Emerald city

(Last update: October 10, 2026)

 

Emerald City Contra Dance

with the Seattle Folklore Society present

Contra dancing nearly every Friday night at the

Phinney Neighborhood Center

6532 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle (98103)

in the Community Hall of the brick building, near the lower parking lot

Beginner’s workshop at 7:00 pm. Dance from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

 

Due to declining reports of COVID within the dance community, we have decided to end contact tracing with the dance on October 30.

COVID still exists as well as other infectious diseases such as influenza & RSV.  As a community, we need to take care of ourselves and each other:
– Stay home when we feel sick.
– Stay home if we have had close contact with someone who has COVID, flu, etc.
– We encourage you to wear masks if you can.


We also recommend that you keep up-to-date with vaccinations. We may reinstate mask and vaccination requirements at a later date, if  COVID conditions change or we receive more reports of illness within the community.
– As always, we suggest you check Public Health – Seattle & King County for more information about COVID.
– For information about COVID practices and cases from earlier dances, check here.

Admission prices (cash, check or Venmo only):
– Sliding scale $10-$20.
– Students $5 with a school ID.
– Free for people under the age of 16.

Admission limited to 140 people. This total includes paying & non-paying dancers, children, and adults acting like children.

If this is your first contra dance ever you’ll get a coupon for free admission to your next dance.
Coupon redemption limited to first five coupons on any single night.

Follow us on Facebook. There’s a Lost and Found “Featured” file on that page where you can find items that you left behind at the dance.

 

Please help the PNA achieve their sustainability goals. Consider carpooling, walking, biking, or riding the bus to the dance. If you drive, please park in the PNA parking lots.

All dances taught. No partner necessary.
Light, comfortable clothing recommended.
Please join us without perfumes, colognes, aftershave, scented lotions, etc.

 

More information for dancers.
Information for bands and callers.
Past caller set lists.
Bands and callers: please contact us at ECContraDance@Gmail.com

For information not already posted here: 206-440-9839 or ECContradance@Gmail.com

Enough of the suggestions, disclaimers, and notifications. Here is what you really want to know…

  • October 16 – The members of Swiftcurrent met at Northwest Folklife many years ago and have played together ever since. They are Barbara Calm (hammered dulcimer, bouzouki, and trombone.), Jason Foy (guitar, mandolin, various wind instruments), Ed Boggs (bass, fiddle, guitar), and Julie Bennett (percussion).  Marshall Gould calls.
  • October 23 – Whimbrel is Hayden Stern on fiddle and Ezra Jane Landsman on guitar. Otho Sandwick calls.
  • October 30 – Raven and Goose return! Dance to Corwin Zekley’s intense yet delicate fiddling with Grace Fellows‘ potent powerhouse piano. You’ll hear a variety of music with roots in Celtic, jazz, country, & metal.  Gwen Rousseau calls.
  • November 6 – Bang bang, you’re dancing. Watch out for the Bazooka Band, whose propulsive beats and melodies brook no argument. They may be scattershot sometimes, but the combined effect makes a hell of a noise. Clause Ginsburg, unfretted strings (possibly concertina); Dave Bartley, fretted strings; and Anita F. Anderson, keys.  Greg Frock calls.
  • November 13 – Ice Cream Truckers: Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, mandolin & foot percussion), Kelsey Wells (fiddle & banjo), Helen Kuhar (guitar). George Marshall calls.
  • November 20 – Raccoon Carnival is Seattle’s dance orchestra of about a dozen musicians (maybe 14?  or 15?) led by Sarah Comer.  You’ll dance to new and familiar tunes played by 5 or 6 fiddles, a few guitars, maybe an upright bass, and maybe…?  Abigail Golden calls.
  • November 27 – Clickbait is Ryan McKasson on fiddle, Anita Anderson on piano, and Dave Bartley on fretted instruments.  Craig Wolfe calls.
  • December 4 – No dance.  The Phinney Neighborhood Association sets up for their annual Winter Festival of crafts, music, & food.  Come check out more of the community and creativity of the PNA.
  • December 11 – The Engine Room is a contra dance band with unstoppable groove and energy. That’s Noah VanNorstrand on feet, fiddle, and mandolin, Kelsey Wells on fiddle and banjo, and Alex Sturbaum on guitar and button accordion. Frannie Marr calls.
  • December 18 – Ezra Jane Landsman, Anika Anderson, and maybe another musician.  Ali Webb calls.
  • December 25 – No dance.  We take a holiday break.
  • January 1 – Pajamajam returns! That’s Cayley Schmid on fiddle and Rosie O’Neil on guitar.  Abigail Hobart calls.