Category: Contra Dance

24th Annual Christmas Dance

At the Nelson Town Hall

7:30 PM Dancing
9:00-ish Dessert Potluck — bring a treat to share

FREE admission, a gift from the Monadnock Folklore Society

Contra Dance as part of Nelson’s Old Home Day

7:30 PM in the Nelson Town Hall FREE Admission (donations welcome)

Full schedule of events for Old Home Day at https://nelsonincommon.org/nelson-old-home-day/

Peterborough, NH First Saturday Contra Dance on Saturday, August 2. Tod Whittemore will be calling with music from the Sugar River band.

This yearly legacy dance will use the older role terms of “ladies and gents” instead of “larks and robins.”

Contra dance is a fun, relaxed style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s.

Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors.

Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends, but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

Tod Whittemore has been calling dances for forty years, having been lucky enough to begin his career at the time when famous callers Ralph Page and Duke Miller were still active in the Monadnock Region. He helped start the Peterborough first Saturday and NEFFA Thursday night dances. Tod has called dances all over the world, and is known for his humor, energy, and infectious love of dancing. He is known for his singing squares, and sometimes yodeling squares.

Joining Tod on stage is the Sugar River Band. The Sugar River Band is a family band (all now adults) led by fiddler Jane Orzechowski. Sarah Bauhan will join the band on flute and whistle.

The dancing begins at 8:00 PM.
Workshop for new dancers and all interested at 7:30 PM.
Admission is sliding scale $12-20, $30 family, or pay what you can.

The Monadnock Folklore Society presents this dance in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street.

For more information call 603.547.5831.
The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Steve Zakon-Anderson calling with Good Company, Rohan Weeden (fiddle), Helen Kuhar (guitar), and Cecily Mills (cello)

First Saturday of every month

The dancing from 8:00 PM until 11 PM. 
Workshop for dance basics at 7:30 PM.
Admission is sliding scale $12-20. $30 family, or pay what you can.
Gender-free roles will be used for this evening: Larks and Robins.
This is a mask-optional event.

Open music jam 6-7:30 in the lobby.

Contra dance is a fun, easy style of folk dance which has flourished in New England since the 1700s. Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors. Over the course of the dance, each couple travels the length of the line and dances with every other couple. Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dance takes place in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street. For more information call 603-547-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/peterboroughcontra.

The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Annie Kidwell calling with 

Thunderwing: Cedar Stanistreet (fiddle), Donal Sheets (cello and guitar), and Amy Englesberg (piano and accordion)

 

First Saturday of every month

The dancing from 8:00 PM until 11 PM. 
Workshop for dance basics at 7:30 PM.
Admission is sliding scale $12-20. $30 family, or pay what you can.
Gender-free roles will be used for this evening: Larks and Robins.
This is a mask-optional event.

Open music jam 6-7:30 in the lobby.

Contra dance is a fun, easy style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s. Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors. Over the course of the dance, each couple travels the length of the line and dances with every other couple. Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dance takes place in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street. For more information call 603-547-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/peterboroughcontra.

The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

First Annual Spring Blossom Ball

Saturday, May 24

5:30 PM – 11:30 PM

Adina Gordon with Northwoods (Molly Tucker, Casey Murray & Sam Zakon-Anderson)

Lisa Greenleaf with The Star Charters (Cecilia Vacanti, Jess Newman & Mark Price)

$25

Under 25 years old, pay your age

Larks and Robins

This is a fragrance-free and alcohol/substance-free event.

Sponsored by the Monadnock Folklore Society

Contra Dance in Peterborough NH on Saturday, May 3.

This dance features Steve Zakon-Anderson calling with music from Stomp Rocket – Dave Langford (fiddle), Bethany Waickman (guitar) and Glen Loper (mandolin and tenor banjo).

– The dancing begins at 8:00 PM. 

– Workshop for dance basics at 7:30 PM.

– Admission is sliding scale $12-20. $30 family, or pay what you can.

– Gender-neutral roles will be used for this evening, Larks and Robins

– This is a mask-optional event.

Contra dance is a fun, easy style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s. Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors. Over the course of the dance, each couple travels the length of the line and dances with every other couple. Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dance takes place in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street. For more information call 603-547-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/peterboroughcontra, or www.monadnockfolk.org. The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

Contra Dance in Peterborough NH on Saturday, April 5.

This dance features Andrew Stout calling with music from Sycamore – Cedar Stanistreet (fiddle), Michael Sokolovsky (guitar) and Samuel Foucher (accordion).

– The dancing begins at 8:00 PM. 

– Workshop for dance basics at 7:30 PM.

– Admission is sliding scale $12-20. $30 family, or pay what you can.

– Gender-neutral roles will be used for this evening, Larks and Robins

– This is a mask-optional event.

Contra dance is a fun, easy style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s. Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors. Over the course of the dance, each couple travels the length of the line and dances with every other couple. Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dance takes place in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street. For more information call 603-547-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/peterboroughcontra, or www.monadnockfolk.org. The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

Contra Dance in Peterborough NH on Saturday, March 1.

This dance features Liz Nelson calling with music from Cojiro – Jess Newman (fiddle) and Mark Price (guitar).

– The dancing begins at 8:00 PM. 

– Workshop for dance basics at 7:30 PM.

– Admission is sliding scale $12-20. $30 family, or pay what you can.

– Gender-neutral roles will be used for this evening, Larks and Robins

– This is a mask-optional event.

Contra dance is a fun, easy style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s. Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors. Over the course of the dance, each couple travels the length of the line and dances with every other couple. Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dance takes place in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street. For more information call 603-547-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/peterboroughcontra, or www.monadnockfolk.org. The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.

Contra Dance in Peterborough NH on Saturday February 1.

This dance features Hannah Johlas calling with music from Windfish – Perin Ellsworth-Osanya (fiddle), Ben Hemmendinger (accordion), and Garrett Cameron (mandolin).

– The dancing begins at 8:00 PM. 

– Workshop for dance basics at 7:30 PM.

– Admission is sliding scale $12-20. $30 family, or pay what you can.

– Gender-neutral roles will be used for this evening, Larks and Robins

– This is a mask-optional event.

Contra dance is a fun, easy style of folk dance that has flourished in New England since the 1700s. Partners form lines and dance a short sequence of steps with their neighbors. Over the course of the dance, each couple travels the length of the line and dances with every other couple. Dancers are welcome to bring a partner or a group of friends but it’s not necessary – traditionally, dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening.

The dance takes place in the historic Town House in Peterborough, NH at 1 Grove Street. For more information call 603-547-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/peterboroughcontra, or www.monadnockfolk.org. The Monadnock Folklore Society has presented contra dances and concerts of traditional music since 1982.