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

March 7, 2015 Contra to Scott and Jeanie

Black Diamond Contra Dance, March 2015

Linnaea Chapman calls to music by Scott and Jeanie

Linnaea grew up barn dancing in Upstate NY and became an avid contra dancer during her time in college near Utica, NY. She started calling five years ago in Syracuse, NY before moving to Seattle. With support and encouragement from many people in the dance community, she has had the opportunity to call in WA, OR, BC, VT, and NY. She has a healthy appreciation for traditional dances, which she learned in the North East, as well as a love of fun and interesting ones. This leads to a unique mix of new and old styles. Linnaea picks dances that she has enjoyed dancing herself and are accessible to beginners while still entertaining for experienced dancers.

The Possum Carvers consist of Scott Marckx on fiddle, Jeanie Murphy on banjo, and Chris Cooper on guitar. (Some instrument switching goes on, however.) They have all been playing old-time music for a combination of years that probably comes close to the century mark. They have been known to be hijacked by a certain bunch of contra and French tune-playing folks known as The Glutton-Free Loafers. They look amazingly like Scott, Jeanie, and Chris. They all live in Port Townsend.

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

February 7, 2015: Contra to the Rosewind Band

Black Diamond Contra Dance, February 2015

Rosewind Band with Marlin Prowell calling

The Rosewind Country Dance Band has been playing for Contra Dances and
English Country Dances in Port Townsend for about 5 years. Melodies are
carried by the strong twin fiddling of Libby Schnick and Dan Post; with Marsha
Wiener carrying the rhythm on piano, Libby Reid on mandolin and guitar, and Ken Thompson. Fred Nussbaum does a little of everything on cello and mandolin.

Dances will be taught and called by Marlin Prowell, a well known caller from Bellingham. “Marlin has an easy-going way of teaching so that your feet know what to do before your mind has time to worry about it. If you’ve never danced a step in your life, follow the caller’s instructions and you’ll be smiling and swinging in minutes.”

We’re happy to welcome Marlin back.

Join us at Black Diamond Hall (1942 Black Diamond Rd.)

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

Jan. 3, 2015. Dance with The Power House Band.

Black Diamond Contra Dance, January 2015

Power House Band with Lindsey Dono calling

The caller Lindsey Dono brings us another night of fun to start of the New Year.
And the Power House Band will blow you away! You gotta be good to live up to a name like that, and these kids do it with style. Led by the powerful 14 year old fiddler Kate Powers, and backed up by her siblings and friends, this is an up-and-coming local band. Kate already plays in the first violin section in the Port Angeles symphony, and can fiddle up a storm. She plays a variety of dance music from Old Time to ragtime to a Venezuelan waltz that will amaze you. The Power House band has a big strong sound, and a huge appetite for new tunes and variations to keep the evening interesting.

A Massachusetts transplant, caller Lindsey Dono began dancing in high school and calling in college. With her calm teaching, careful programming, and sunny demeanor, she can coax even the most skittish beginner onto the dance floor. Lindsey also leads workshops for intermediate and advanced dancers that focus on safety, creativity, and community.

She called for us last January, and we are happy to welcome her back.