Friday, October 23 — Free Dance

Band: Jeff Spero (piano) & M’Givlry Allen (fiddle)

Beginner’s workshop at 6:30, dancing 7:00-10:00, afters at Woodstock’s Pizza

Caller

Lindsay Verbil

Upcoming Contra Dances

Oct23Fri

Friday, October 23 (Free)

Oct 23 @ 7:00 pm | Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz

Caller: Lindsay Verbil
Band: Jeff Spero (piano) & M’Givlry Allen (fiddle)

Free
Bring snacks to share!

Beginner’s workshop at 6:30, dancing 7:00-10:00, afters at Woodstock’s Pizza

Location:
Live Oak Grange
1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz
Get Directions 

 

Nov8Sun

November 8th Dance Cancelled-Dance instead at Foggy Moon Dance

Nov 08 @ 6:30 pm | YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula, 600 Camino El Estero, Monterey, CA 93940

Join the waitlist to register for the weekend or attend the Sunday evening dance that is open to the public at Foggy Moon dance weekend in Monterey!

Foggy Moon dance runs from 6:30-10:30pm

Bands:
Topspin (Anna Patton, Emily Troll, Owen Morrison & Stefan Amidon)
Playing with Fyre (Rob Zisette, George Paul & Steve Kemble)

Nov27Fri

Friday, November 27

Nov 27 @ 7:00 pm | Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz

Caller: Talib Huff
Band: Rodney Miller (fiddle), Paul Kotapish (guitar & mandolin), Daniel Steinberg (piano) & Ezra Warren Steinberg (percussion)

$15-$30 sliding scale
Bring snacks to share!

Beginner’s workshop at 6:30, dancing 7:00-10:00, afters at Woodstock’s Pizza

Location:
Live Oak Grange
1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz
Get Directions 

 

Add Santa Cruz Contra to your Google calendar or iCal to have our dances automatically synched to your calendar!

Google Calendar

  • Click the plus sign next to Other Calendars
  • Select From URL in the dropdown
  • Enter the URL "https://santacruzcontra.com/get_ical/" - Click here to copy to Clipboard

Apple Calendar (on a Mac desktop)

  • Select File > New Calendar Subscription
  • Enter the URL "https://santacruzcontra.com/get_ical/" - Click here to copy to Clipboard
  • Select desired calendar options (calendar name, store in iCloud or locally, etc.)
Your regulars were so friendly and accommodating to this gal who always wanted, but never knew how, to bring a little dance into my life. I’ll be back!
Jen

I didn’t think I could dance until I tried contra – it’s a form of dance that’s really welcoming to beginners, and Santa Cruz contra particularly is a really welcoming social space!

Gabe

Great dance – friendly people, good music, so fun to be part of the community!

Karen

I was nervous the first time I attended, but the regulars were so welcoming and had no problem showing me the ropes. I was really getting into it by the end, and I had an amazing time!

Brandon

What is Contra Dance?

Contra Dance is a traditional social dancing event with origins in New England and Appalachia. Each dance is taught beforehand and prompted by a caller using gender neutral terms (Larks / Robins).

No dancing experience or dance partner is necessary!

It’s beginner-friendly and easy to learn – just follow the instructions! We offer an optional “Beginner’s Workshop” 30 minutes before each dance.

Our dances always feature live music and average about 30 – 40 new and experienced dancers. There is a break midway with plenty of time to socialize and meet new folks.

Sound like fun?

Join us!

We hold dances twice a month at the Live Oak Grange, starting with a newcomer’s introduction

1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz CA

Every 4th Friday
6:30 pm: Introduction to Contra
7:00 – 10:00 pm: Dance

Every 2nd Sunday
2:30 pm: Introduction to Contra
3:00 – 5:30 pm: Dance

Common Questions

No! Many of our dancers come alone, and those who come with others will usually switch partners between dances. Come alone or bring some friends!

  • Comfortable, non-marking shoes to protect your feet and our floors.
  • Loose-fitting and light-weight clothing to keep you cool.
  • A water bottle is recommended.
  • Avoid strong fragrances as many of our dancers have sensitivities.

Our events are hosted by Dance Inclusion of Santa Cruz County, a non-profit organization made up of a number of dedicated volunteers and community members from all over.

Admission is sliding scale: $15-$30 or pay what you can (cash or check only).

That said, we’re a non-profit, and we want you to come dance more than we want your money! No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

You can contribute by volunteering to help us with our events, or by donating to our non-profit organization. Speak to one of our managers at a dance, reach out to one of the admins on our Facebook group, or send us a message through our contact form.

There are many resources and videos across the web where you can learn more about Contra Dance. Here are some video links to get you started:

Join Santa Cruz Contra’s mailing list for updates on our dances!