Contrashock! 2024 (presented by CDNY & Brooklyn Contra)

Three days of contra dancing, community sing, workshops, afterparties, and more, presented by CDNY & Brooklyn Contra.

Friday, November 15

7:00pm – Lesson

7:30pm to 11:30pm – Opening Dance with Stove Dragon & Will Mentor

Saturday, November 16

11:30am-1:00pm – Contra Dance for All! with Stove Dragon & Liz Nelson

1:00-3:00pm – Community Sing with Folk Society of New York

3:00-6:00pm – Advance Dance with River Road, Stove Dragon, Will Mentor & Liz Nelson

7:30-11:30pm – Saturday Night Contra! with River Road, Stove Dragon, Will Mentor, & Liz Nelson

Sunday, November 17

2:00-5:30pm – Closing Dance with River Road & Liz Nelson

2024 Artists

• River Road delivers beauty, power, and groove to contra dances with a highly revered mixture of contemporary and traditional tunes with strong influences from Quebecois, New England, and maritime traditions, featuring Sarah-Hadley Yakir on fiddle; Kristen Planeaux on piano, flute, and accordion; and Jesse Ball on mandolin, guitar, accordion, and foot percussion.
• Four exceptional New England contra musicians join forces as Stove Dragon, the kindly dance-beast, breathing in notes and breathing out smoldering rhythms and flickering melodies, igniting dancers’ feet and toasting listeners’ ears. Oliver Scanlon and Rose Jackson fill the room with melodic lift and tight, dynamic double-fiddle harmony, while Sam Zakon-Anderson and Max Newman are a beating heart of fiery piano-guitar groove.
• Will Mentor is perhaps the foremost contra dance caller in the United States. For the last 20 years, his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence have been delighting new and old dancers alike.
• Liz Nelson is a dance caller residing in Western Massachusetts. She is well-known for her clear, concise teaching and warm, welcoming presence. She knows that everyone can dance and firmly believes “if you’re having fun and being safe, you’re doing it right!” Nothing delights her more than working with a group of enthusiastic, joyful dancers (no matter what age or experience level).