---
events:
  - name: Pittsburgh Contra Dance
    details: "Come dance to the music of the Lackawanna Longnecks with caller Gaye Fifer. Our free beginner lesson begins at 7:30pm. Complete beginners are welcome! This dance, masks are optional, but we also hold a masks-required dance each month. "
    links:
      - "https://pittsburghcontra.org/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/pittsburgh-contra-dance-masks-optional-2/"
    start: "2023-12-15T19:30:00-05:00"
    end: "2023-12-15T23:00:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: PA
    city: Pittsburgh
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Lackawanna Longnecks
    callers:
      - Gaye Fifer
    price: $15
    organisation: Pittsburgh Contra Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss_2023.yaml
  - name: Pittsburgh Contra Dance
    details: "Come dance to the music of the Snappin’ Bug Stringband with caller Gaye Fifer. Our free beginner lesson begins at 7:30. Complete beginners are welcome! At this dance masks are required, but we also have a mask-optional dance each month. "
    links:
      - "https://pittsburghcontra.org/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/pittsburgh-contra-dance/"
    start: "2024-01-26T19:30:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-01-26T23:00:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: PA
    city: Pittsburgh
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - "Snappin' Bug Stringband"
    callers:
      - Gaye Fifer
    organisation: Pittsburgh Contra Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Pittsburgh Contra Dance
    details: "Come dance to the music of GrayScale with caller Gaye Fifer. Our free beginner lesson begins at 7:30pm. Complete beginners are welcome! At this dance masks are optional, but we also hold a masks-required dance each month."
    links:
      - "https://pittsburghcontra.org/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/pittsburgh-contra-dance-masks-optional-2/"
    start: "2024-03-29T19:30:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-03-29T23:00:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: PA
    city: Pittsburgh
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - GrayScale
    callers:
      - Gaye Fifer
    price: $15
    organisation: Pittsburgh Contra Dance
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Rochester Thursday Night Contras
    details: "We are a welcoming contra group, dancing every week to live music. Please come! Check our website in case of last minute changes, and check out our videos on our Country Dancers of Rochester YouTube channel!"
    links:
      - "https://cdrochester.org/events/thursday-night-contra-213/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/rochester-ny-thursday-night-contras/2024-07-18/"
    start: "2024-07-18T18:00:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-07-18T22:30:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: NY
    city: Rochester
    styles:
      - balfolk
      - contra
    workshop: false
    social: true
    callers:
      - Gaye Fifer
    price: $5-$10
    organisation: Country Dancers of Rochester
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: Flying Shoes Community Dance & Contra Dance
    details: "Everyone is welcome at this two-part monthly dance series. From neophytes to lifelong participants, and so many other demographic variations, we all collaborate to make this community-building participatory arts program a joyful success. See you at the dance! \nSchedule:\n\n6:00 pm ~ Musicians Warmup ~ Tunes on the All Comers Band page\n6:30-7:30 pm ~ Community Dance ~ Lisa Newcomb & Chrissy Fowler calling with the All Comers Band, led by Benjamin Foss & Willy Clemetson ~ Community Dance admission is $1 kids, $2 adults\n8:00-11:00 pm ~ Contra Dance ~ We use the terms lark and robin to identify the dance roles. (More on roles here.) ~ Contra Dance Admission is $20 – $15 (a sliding scale lets us cover expenses and compensate performers; please pay as much as you can!)\n\nLocation: First Church in Belfast UCC, 8 Court St, Belfast (enter via Spring St) \nPolicies:  See Community Care Policy and First Friday FAQ ~ BFS programs are chem free (please be sober) ~ Stay home if you don’t feel well \nSponsors: Artisan Builders, Belfast Community Co-op, Colburn Shoe Store, Daisychain Farm, First National Bank, Grace Chiropractic, The Green Store, Searsport Shores Oceanfront Camping, Thomas Fowler PE, Trillium Caterers, and Worth Real Estate"
    links:
      - "https://belfastflyingshoes.org/calendar/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/flying-shoes-first-friday-community-dance-contra-dance/2024-08-02/"
