Contra in The Couve!2nd Friday Contra Dance in Vancouver, WA
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Contra Dance Training VideosWe contra dance in Vancouver (WA) on the second Friday of every month at the Hazel Dell Grange, 7509 NE Hazel Dell Ave. This fine, roomy dance hall has a great wood floor and an easy-to-find location, with plenty of parking, just a few blocks from I-5, Exit 4. We welcome new and experienced dancers alike, and we invite you to come and dance with us!
Contra dancing is an American social dance tradition dating back to the colonial period. It is fun, interactive, easy to learn, great exercise, and has nothing to do with Nicarauga. Some say that if you can walk, you can contra dance. Contra dance is not country line dancing, nor is it square dancing. But contra is square's Yankee cousin, so if you’ve ever done square dance, contra will seem familiar to you. To learn more about contra dancing, check out Gary Shapiro's informative page. To see a YouTube video of contra dancing, click here.
| No experience needed. All dances are taught. | Come alone or with a partner. |
| Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. | Always live music! |
Please wear soft-soled shoes, free of grit from outside. Shoes with leather or suede soles, or dance sneakers make for
easier turning.
The dance floor and your feet will be happier. Thanks!
Next Dance:The Steeltones, with
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On Friday, June 8, Sherry Nevins of Seattle makes her calling debut at the Vancouver dance, as we welcome Portland band, The Steeltones, back to our stage. Your feet will fly as Keith "Carbon" Moe (fiddle), Dave "A2" Hamlin (mandolin) and Jon "Stainless" Neff (guitar) play 18 strings that will make you dance! Sherry Nevins has been calling traditional square dances and contra dances for over 30 years. Her informal style and boundless enthusiasm, clear teaching and a varied, lively repetoire ensure a satisfying dance experience for all! Friday, June 8 Special note for Portland contra dancers: Come dance with us -- only 10 miles from downtown Portland. Many of your friends have already discovered how easy it is to get here! |
Contra in The Couve Schedule
| Date | Caller | Music |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2012 | Rich Goss (Portland) | Betsy Branch (Portland) & Terry Wergeland (Seattle) |
| Feb. 10, 2012 | Sue Baker (Hood River) | Tapsalteerie (Seattle) |
| Mar. 9, 2012 Part of Cascade Promenade weekend events. |
Maureen Collier (Vancouver BC) | Hands4 (Portland/Vancouver) |
| Apr. 13, 2012 | Mary Devlin (Portland) | UnLeashed! (Portland) |
| May 11, 2012 | Woody Lane (Roseburg, OR) | KGB (Seattle) |
| June 8, 2012 | Sherry Nevins (Seattle) | The Steeltones (Portland) |
| July 13, 2012 | Kat DiFoxfire Wilson (Gig Harbor) | LCL Express (Portland/Vancouver) |
| Aug. 10, 2012 | Brooke Friendly (Ashland) | Mad Robin (Eugene) |
| Sep. 14, 2012 | Gordy Euler (Portland) | Riffraff (Olympia) |
| Oct. 12, 2012 | Karen Marshall (Anacortes) | The Hat Band (Portland/Vancouver) |
| Nov. 9, 2012 | TBA | Tunestruck (Portland) |
| Dec. 14, 2012 | TBA | Contretemps (Seattle) |
Always the 2nd Friday.
Contact us
We are committed to the enjoyment and safety of all in our dance community. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us by email to
. Include your phone number if you would like to speak with a dance organizer.
If you'd like to be on the list to receive e-mail reminders of Vancouver contra dances, please send an e-mail to
If you are interested in playing or calling for a future Vancouver contra dance, please send an e-mail to
with information about your band or your calling.
Please send feedback on our web site to
.
Directions to Hazel Dell Grange
- From the south or southeast:
Take I-5 N (or I-205 N / SR 14 W / I-5 N) to Vancouver.
Take Exit 4 for 78th St.
Turn left onto 78th St. and proceed west to Hazel Dell Ave. at the second signal.
Turn left onto Hazel Dell Ave and go south about 2 blocks.
