a piano. You can park in the WCMA parking spots or on Spring Street.

As always, you can help us out by printing and posting our dance flyer:

There Might be Cookies; There Will be Dancing

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Shall we contemplate contra dancing in February? The weather is… Oh, enough of the preliminaries! Let’s skip to the good bits.

On Saturday, February 14th, 2026, Steve Howland will call for our Williamstown dance. The evening will open with an introductory lesson for beginners at 7:15, and the main event starts at 7:30. Steve is a cheerful, homespun sort of caller. He’s been calling dances and playing fiddle for years, and has a bunch of fun dances to share. We hope you’ll come!

Music will be provided by Seamus Connor and Alex Moon, and possibly some additional musicians. Seamus and Alex are relatively young and relatively new to contra dancing, and both are enthusiastic musicians, ready to support the dance with a reliable beat and melodic flair. You’ll almost certainly enjoy listening quite as much as dancing.

Someone volunteered to possibly bring cookies. Besides that, here are the double-U(s). (Ws? How do you spell that letter, in the plural, for easy reading?)

–Where: In the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
–When: 7:30PM (7:15 for introductory lesson), on Saturday, February 14th
–Who: Steve Howland calling to music by Seamus Connor and Alex Moon, and you dancing with lots of other, similarly fun and interesting people
–Why: Entertainment we make for ourselves is a fine thing, and so are socializing, good cheer, and a bit of exercise in a warm place on a cold winter night
–How much: $12 – $20 suggested donation; no one turned away for lack of funds
–Role Terms: non-gendered, probably Larks and Robins

AND there will be a Calling Playgroup, from 2-4PM. Come if you’ve any interest at all in learning to call, in seeing what calling involves, or in helping newer callers learn by dancing obediently. This will be in Goodrich Hall, 863 Main St, Williamstown, MA 01267. The main door for the building is under the bell tower, near the driveway. We’ll be in the first floor meeting room, which has a piano. When you walk in, use the door to the left. You can park in the WCMA parking spots or on Spring Street.

As always, you can help us out by printing and posting our dance flyer:

More dancers means more fun.

Will you be Happier at a Contra Dance?

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January 10th, 2026 (another new year), will see a community contra dance in Williamstown, MA. Caller Liz Nelson will open the evening with an introductory lesson at 7:15PM. Music to delight the finest sensiblities will be provided by Spare Parts, and the dance will run 7:30 – 10:30PM.

Where: in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
When: 7:15-10:30PM
Who: Liz Nelson calling to music by Spare Parts (Liz Stell, Bill Matthiesen, Eric Buddington), and dancing by you and a bunch of other lovely people
How much: $12-$20 suggested (to help cover costs), no one turned away for lack of funds.
Role Terms: Larks and Robins
Respiratory Health Policy: Masks always welcome. Please stay home if you have cold symptoms or otherwise feel unwell.
Why: it might cheer you up.

Our caller this month is Liz Nelson. She will teach all the dances in an inclusive and welcoming style, using gender-neutral phrasing. Liz believes that anyone and everyone can dance. Her goal is to help create evenings where music becomes movement and moving together becomes joy, just as natural as breathing.

Berkshire County band, “Spare Parts” will provide live dance music, performing the traditional fiddle tunes in rich and elegant arrangements.  Bill Matthiesen on piano and Liz Stell on flute combine with fiddler Eric Buddington for period events, contradances, English dances, weddings, parties, concerts, and dance camps from Alaska to Maine. Their historic dance music has been used worldwide in motion pictures (Bright Star) and theater productions as well as television programs including Mercy Street (PBS), Antiques Roadshow and numerous programs on the History Channel (even SpongeBob SquarePants!).

We’ll also have a calling playgroup from 2-4PM, for anyone interested in learning to call, or inhelping out as a biddable dancer for beginning callers. The calling playgroup will be in Goodrich Hall, 863 Main St, Williamstown, MA 01267. The main door for the building is under the bell tower, near the driveway. We’ll be in the first floor meeting room, which has a piano. When you walk in, use the door to the left. You can park in the WCMA parking spots or on Spring Street.

Winter is a great time for contra dancing!

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Come cheer up, and warm up, at a community contra dance, on Saturday, December 13th, in Williamstown, MA. We’ll have live music in the New England tradition by George Wilson and Selma Kaplan, and calling by Luke Donforth.

This month, we will start with an introductory lesson at 7:15 PM. This is little earlier than the 7:30 start time you may be accustomed to. Please do come for the lesson if you can — Luke’s lesson is fun, engaging, and leads smoothly right into the evening’s dance program. It’s a perfect start for you or a friend who’s been hesitating to try something new — also a good refresher if you danced long ago and want to ease back into it — and a great way to help welcome newcomers to our community dance if you’re a regular.

