Port Angeles Contra Dance

At the Black Diamond Community Hall

2025 Contra Dance
Black Diamond Schedule

1/4/2025
The Contraband
Lindsey Dono calling

2/8/2025
Chicken Feathers
Joe Michaels calling

3/8/2025
Na Mara
Caller TBA

4/12/2025
The Contraband
Eric Curl calling

5/10/2025
The Canote Brothers
Laura Me Smith calling

6/14/2025
Band and Caller TBA

Dances held at

Black Diamond
Community Hall

1942 Black Diamond Rd.,
Port Angeles, WA 98363

2nd Saturday of every month

Free Lesson begins at 7pm,
Dance 7:30-10:30pm

Sliding Scale Admission
Adults $10-20
Under 18 1/2 price

Upcoming Events

Contra Dance, Saturday May 6th, 2017

Red Crow

and

Michael Karcher

calling

Red Crow has played for us before; it’s always a pleasure to have them back. They play soaring traditional Celtic and contemporary tunes for West Coast contra dances, and specialize in merging their music with the dancers to create a unity in the hall.

Michael has been having the time of his life calling around the Pacific Northwest over the last few years – including previous practice calling in Port Angeles. When he isn’t calling, he’s pursuing a PhD in statistics at the University of Washington and dancing in and around Seattle.

There is a workshop at 7:30pm. The dances begin at 8:00. All other dance details are on the “About Our Dance” page on this website.

Contra Dance, Saturday April 1st, 2017

Laura Mé Smith Calling

with

Sandy Bradley and Lindon Toney

Laura Mé has been calling since the 80s, her succinct teaching and quick wit delight dancers near and far. both those new to dancing and those with many years under their feet. She is equally component in calling English Country dances and squares as well. Laura Mé is a joy to have returning to our dance again this year, we are sure you will enjoy the fun dances she will be bringing with her. When she isn’t calling dances she designs theatrical costumes.

Sandy Bradley is a terrific person with many years in the contra and folk music scene including hosting the “Sandy Bradley Potluck” on NPR, her fun and spunky personality and passion for music is reflected in her guitar playing as she easily accompanies any one around her. Paired with Lindon Toney their music will keep you on your toes all night long.

There is a workshop at 7:30pm. The dances begin at 8:00. All other dance details are on the “About Our Dance” page on this website.

Contra Dance, Saturday March 4, 2017

Rodney Miller, Marni Rachmiel, and Anita Anderson

Michael Karcher -Calling

Michael Karcher

Michael has been having the time of his life calling around the Pacific Northwest over the last few years – including previous practice calling in Port Angeles. When he isn’t calling, he’s pursuing a PhD in statistics at the University of Washington and dancing in and around Seattle.

Dean of Contra Dance Fiddlers

Rodney Miller was designated a “Master Fiddler” in 1983 by the National Endowment for the Arts. He is widely considered to be the foremost exponent of New England style fiddling, a uniquely American blend of French Canadian and Celtic influences. Over the past 35 years, he has toured the U.S., British Isles, Australia and Denmark, performed and taught at hundreds of music and dance festivals.

Rodney grew up in a musical family, and started playing for contra dances in New Hampshire in the 1970s. He is a master of traditional dance fiddling, and a pioneer of fusion — bringing jazz improvisations to his playing.

He has recorded over a dozen CDs with a wide variety of tunes and sounds. He describes the development of his playing, “What I came up with has been a cornerstone of my fiddle style—playing with the bow off the strings most of the time, punctuating notes only for the briefest time as the melody spins out. I would describe it as a lifting, airy style of playing, as if energy and space is built into the music, helping to propel both the dancers and the listeners.”

Now, he has moved his residence from New Hampshire to Port Townsend, and we get to have this illustrious fiddler play for our dance! Don’t miss this opportunity to dance with a master and classic contra dance fiddler. Here are links to a few YouTube videos of Rodney: Concert at Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp; with his band Airdance; playing a slow swing tune for a dance; playing a Texas style tune “Snake Charmer“; and finally playing for another contra.

Marni Rachmiel

Mari plays flute and saxophone in numerous bands, including Contra Sutra, The End Effects, the Fremont Philharmonic, and Reverie (all of which can be found on Facebook). Her playing and two of her compositions are featured on the Reverie Cd “Violet”, and album of meditative improvisations on the English Country Dance tunes and originals find it at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/reverie8

Anita Anderson

Anita Anderson plays for the dancers, using her gut-thumping rhythmic sensibilities and glancing familiarity with doo-wop, gospel, Scandinavian, Cape Benton, and jazz back up to keep everyone moving. She barely plays a the same way twice but sometimes she does consult the rest of the band on her innovations. Dancers have her full attention as she tailors her back up to the moves and mood of each dance.