Thursday, June 12, 2025


Next dance will be Saturday, June 28, 2025
Potluck + Workshop!


Music: Recorded specially for contra
Callers: Dianne Palmer-Quay & Victor Gascon

In June, we'll be dancing at Arsenal Hill Park in Columbia, SC. The June 28th dance will offer two special features - a time of community fellowship around a potluck meal and a dance workshop to build your skills as a dancer with Columbia callers Dianne Palmer-Quay and Victor Gascon.

The evening will start with a potluck meal at 6:00 pm. Bring your own plates and eating utensils and a dish to share. Water and cups will be provided. The dance workshop will start once everyone has finished eating.

The remainder of the evening will focus on making you a more confident contra dancer through direct teaching and dancing practice. Both basic skills and more advanced figures will be covered. You will become more comfortable with foundational skills such as the swing, courtesy turn, and petronella, as well as practice less familiar figures such as mad robin, contra corners and box circulate. Twirls and flourishes and the contra waltz will also be discussed. Short dances to recorded music will allow you to practice the highlighted skill as it is taught. Larks and robins will be used as the role terms for the dancers.

Both new and experienced dancers are encouraged to attend. Every effort will be made to send you home from the evening feeling more confident in your ability to navigate the dance floor.

For up-to-date info and late-breaking news, signup for our newsletter and text messages.

We are currently searching for a venue. For up-to-date info and late-breaking news, signup for our newsletter and text messages.

Starting in February, we'll be dancing at Arsenal Hill Park in Columbia, SC, generally on 4th Saturdays. For up-to-date info and late-breaking news, signup for our newsletter and text messages.

Schedule:
  • 6:00pm Socializing and potluck! Bring a dish to share.
  • ~6:30pm-10pm Contras and contra workshop
Where: Arsenal Hill Park, 1800 Lincoln St., Columbia, SC 29201
Suggested donation: $10 (details below)


Contra dancing is a great way to get some exercise, meet new people, and enjoy live music in a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment! No partner necessary. Every dance is taught before you do it. Invite your friends. Bring your family.

Remember to dress comfortably and bring clean, soft-soled, non-marking shoes. Bring water to stay hydrated and feel free to bring a snack to share. The first half-hour will include time for socializing and a short review of contra dance basics for new and out-of-practice dancers.

Note: Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult at all times. Children who are not participating in the dance must stay off the dance floor.

Donations and Reservations

Donations enable us to offer dances - donations pay for the dance hall, the caller, the sound reinforcement, and the musicians. More dancers for more fun - invite your friends! The suggested donation is $10 per dancer. You can pay at the door by cash, credit card, ApplePay, Paypal, or check - or use Venmo and pay $10.50 to @contracola-sc. We don't expect donations for children age 12 and under.

You can also donate ahead of time and reserve your space on the dance floor. Per City of Columbia fire regulations, space is limited at Arsenal Hill to 49 occupants, and reservations help us keep track of how many people are in attendance. If you want to reserve, visit our June Donate/Reserve page.

If you can't attend but still want to contribute money toward paying for the caller and the music and other costs of putting on the dance, you can do that also at our June Donate/Reserve pageSupport Columbia Traditional Music and Dance page. All donations are tax-deductible.


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Location: Columbia, SC, USA
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