  • Where: in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
  • When: 7:15PM – 10:30PM, on Saturday, December 13th
  • Music by George Wilson on fiddle, with Selma Kaplan on keyboard
  • Calling by Luke Donforth, using Larks and Robins role terms
  • Cost: pay-what-you-can, donations of $12 – $20 recommended, but no one turned away for lack of funds
  • Respiratory Health Policy: Please stay home if you feel at all unwell, and we’ll be glad to see you next month. Masks are welcome, but not required. Windows open.

Music will be provided by George Wilson on fiddle with Selma Kaplan on keyboard. The two have been supporting contra dances with dynamic traditional music for well over thirty years. George’s fiddling, strongly influenced by Cape Breton and French Canadian styles, will lift your feet, and Selma’s piano will provide a solid and sensitive rhythmic foundation.

Additionally, this month, we’re having a playgroup from 10AM – 12PM, in the Williamstown Public Library. Anyone with an interest in learning to call, seeing what goes into calling, or just being a biddable dancer to help new callers learn, is very welcome.

As a community contra dance in a small college town, we try to be welcoming to a wide range of people and abilities. Contra dancing is a group activity, perfect for meeting neighbors, making new friends, or just enjoying live music and a low stakes, pleasant social activity. Come alone or with friends – no need to bring a partner. In contra dancing it is usual to find a new partner for each dance within the evening, and you’ll end up dancing with everyone in the hall, more or less. Newcomers, and families with children, please do come for the introductory lesson at 7:15.

We’d love it if you were to print and share the poster, to help new people find the dance!

The band’s from California, but we’re right here in Massachusetts

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This Saturday, November 8th, please come enjoy dancing in Williamstown, MA to music by California-based band, “Raven and Goose”, and calling by Ben Sachs-Hamilton of Northampton, MA.

11.8.2025: LATE BREAKING NEWS: Liz Nelson will be our caller tonight. (Ben unfortunately had to cancel.) Thank you, Liz!

The dance will run 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main St., Williamstown. Admission is pay-as-you-can:  $12 – $20 suggested. 

Caller Ben Sachs-Hamilton will teach using “larks and robins” role terms.  Sachs-Hamilton  has called and organized for dances across the northeast, with a focus on LGBTQ and gender-role-free dance communities. He fosters a welcoming and inclusive space for diverse groups of new and experienced dancers. 

Raven & Goose are a nationally touring contra duo. With fiery fiddlin’ and foot stompin’ piano, they play original compositions and breathe new life into traditional tunes, all delivered with a passion that will get you up and dancing!  Here is video of Raven & Goose playing for the NW Folk Festival, earlier this year: https://youtu.be/FmTgO-ZmdIg?si=Pk2NDQff3uYc3TvG

Additionally, Corwin and Grace, (of “Raven and Goose”), will lead a free workshop for contra dance musicians, from 2-4 PM on Saturday, November 8th. Workshop focus: adapting (standard repertoire) tunes to the dance being called. For example, what do you do if the dance has a balance you didn’t necessarily plan for?
The musicians’ workshop will be in Goodrich Hall, 863 Main St, Williamstown, MA 01267. The main door for the building is under the bell tower, near the driveway. We’ll be in the first floor meeting room, which has a piano. When you walk in, use the door to the left. You can park in the WCMA parking spots or on Spring Street.

The dance will run 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main St., Williamstown. Admission is pay-as-you-can: $12 – $20 suggested..  All are welcome.  Come alone, or with friends — most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive by 7:30 for instruction in the basics. 

Respiratory Illness Policy: Please stay home if you feel ill or have cold symptoms. We’ll be glad to see you next month!  Masks appreciated but not required.

Visit www.NorthBerkshireDance.org/additional_information for more information

October is for Music and Dancing – Community Contra Dance in Williamstown

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On Saturday, October 11th, Quena Crain will call for our community contra dance here in Williamstown. And we’ll have music by Rebecca Weiss on fiddle with Seamus Connor on guitar. We hope you can come!

The dance will run 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main St., Williamstown. Larks and Robins role terms. Admission is pay-as-you-can, $12 – $20 suggested. No one turned away for lack of funds. This month, the dance is free for students at Williams College, thanks to funds from the student life committee.

Come alone or with a partner; most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive by 7:30 for instruction in the basics.

There will also be a free workshop for musicians interested in learning to play contra dance music led by Eric Buddington, at Goodrich Hall (863 Main St, Williamstown, MA 0126) for 1:30-3:30 on the 11th. (The main door for the building is under the bell tower, near the driveway. We’ll be in the first floor meeting room, which has a piano. When you walk in, use the door to the left. You can park in the WCMA parking spots or on Spring street.)

It’s always a pleasure to have Quena call — she has been calling for contra dances much of her life, in small communities and also at large festivals across the country. She is really good at helping everyone in the room enjoy the dance in a relaxed, fun, social way. You’ll probably smile most of the evening. Also, whenever Quena calls for us, it seems more of our friends and neighbors from nearby Vermont come too, which increases the fun for all.

