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 June 1st

Susan Michaels

Calling to

Kate Powers and Michael Rivers

Reminder: This is our last dance till September!

Susan Michaels has been calling squares, contras, and family dances for more then 30 years, building community, facilitating joy, and just plain having fun. Susan believes it is in calling in life to teach people how to hold hands in a circle and move to music. She loves all kinds of choreography… but specializes in dance with drive and flow that hold on to the roots of barn dancing but take off in new directions. Susan brings her special brand of dry quirky humor with her to every dance event and has a unique gift for making newcomers, 2 left-footers, and shy persons blossom through dance.

Kate Powers was first introduced to the violin through a scholarship from the Washington Old-Time Fiddlers in 2010. Some of her most recent paths include becoming part of the PC College Jazz Ensemble. Kate enjoys composing and writes much of the music she plays. She teaches herself fiddle and also takes Classical lessons with Ronald Patterson in Seattle.

David Rivers has been playing guitar with Kate at our dance for several years. He studied at Berkeley School of Music and developed stunning guitar skills to keep dancers’ feet moving with joy.

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

Potluck and Contra Dance, Saturday May 4th, 2019

Michael Karcher

Callling to the

Country Capers

Join us at 5:30pm at the Black Diamond dance hall, to enjoy good food and plenty of time to get all the socializing you wished you had more time for at every dance. Second to last dance till fall so come out and celebrate each other’s company. Otherwise the dance starts with a class at 7 pm, and flies into full swing at 7:30.

Also stay tuned for an afternoon fiddle class before the potluck.

Michael Karcher hails from Seattle and has been having the time of his life calling around the Pacific Northwest over the last few years – including calling at the infamous Northwest Folklife Festival and other contra camps. When wasn’t isn’t calling, he was pursuing a PhD in statistics at the University of Washington and dancing in and around Seattle.

Country Capers, hailing from Poulsbo Washington, Have been playing together for over three decades now. They come to us bringing tunes with wings of both modern and ancient notes of Scottish and Irish music as well as Norwegian and sweetish influences as well. Their music is sure to inspire us to dance. The band is made up of duo Jane Landstra & Ken Embrey on fiddles, guitar, concertina, and piano.

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

Contra Dance, Saturday April 2nd 2019

Marlin Prowell

Calling to the

Country Capers

Marlin Prowell from Bellingham, Washington. He has been calling for dances and camps in the Pacific Northwest and around the country for twenty five years including Slugs at Sunrise, Portland Raindance, Dancing Fool and the West coast’s first ever Techno Contra.

His understated, smooth, and competent style inspires a sense of ease and comfort among dancers. Marlin’s ability to match the dances with the music doubles the enjoyment of both. Above all, he brings a sense of playfulness to the dance that makes for a fun event for all.

“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.”

Country Capers, hailing from Poulsbo Washington, Have been playing together for over three decades now. They come to us bringing tunes with wings of both modern and ancient notes of Scottish and Irish music as well as Norwegian and sweetish influences as well. Their music is sure to inspire us to dance. The band is made up of duo Jane Landstra & Ken Embrey on fiddles, guitar, concertina, and piano, or trio with David Denz on wooden flute and cittern, and Irish exilian bagpipes.