WHO ARE WE?

OUR CALLERS

Callers are the "hosts" of the evening. They pick appropriate dances from the thousands available, walk us through them, and help keep us on track when the music starts.

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TACO VAN IEPEREN

I first encountered Contra Dancing at Burning Man. I travel regularly to dance weekends. I also like the music enough that I've learned to play the fiddle (badly). After Covid I took over a lot of the organizing in Calgary. I'm learning how to call with a focus on fun modern dances.

LESLIE GOTFRIT

I’ve been calling community, square and contra dancing for the last dozen years and have been dancing my entire life. Co-founder of The Calgary Old-Time Experience, and now co-organizer of Calgary's Contra Dance Friday Night, my goal is always the same: to bring people together in joyful community, through laughter, live music and the fun of the dance. I call for weddings, ceilidhs, contras, old-time squares dances, family parties and any event worth celebrating. My programs are carefully curated to ensure everyone is up and dancing and having a good time from the very first minute.  https://lesliegotfrit.com/

SOME OF Our MUSICIANS

Our musicians play a variety of lively tunes to keep our toes tapping. The band changes from month to month, but there's normally a fiddle or accordion and some type of rhythm.

DAVE

Dave is a core member of the Contra Band and can be counted on to provide a lively rhythm.

Graham

Graham's energetic accordion tunes keep our feet moving and our faces smiling.

CHRIS

The band wouldn't be complete without our experienced pianist.

SOME OF OUR DANCERS

Here are just a few of our many dancers. We can have anywhere from 20 to 50 dancers show up to a dance. We change partners after each dance, so you'll get a chance to dance with a lot of different people, which is great if you are learning.

TRACYE

I have been contra dancing since I was a child - it is such a fun way to meet new people and just have fun!! There is a caller directing everyone through a series of moves with everyone working, laughing and sweating together to live music.

ANDY

I like contra because every dance logically unfolds itself at some point. That’s the moment when the group becomes that perfectly flowing machine, so much fun!

TEGEN

I love contra dancing because the people are wonderful, and when I'm dancing, I'm surrounded by so much joy. I just feel good!

ROBBIN

I learned to contra dance in 1972! Moving to this music with new and old friends is such a joyful experience, and there's evidence: this is good for your brain! I plan to dance for several more decades.

DON

I've danced in many places, and I find that wherever Contra happens there is a warm, inviting, tolerant, supportive community making it happen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Why not check out a dance and see if you like it?