Our three performers: Quena with a big smile and microphone, Rebcca with fiddle in her lap, and Seamus in red bandanna with mandolin.

Music this month will be, for the first time ever, by Rebecca Weiss on fiddle playing with Seamus Connor on mandolin and guitar. Rebecca has played contra dance fiddle for many years, carrying on the musical and community building ethos of the late, beloved David Kaynor. She’s played for our dance several times, most recently with “Joy Factor” and before that with “Three out of Four Musicians Walk into Thirty-Two Bars”. Seamus you may know as a member of our dance organizing committee, and from the dance floor, but they are also adept with both mandolin and guitar, with a fluid and adaptable approach that brings out the best in their fellow musicians. This duo promises to be a treat to listen and dance to.

As always, please feel welcome to help more people find our dance by printing and sharing our flier, available at https://northberkshiredance.org/poster/

Respirational Health Policy: Please stay home if you feel ill or have cold symptoms, and we’ll be glad to see you next month!  Masks always appreciated but not (currently) required. Be aware that contradance isn’t made to social distance, as whoever your partner, you’ll wind up dancing with everyone in the room. You may wish to bring a spare mask to change into for comfort throughout the evening.

Back to Williamstown – First Fall Dance, September 13th

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On Saturday, September 13th, please join us for a lively contra dance taught by caller Jeff Walker, and energetic, New England-style fiddle music by Jeff and Kathy Walker.

Everyone is welcome. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive at 7:30 for an introductory lesson. Come with or without a partner; most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening.

The dance will run 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main St., Williamstown, MA. Admission is pay-as-you-can, $12 – $20 suggested.

Jeff and Kathy Walker, with Eric Buddington sitting in, September 2023, Williamstown

Kathy and Jeff Walker have been playing New England-style dance music for over 40 years.  Kathy plays fiddle and Jeff accompanies her on guitar and calls. Jeff’s hallmark clear instructions and infectious enthusiasm combine with the band’s high-energy music to create an evening of dancing just right for the level of experience of the crowd. Their repertoire spans the Celtic world drawing tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Galicia, French Canada, Cape Breton, and Appalachia, and includes many kinds of dance music from fast, energetic jigs and reels to slow, beautiful waltzes.

Smiling dancers in a move called the “courtesy turn”. April 2025 dance, Williamstown

Respiratory Health Policy: Please stay home if you feel unwell. We’ll be happy to see you next month. Masks always welcome.

Visit www.NorthBerkshireDance.org/additional_information for general information about our series. And https://northberkshiredance.org/poster/ for our latest dance flyer.

August 9th Dance, in North Adams!!!

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Reminder: we are in North Adams (not Williamstown) for the summer.
Please come to our community oriented contra dance!  It’s welcoming to new and experienced dancers alike.

This month again, music will be supplied by local musicians in new and exciting combinations.  We’re calling the format “Mixer Bands.”  If you’re interested in playing, please email SeamusDConnor@gmail.com, with ideas on tunes you want to play and people you want to play with.

Our caller for August is Andy Davis. Andy will teach all the dances in an inclusive and welcoming style, using gender-free phrasing. His goal is to put everyone at ease so they can have fun and dance – so please feel welcome whatever your experience level.  Come with friends, new or old!  Or come by yourself – contra dances are a great place to meet your neighbors thru a fun activity.

Date and Time: Saturday, August 9th, from 7:30 – 10:30PM  

Admission: pay-as-you-can, $5-$20 suggested.

Location:  Saints Episcopal Church, 59 Summer Street, North Adams MA. Use the door closest to the post office; we’re in the upstairs community room.

Poster:  https://northberkshiredance.org/poster/  please print and share!!!

Music:  Mixer Bands, possibly including you! Musicians, please email SeamusDConnor@gmail.com.

Calling playgroup:  3-5 PM. This is for anyone interested in learning to call, or helping out as a dancer for beginning callers.

Water bottles recommended!  The weather may be cooler than last month, but we’ll probably still be glad of open windows and fans.

Community Contra Dance – July 12th

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Next dance, July 12th.

The fabulous Liz Nelson will call, and not only that, also teach a calling workshop!

Also, as part of our extra-inclusive, extra inviting North Adams location theme, we’re having music by “mixer bands” again – great for any contra dance musicians, especially those who want a little more freedom & responsibility than found in an open band situation.

Play a little, dance a little, maybe even come to the afternoon workshop and call a little…

This contra dance is open and welcoming to all, and a great place to meet your neighbors. Newcomers always welcome!

July 12th, in the Community Hall of the All Saints Episcopal Church in North Adams (next door to the post office).

7:30PM for the dance,

3PM for the calling workshop

suggested donation: $5 – $15

Please email DooneMacKay@gmail.com to sign up for the calling workshop; email SeamusDConnor@gmail.com if you’d like to play in a band.