The Wilmington Contra Dance
Called by Andy Davis
Saturday
October 24
7:00 PM
October 24 7:00 PM Historic Memorial Hall, Wilmington, VT
Join us for the first-ever Wilmington Contra Dance!
Contra dancing is a traditional New England folk dance, a lively cousin of the square dance done in long lines with your neighbors, and it’s woven deep into Vermont’s heritage. No experience or partner needed. Our caller teaches the moves as we go, right on the floor of historic Memorial Hall.
This is a lighthearted, all-ages evening built for one thing: bringing our little community closer together. Live music comes from two of the region’s finest folk musicians, Emerald Rae on fiddle and Flynn Cohen on guitar.
We hope this is the first of many. Thanks for dancing with us!
Ticket Information
$20 · General Admission — available online or at the door. Space is limited to 100 dancers. Get your tickets here.
Duration
Dancing starts at 7 PM and runs about 2½–3 hours.
What to Wear
Wear comfortable clothes and soft-soled shoes. Water and snacks are provided.
Content Guidance
This is an all-ages evening. No experience or partner needed. If you have any questions, send us an email at friends@friendsofthehallvt.org and we’ll be happy to help.
Production Sponsors
Interested in sponsoring The Wilmington Contra Dance? Shoot us an email at development@friendsofthehallvt.org and we’ll be in touch!
The Caller & Musicians
Andy Davis
Caller
Andy Davis calls traditional New England contra and square dances, with a specialty in community events that welcome dancers of all ages and abilities. He taught music and dance in Vermont public schools for over thirty years, and also plays accordion and piano for traditional dances. Andy is a founding member of “New England Dancing Masters,” publishers of dance books and recordings for teaching New England traditional dance.
Emerald Rae
Fiddle
Emerald Rae is a fiddler and folksinger based in Vermont's Green Mountains. Raised in the seaside town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, she came up deep in traditional Celtic music and has since pushed the boundaries of the singing fiddler with a wide palette of experimental techniques. Her powerhouse vocals, grooving percussive fiddle, and eclectic songwriting have made her a favorite at legacy folk festivals and concert stages across North America.
Flynn Cohen
Guitar
Flynn Cohen plays acoustic guitar and mandolin and has performed around the world with many notable acts in traditional and contemporary acoustic music. He plays with the American folk band Low Lily (formerly Annalivia) and with legendary Irish accordionist John Whelan, and he also performs duo shows drawn from his four solo albums.
Season Sponsors
