The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Dane Wallinga
Music: Lee Anne Welch, Kathrine Gardner, and David Brown
Sound: Esper Schmidt
Date: Saturday, June 13th, 2026 (Second Saturday)
Time: 7:00–10:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 6:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Dane Wallinga has quickly become a Bay Area go-to caller, giving dancers a thoughtful program of interesting, fun dances, called with a relaxed style. He has choreographed a number of dances himself.

Lee Anne Welch is a seasoned and sought-after Contra dance fiddler who has played with several bands, including Luceo, Peak Nouveau and Balance & Swing. Her longest- standing partnership is with with Seattle-based pianist Eric Anderson in the high-energy duo Bandemonium!

Kathrine Gardner has been a dedicated dance fiddler since the mid 80’s, and has played in many great Bay Area bands. Many have fallen in love with her ethereal yet driving fiddle playing.

David Brown plays five string banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and the one-row button accordion popular in Quebec.

A long time member of BACDS and the SF Folk Club and one of the organizers of the Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention, you are as likely to find him on the dance floor, instigating a music session, or updating a website calendar, as playing on the stage.

Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Food and Drink

Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.

Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.

Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics. 

The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Mark Goodwin
Music: Full Tilt (Lonna Whipple, Ann Meigs, and Roke Whitson)
Sound: Ken Britten
Date: Saturday, May 9th, 2026 (Second Saturday)
Time: 7:00–10:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 6:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Mark Goodwin began calling contra dance in Chico in 2001 and has called for local regional dances, including Nevada City and Newcastle. His aim is to call programs that bring everyone along for the ride, with dances that are memorable, have intuitive transitions, and weave familiar and interesting elements into a variety of dancer interactions.

Full Tilt is three musicians (Lonna Whipple, Roke Whitson and Ann Meigs) with collective backgrounds in Irish, Old Time and Folk music traditions.  We are having fun melding our banjo, fiddle, accordion and keyboard tunes into Contra dance sets, and we look forward to sharing our music with more dancers!

Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Food and Drink

Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.

Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.

Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics. 

The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Mark Goodwin
Music: Raven and Goose (Corwin Zekley and Grace Fellows)
Sound: Esper Schmidt
Date: Saturday, April 11th, 2026 (Second Saturday)
Time: 7:00–10:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 6:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: Admission is FREE this time, thanks to a generous and modest dancer! [Normally $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.]

This dance is in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of SCDS! There will be a cake at the break, when we will also hold the annual election of Board members! This year’s slate:

• Barbara Gebhart 
• Sue Jones 
• Claudia Kirkpatrick
• Martin Lodahl
• Ruth Scodel 
• Bobbie Watson 
• David Wright

Mark Goodwin began calling contra dance in Chico in 2001 and has called for local regional dances, including Nevada City and Newcastle. His aim is to call programs that bring everyone along for the ride, with dances that are memorable, have intuitive transitions, and weave familiar and interesting elements into a variety of dancer interactions.

Nationally touring duo Raven and Goose (Corwin Zekley on fiddle and Grace Fellows on keyboard).

With fiery fiddlin’ and foot stompin’ piano, they play original compositions and breathe new life into traditional tunes, all delivered with a passion that will get you up and dancing! 
https://www.corwin.us/ravenandgoose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oox1iw3GKa4

Virtuoso violinist, Corwin Zekley was born with a fiddle in his hands and plays with an intensity yet delicacy that pulls on the heartstrings of all who hear him. Corwin has eclectic musical roots, and enchants audiences playing anything from Celtic to Jazz to Country to Metal. Corwin studied at the Berklee College of Music, has played thousands of concerts, appeared on dozens of records, and has published books and albums of his own compositions.

Grace Fellows grew up playing traditional musics on fiddle, and she synthesized her broad musical influences while studying at Calarts, and doing her masters at BIMM London. She became an accomplished pianist while performing as a singer/songwriter, and in the last years has become a powerhouse contra-pianist whose potent sense of rhythm will propel you around the dance floor.

Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Food and Drink

Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.

Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.

Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics. 

The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Dane Wallinga
Music: Persons in Black (David Wright, Sue Jones, and Clark Smith)
Sound: Ken Britten
Date: Saturday, February 28th, 2026 (Fourth Saturday)
Time: 7:00–10:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 6:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Dane Wallinga has quickly become a Bay Area go-to caller, giving dancers a thoughtful program of interesting, fun dances, called with a relaxed style. He has choreographed a number of dances himself.

Wow! It’s David Wright, Clark Smith, and Sue Jones! They’re Persons in Black, and you’re in for a treat!

Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Food and Drink

Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.

Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.

Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics. 

The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Talib Huff
Music: Wild Goose Chase (Margo Meredith, Ann Meigs, and Kate Dwyer)
Sound: Sue Jones
Date: Saturday, February 14th, 2026 (Second Saturday)
Time: 7:00–10:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 6:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Back by popular demand: The clothing exchange! Bring one item and then take one for free, or buy one item for $5 donation. Many skirts and dresses available!

Talib Huff has been calling dances for over 20 years. He currently calls primarily in the Sacramento region and has led dances for local groups, schools wedding, festivals and dance communities.

Flown in live from Nevada County, it’sWild Goose Chase! Anne Meigs, and Kate Dwyer, and Margo Meredith bring a special flavor of music that’s always a crowd favorite!

Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Food and Drink

Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.

Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.

Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics. 

The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Sarah Trop
Music: Paddy on the Binge (Obin Sturm, Emma Ware, Margaret Graham, Vince Wolfe)
Sound: Esper Schmidt
Date: Saturday, January 24th, 2026 (Fourth Saturday)
Time: 7:00–10:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 6:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Back by popular demand: The clothing exchange! Bring one item and then take one for free, or buy one item for $5 donation. Many skirts and dresses available!

Sarah Trop is a lifelong contra dancer and energetic caller based in San Francisco. She is a strong proponent of a safe and inclusive dance floor, and her steady calling will guide everyone through her varied programs with ease.

A Davis-based band with a non-traditional repertoire, Paddy on the Binge brings a new energy to Contra, and has been well received wherever they’ve played. Their Contra configuration is usually Vince Wolfe, Margaret Graham, Emma Ware, and Obin Sturm. Prepare to be delighted!

Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Food and Drink

Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.

Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.

Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics. 

The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Mark Goodwin
Music: The Seeds (David Wright, Susan Jones, and Marilyn Cooper)
Sound: Esper Schmidt
Date: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 (Second Saturday)
Time: 7:00–10:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 6:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Mark Goodwin began calling contra dance in Chico in 2001 and has called for local regional dances, including Nevada City and Newcastle. His aim is to call programs that bring everyone along for the ride, with dances that are memorable, have intuitive transitions, and weave familiar and interesting elements into a variety of dancer interactions.

Meet the Sacramento band called The Seeds! This one’s not the 60’s rock band best known for “You’re Pushing Too Hard,” but is formed from seasoned (rosemary and thyme, with a pinch of cayenne) contra players David Wright, Sue Jones, and Marilyn Cooper. Tasty!

Special event! – Contra Dance Clothing Exchange/Sale. Clean out your closet for the New Year! Bring any
contra dance skirts or shirts that you would like to pass on and see if you can find something
new. Donation of $5 requested for each item you take unless you are exchanging that new
item for something you brought.

Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 6:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Food and Drink

Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.

Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.

Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics. 

The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:

Caller: Dane Wallinga
Music: Will Wheeler, Lisa Miklos-Illés, and Peter Mellinger
Sound: Amanda Schmidt
Date: Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 (New Year’s EVE!)
Time: 8:00–12:00 pm, with newcomer’s orientation at 7:30 pm
Location: Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $20 for adults (special dance); $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check); If cost is the only thing preventing you from being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Dane Wallinga has quickly become a Bay Area go-to caller, giving dancers a thoughtful program of interesting, fun dances, called with a relaxed style. He has choreographed a number of dances himself.

Newcomer’s orientation is offered at 7:40 pm, perfect for people who have not contra danced before, or who could use a refresher. Experienced dancers are invited to partner with newcomers during the orientation and early dances to help integrate them into the community. No partners are needed, so come by yourself or with friends or with family. Events are accessible to people with disabilities. Potluck snacks are available at the break, and we encourage you to bring something to share.

Food and Drink

Hydration is important while dancing. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Please bring snacks to share with the community. Dancers may eat in the area near the food table or outside. Please don’t spill food or water on the dance floor.

Contact: For more information, and lost and found, contact Laura Leonelli, 916-549-7093, or email sactocds@gmail.com. Our schedule of future dances is always available at https://sactocds.org/calendar/. You may join our email list on groups.io at https://groups.io/g/SactoCDS/. Please enter your name when joining.

Note: The location of the SCDS dance calendar has changed. If you subscribed to the calendar before January 1, 2023, please unsubscribe from that one and re-subscribe to the new one. On the Calendar page at https://sactocds.org/calendar/, you can subscribe to the calendar so the events show up in your personal Google calendar. Click the plus sign in the lower right hand corner. For iCal users, the link is https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/sactocds%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics.