So you have friends who say they’d like to try contradancing, but never seem to make it?
Remember to bring those first-time dancers!
Pick them up; bring them with you!
They will thank you in the end.....
Good definition of Contradance Moves

First Saturday Contradances:

Lakewood, Ohio 
The band  Mud in Yer Eye with caller Carol Kopp do the contradance at the Lakewood Masonic Temple,  15300 Detroit Ave. Dancing from 8 till 11pm with teaching for beginners at 7pm. Adm is $6

Welshfield, Ohio (Troy Town Hall) ...

There's a contradance with caller, Kenny Wilson, and featuring music by the New Deal String Band. Band members include:  Jan Pavlinak (piano), Ed Eakin(fiddle, mandolin and tenor guitar), Tom Hamilton (fiddle), and Dan Best (guitar), Rachel McKinney (clawhammer banjo) & Will Craig sits in on dombek and shakers. This dance is at the Troy Community Hall, Rt. 422, just east of Rt. 700. New dancers show up for the teaching at 6:30 till 7:30pm, dancing from 7:30 till 10:30pm. For info: 216-316-0068; adm. is $8.00

Wooster, Ohio ....
The band Pocketfull o' Gimmick is doing a contradance  at the Valley College Grange, 2411 Shreve Rd, Rt. 226 just south of Rt. 3, from 7:30 till 10:30. The callers are Susan English & Barry Jolliff. Teaching is at 7:15 for new dancers, and adm. is $6, $5 student, $15 for family. 

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Second Saturday Contradances

Greentown Dances
(South of Akron)

The Greentown contradances are held, September through May, at the Greentown Community Park Building, 9845 Cashner Rd., Greentown, Ohio. Music by One String Short, the callers are Beth Gray & Dennis Kempthorne. Teaching at 7pm; dancing 7:30 - 10:30. This dance is welcoming to dancers of all ages. $7, $4 for ages 6-18, free < 6!  More info call Dennis at 330.823.5840.

_______________also the second Saturday______________

Cleveland Heights
Advanced Contra Dance
(Grace Lutheran Church, 13001 Cedar Rd.)
8 - 11pm ~ Adm. 10.00 /$5.00 Students
(Some experience is helpful for the Advanced Dance)

June 9th                   Band:       Boys of the Hock (from Athens, Ohio)
                                  Caller:     TBA

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Third Saturday Contradances
(Grace Lutheran Church, 13001 Cedar Rd., 
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Rhubarb Pie Band
(September thru April)

The Rhubarb Pie Band features a good mix of contradance tunes ranging from French-Canadian to Old-time Appalachian music: Bob Glenn is on fiddle & feet percussion, Jan Pavlinak plays piano,  Dale Shirer is on guitar & whistle, Jan Koloda  doing hammered dulcimer and  Margie O'Conner on bodhran. Callers vary month to month.

The dance starts at 8:00 and goes until 11:00pm, Beginners are always welcome, and, if you have never danced before or are bringing a rookie friend, we encourage you to take part in the beginner's instruction period at 7:30. Admission is $7.00

May 19            Maybabies Ball

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Third Mondays
Chagrin Falls Township Hall
 83 N. Main St.
Chagrin Fall, Ohio

(next dance May 21st)

Come to downtown Chagrin Falls and enjoy a contradance to the music of Paul Kovac (guitar,mandolin,banjo); Jen Maurer  (bass & accordian);Denny Jones (fiddle);  Joe Hunter (Keyboards), &  Will Craig (percussion). The caller is Kenny Wilson. Start dancing at 8pm, but if you’re a new dancer come early at 7:30 for a free lesson. Adm. $10 adults, 17 & under $8, and $25 for families. Please help get the word out, Thanks for info.: Will Craig  216.316.0068

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Fourth Saturday Contradances

Boston Township Schoolhouse
1775 Main St., Rt. 303 & Riverview Rd
 Peninsula, OH.)
Band Behind the Curtain

Carol Kopp usually calls for this dance which features a group, called Band Behind the Curtain,  known for their foot-tappin' Old-Time Style of music. The band members include: Dave Rice on harmonica and fiddle; Susan Goehring on guitar, Doug Unger does banjo, and Lynn Frederick,who plays banjo & fiddle. New dancers should plan on arriving at 7pm to learn a few steps before taking the floor! Dancing starts at 8pm and goes till 11pm. Admission is $7.00.

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2nd & 4th Thursday Contradances

Our weekday Peninsula Dance, Ohio

features the caller Carol Kopp, with the band Strings and Things, and rekindles the cultural heritage of contra dancing in the Cuyahoga Valley. About every other month Ranger Rebecca Jones of the National Park Service presents a "Contra Conversation." These are an on-going series of short, interactive talks on some facet of our dance experience. Several are published on the site, viewable via the "Contra Conversations" tab at the beginning. The 2nd Thursday in July is the annual bridge dance held at Everett Road covered bridge, otherwise the dance is at the Boston Township Schoolhouse, 1775 Main St., (Rt. 303 & Riverview Rd),  Peninsula, OH

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More and more of our events are finding their way [with a little help from their friends] to Ted Crane's Database for the North Coast Contra Community. The North-Central Ohio (Marshallville/Wooster/Ashland) Dances schedule is separate

SWING DANCERS may wish to check out http://www.clevelandswings.org.

We try to keep this site current but the only way you'll find the latest news here is by going to this page and looking. Contact Kenny@neohiocontradance.org or Dale@neohiocontradance.org for any additions or ideas about this website. 

In April 2001 part of the Sun chain had an article on the new Thursday dance site and contra in general. Likewise the 3/7/01 Cleveland Plain Dealer. The 12/17/00 Akron Beacon Journal had a major article on contra dance. The Lorain Morning Journal published an article on contra dance and the Oberlin dances on their website.

Becky Hill led a ~Caller's Workshop at Oberlin.
 

The Credits: Thanks to Carol Kopp, Paul Koret, and Lindsay Adams for encouragement to start this website. And also thanks to Jan C. Snow for text on many of the callers and bands.
Thanks also to Ted Crane and his national database, to Bob Stein (of PA vs. MI), Kiran Wagle and the other dance indexers, and to Folknet and Day-in-the-Valley all of whom send traffic our way.
We gratefully appreciate our partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in general, to help us hold the Thursday dances, and specifically with Park Ranger Rebecca Jones.
And thanks especially to you, the current and next generation of dancers, without whom there would be no need for this site.

MORE INFO about NE Ohio Dances...

Karl or Carol 330/626-2129
or e-mail Bob by clicking here

Since July 28, 2000 (5,000 on July 20, 2001; 10,000 on May 24, 2002):