Winter is a great time for contra dancing!

Posted on November 29, 2025 by doonemackay

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!

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

Posted on October 7, 2025 by doonemackay

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.

A New Month is Upon Us – Let’s Dance!

Posted on March 2, 2025 by doonemackay

On Saturday, March 8th, Luke Donforth is coming all the way from Burlington to call for us, to elegant, worldly, traditional fiddle music played by Spare Parts.

The dance will run 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8th, in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main St., Williamstown. Admission is pay-as-you-can: $12 – $20 suggested.

Luke Donforth, the caller, will use “larks and robins” role terms. He brings a warmth to the mic and focuses on facilitating everyone in the hall joyously moving to the music.

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 one or more “spareparts du jour.” For our March 8th dance, fiddler Eric Buddington will round out the sound with improvisational flair. Spare Parts has performed 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!).

For optional extra fun, come to our pre-dance calling workshop/practicum in the Williamstown Public Library, 2 – 3:30. Bring a dance you’d like to workshop in a friendly group setting – or simply help out as a biddable dancer on the floor.

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.

The Contra Dance of January Eleventh, in Williamstown

Posted on January 5, 2025 by doonemackay

What’s more fun than the not very fun, possibly rather tedious, thing you could be doing Saturday, January 11th? I don’t know — but perhaps you’d prefer a contra dance! Luckily, Julian Blechner will be calling, George Wilson will be fiddling, Selma Kaplan will be playing the piano, and a whole bunch of rather fun people will be eager to dance with you from 7:30 – 10:30 PM, right here in Williamstown, MA. Newcomers always welcome.

Where: the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA (the iconic white church, in the middle of town).
When: 7:30 – 10:30 PM
Who: You! (and a bunch of other lovely people who also feel like socializing and enjoying a little live music in mid-winter.)
How Much: please contribute what you can, $12 – $20 suggested.
Role Terms: Larks and Robins

Julian Blechner will call (teach) all the dances. Julian enjoys creating fun evenings with varied and engaging choreography for whatever the crowd is up for! He brings a cheerful, friendly attitude with clear, concise teaching and prompting.

Music will be provided by George Wilson, whose dynamic fiddling, strongly influenced by Cape Breton and French Canadian styles, has been popular with contra dancers and concert-goers since the late 1970s. George will be accompanied by Selma Kaplan on keyboard. Selma is an accomplished pianist, composer, and arranger, and one of the most requested dance musicians on the East Coast.

For optional extra fun, come to our pre-dance calling workshop/practicum in the Williamstown Public Library, from 2 – 3:30. Bring a dance you’d like to workshop in a friendly group setting – or simply help out as a biddable dancer on the floor.

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. 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.

Poster: Help more people find the dance, if you feel so inclined. Print and hang our flier! Available at https://northberkshiredance.org/poster/

December 14th Dance — You Need Not be Mathematically Inclined

Posted on December 6, 2024 by doonemackay

On Saturday, December 14th, we’re having another friendly contra dance (it’s just about habitual by now). Maggie McRae will call to music by three out of Four Musicians Walked Into Thirty Two Bars. What more would you like to know?

Where: the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
When: 7:30 – 10:30 PM
Who: You! (And a bunch of other lovely people who also feel like attending a low key social event with live music and dancing as an excuse to move a little while winter settles in)
How Much: please contribute what you can, $12 – $20 suggested.

Maggie McRae will call. Her fun and easy teaching style will help everyone relax and enjoy dancing.

Music will be provided by three out of Four Musicians Walked into Thirty-Two Bars, a band of life-long musicans who enjoy playing traditional New England tunes, sometimes with their tongues in their cheeks. The three musicians are George Wilson and Rebecca Weiss on fiddle, with Becky Hollingsworth on piano.

For extra fun, we’re hosting a pre-dance calling workshop/practicum in the Williamstown Public Library, from 2 – 3:30. Bring a dance you’d like to workshop calling for in a friendly group setting – or come to see how it works, and help out as a biddable dancer on the floor.

Covid 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. 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.

Poster: Help more people find the dance, if you feel so inclined. Print and hang our flier! Available at https://northberkshiredance.org/poster/

Please come – we’re dancing again!

Posted on November 3, 2024 by doonemackay

May 11th Contra Dance

Posted on May 2, 2024 by patdunlavey

Join us Saturday, May 11th, for a delightful community contra dance! North Berkshire Community Dance will hold its monthly contra dance with calling (teaching) by Quena Crain, and live traditional fiddle music by masters of the New England contra dance repertoire.

The dance will run from 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 to $20 suggested, and barter is also welcome. Covid protocol: masks are very welcome but not required.

Quena Crain, who calls all over New England (and far beyond), brings an infectious joy to the dance hall. Her fun calling, and easy teaching style, are beloved by all age groups, from elementary school, through college, and well past retirement. Quena is adept at leading dance events for people of any experience level. For this dance, Quena will use “larks and robins” role terms.

Mary Cay Brass has been a foundational performer and teacher in the traditional dance and music community for many years, supplying a vital pulse in many beloved dance bands, including “The Greenfield Dance Band” with David Kaynor, and “Airdance” with Rodney Miller. Laurie Indenbaum has been fiddling for dances in Vermont and surrounding states since 1976, with many fine callers and bands, including “Applejack” and “The Full Catastrophe.” Andy Davis has been a part of Nowell Sing We Clear, and on staff at Country Dance and Song Society summer camps for many years. He also plays accordion for a Morris dancing team and calls for contra dances. Each of the three has been playing for contra dances for over forty years, and frequently together. Their music will lift your feet, and bring all the dancers together into one happy dance.

New Year’s Dance — New Dancers Wanted!

Posted on January 5, 2024 by doonemackay

New Year’s Dance — New Dancers Wanted! And old dancers and young dancers; expert and uncertain; enthusiastic and hesitantly willing to give it a try. All will be gladly welcomed to our first community contra dance of 2024, on Saturday, January 13th.

Dances will be taught by Paul Rosenberg, and live fiddle music will be led by Eric Buddington. 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 is also welcome. Masks will be required for this post-holiday dance.

Paul Rosenberg specializes helping newcomers discover the joys of dancing. He is one of the founders of the Dance Flurry in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and has called at festivals throughout the Northeast, but he says he was afraid of dancing until he found contra in his 30s. He will open the evening with simpler dances appropriate for novices and families with children, gradually building the dancers’ skill level and confidence while having fun. The calling will be gender-neutral.

Local musicians, Eric Buddington, Seamus Connor, and Jimmy Bergin enjoy tweaking the traditional jigs and reels with collaborative improvisations and forays into ragtime and other adjacent genres. Their music will be lively, cheerful, and, above all, a delight to dancers.

Health precautions: Masks required. For this first post-holiday dance in a season of rising respiratory illness, NBCD will require masks on the dance floor. (Performers may go unmasked while on stage.) Be aware that, whoever your partner, you’ll wind up dancing with everyone in the room. You may wish to bring spare masks to change into for comfort throughout the evening. Masks will be available at the door – $1 donation appreciated!