Contradance

The Long Island Traditional Music Association is pleased to announce the resumption of our second Friday Contradances at the Smithtown Historical Society Brush Barn, 211 Main Street, Smithtown, NY

After a two-year COVID hiatus the dances will restart on Friday, March 11 at 7:30 PM. Admission is $10 for LITMA Members and $15 for the general public. Students are half price and children under 16 are free with a paid adult. All attendees must show proof of vaccination and boosting and wear a mask while inside the Barn.

All dances are taught, and beginners are always welcome. There will be a short basic instruction session starting at 7:15 PM. Contradancing is a lively traditional dance form like square dancing. It is easy to learn and fun for all ages. While you do dance with a partner, there is no need to come with a partner because anyone can ask anyone to dance.

The dance will be called by Chart Guthrie and live music provided by Dance All Night.

Chart Guthrie has been calling dances for more than thirty years and dancing since he was in fifth grade. He has called dances from Maine to Washington DC but calls primarily on Long Island. His easygoing style and clear teaching technique gets even beginners up dancing before they know it.

Dance All Night is a band of five musicians who share a passion for old time traditional music. Larry Moser plays accordion and hammered dulcimer. Mary Nagin and Jack Dillon play fiddle. Max Rowland plays banjo, concertina, and accordion. Maria Fairchild plays banjo and guitar.

The band, with varying membership, has played for LITMA dances for over twenty years, Larry and Maria for over forty with other groups. Larry also led the LITMA Contradance Orchestra for ten years. Jack and Mary came to Dance All Night from the Orchestra.