Hazel Dell Grange is on the left, with parking on either side of the building. - From the east:
Take SR500 W towards central Vancouver.
Take the exit for 15th Ave., 39th St and I-5 N.
Turn left on 15th Ave., go under the freeway, then right onto 39th St.
Go back under the freeway on 39th St., and turn right at the signal for I-5 N.
Now follow the directions above. - From the north:
Take I-5 S into Vancouver.
Take Exit 4 for 78th St.
Turn right onto 78th St.and proceed west to Hazel Dell Ave. at the second signal.
Turn left onto Hazel Dell Ave and go south about 2 blocks.
Hazel Dell Grange is on the left, with parking on either side of the building.
Map to Hazel Dell Grange
View Larger Map
Videos: Contra Dance Training for Beginning Dancers
The Chattahoochee Country Dancers in Atlanta, GA, have produced a great series of contra dance instructional videos. If you are new to contra dancing, these short videos offer an opportunity for you to review some of the basics, away from the dance floor. Then you can have even more fun the next time you come to a dance. The YouTube versions are listed below. CCD also has a very informative page for new dancers at their web site.
- Introduction - Watch this first
- Two Dancers
- Four Dancers or Hands Four
- A Contra Line & Progression
- Come Dance With Us
- A Called Dance #1
- A Called Dance #2
- Tips for New Dancers
- Contra Video Credits
- Welcome New Dancers -- Susan Davis
- Welcome New Dancers -- Rob Harper
CCD also offers a higher resolution DVD version of these videos.
Links
- Contra dancing in Portland: There is a contra dance in Portland nearly every Saturday. The Portland Country Dance Community (PCDC) web site is your gateway to contra dance and English country dance events in the region.
- Folk Events in Portland: A well-maintained listing of contra and English country dance events in Portland, with links to other local and regional dance organizations and events.
- Hazel Dell Grange: 7509 NE Hazel Dell Ave. in Vancouver, host site for Contra in The Couve, as well as the Buzzin' Bees square dance club.
- Information for new dancers: Aimed at new dancers in Atlanta, this page from the Chattahoochee Country Dancers web site offers up a lot of helpful information for contra dancers anywhere.
- Norske Runddansere Dancing: This group offers Scandinavian dancing (with teaching) every Monday at the Polish Hall in Portland, plus special events, and links to other Scandinavian culture events and resources.
- Northwest FolkLife Festival: This huge festival of folk music, dance and arts is presented free (donations encouraged), at the Seattle Center grounds, Memorial Day weekend every year.
- Old-Time Music in Portland: This site is devoted to Old-Time music, bands and events, including traditional square dancing. Includes calendar of events.
- Olympia Contra Dance: Dance in Olympia, WA on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Saturdays every month.
- Oregon - Astoria Country Dance: Dance in Astoria, on the 3rd Saturday, in the spring and fall months.
- Oregon - Bend Contra Dance: Dance in Bend, on the 2nd Saturday, except in the summer.
- Oregon - Corvallis Contra Dance: Dance in Corvallis, usually the 1st and 3rd Saturday, September through June.
- Oregon - Eugene Contra Dance: Dance in Eugene, 2nd and 4th Saturday, September through June.
- Portland Dance: A comprehensive listing of upcoming events in the Portland area for dancing of all kinds, from Balkan to West Coast Swing.
- Portland Dance Eclectic: Waltz dancing every Thursday night, Waltz Brunch on the 3rd Sunday of the month, Waltz Balls, and other events including Blues, Swing & Tango.
- Random Waltz: Mostly waltz dancing every Monday night at Lenora's Room in Portland. Live music once a month.
- Seattle Contra Dancing: Dance in Seattle on Thursday, Friday, 2nd Saturday, and 2nd Sunday.
- Square Dance clubs in Washington: from the Square & Folk Dance Federation of Washington.
- Tacoma Contra Dance: Dance in Tacoma on the 3rd Saturday, except in November and December, when it's on a Sunday.
- What is contra dance? Gary Shapiro's informative page provides many answers, from the whimsical to the technical, to this oft-asked question.