    start: "2024-08-02T18:00:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-08-02T23:00:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: ME
    city: Belfast
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: false
    social: true
    bands:
      - All Comers Band
      - Stomp Rocket
    callers:
      - Chrissy Fowler
      - Lisa Newcomb
      - Gaye Fifer
    price: $15-$22
    organisation: Belfast Flying Shoes
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: "Swingin' Tern Double Dance"
    details: "Peter Buchak—accordion; Miranda Weinberg—fiddle; Ben Kennedy—piano \n3:45 – 5:45 pm **Afternoon Advanced Contras $15 adults/$5 students\n5:45 – 7:00 pm Dinner Break at the many walkable Chatham restaurants\n7:00 – 7:30 pm Beginners’ Workshop\n7:30 – 10:30 pm All-Level Evening Dance $15 adults/$5 students\nAll dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to Larks & Robins\nSt. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 200 Main Street, Chatham, NJ\nOur dance hall is air-conditioned. Vaccination and masks optional. \nIf you don’t pay the Fifer, Gaye will lead all The Orphans and the children of Hamelin off to contra dance. In an Oliver Twist of events, Cinderella, Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, and Harry Potter find themselves in a ring of four. Don’t Heidi out or be a Pollyanna, wear your Snow White dress and Pippi Longstockings or Tarzan loincloth. Bambi will be waiting. \nGaye Fifer\nGaye Fifer is an accomplished caller from Pittsburgh, PA. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making dances particularly satisfying for dancers. Her instructions are clear and concise, as she is a teacher by profession. An easy smile and delightful sense of humor are part of Gaye’s relaxed, pleasant style at the microphone. Gaye calls contra and English dances throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is also an enthusiastic advocate and instructor of contra-style waltz. Gaye is the former President of the Board of CDSS. YouTube Video  \nThe Orphans\nThe Orphans are a high-energy trio from the Philadelphia area, featuring Peter Buchak on accordion, Miranda Weinberg on fiddle, and Ben Kennedy on piano. Formed in 2016, they feature a repertoire of French Canadian and Irish tunes to propel you around the dance floor. YouTube Video  \nOur full calendar \nUseful Information:\n\nNewcomers are welcome to come at 7pm for an introductory lesson on the basics of contra dancing before the evening dance.\nNo partner is necessary. All dances are taught with a “walk-through” by the caller.\n**The Afternoon Advanced Contras session is for Experienced Contra Dancers only. You should be familiar with heys, petronellas, Rorey O’More, pass the ocean, etc., with minimal prompting. If not, please join us for the evening dance.\nOur dance is two blocks from the Chatham station on the Morris/Essex line out of Penn Station, NYC.\nFor the dinner break, visit one of the 17 walkable restaurants within two blocks of the dance.  \nWe no longer require vaccination. Masks are optional.\nAll dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins. Dance whatever role you’re comfortable in.\nWe are in an air-conditioned have along with the option for open windows on three sides.\nWe welcome contributions of home-baked [or not] goodies to share at the break.\nPlease bring your own water bottle. Water bottles may be filled at the kitchen sink.\nWear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.\nWe are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!\n\n$15 adults/$5 students per session"
    links:
      - "https://folkproject.org/mec-events/tern-20240907/"
      - "https://cdss.org/event/swingin-tern-double-dance-gaye-fifer-the-orphans/"
    start: "2024-09-07T15:45:00-04:00"
    end: "2024-09-07T22:30:00-04:00"
    country: USA
    state: NJ
    city: Chatham
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - The Orphans
    callers:
      - Gaye Fifer
    price: $10-$30
    organisation: "Swingin' Tern Dances"
    source: events/usa/cdss.yaml
  - name: ContraCopia
    links:
      - "https://www.thursdaycontra.com/contracopia/"
      - "https://www.facebook.com/events/1940775709692052"
    start: "2024-11-30T14:00:00-05:00"
    end: "2024-11-30T23:00:00-05:00"
    country: USA
    state: PA
    city: Philadelphia
    styles:
      - contra
    workshop: true
    social: true
    bands:
      - Ice Cream Truckers
      - Stove Dragon
      - Millserati
    callers:
      - Gaye Fifer
      - Alex Deis-Lauby
      - Ben Sachs Hamilton
    price: $25-$35
    organisation: TryContra
    source: events/usa/trycontra.yaml