And why? Because just four days later comes that shining jewel of the Contra season, the New Year’s Eve Dance! Save your energy for that! As usual, 8 PM to midnight, bring an appetizer or dessert to share; Dane Wallinga will call, and music by Will Wheeler, Lisa Miklos-Illés, and Peter Mellinger!
The Sacramento Country Dance Society, building community through lively dances, live music, and friendly people, proudly presents:
Caller: Mark Goodwin
Music: Clark Smith & Bob Wren
Sound: David Wright
Date: Saturday, December 13th, 2025 (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.
Two string wizards, Clark Smith (guitar) and Bob Wren, always make for a great evening!
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: Jean Gibson-Gorrindo
Music: Star Thistle (Lonna Whipple, David Wright, and Cheryl McKinney)
Sound: Sue Jones
Date: Saturday, November 22nd, 2025 (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.
Jean Gibson-Gorrindo hails from a little coastal town near San Luis Obispo, CA called Los Osos. She started contra dancing in San Luis Obispo in 1987. In 1995, or thereabouts, she was asked to step up to the mic, as the need for a local caller had arisen. That opportunity pivoted into a career spanning the past thirty years, including calling dances in many different states, several tours, plus a few dance weekends and festivals. Jean is known for her strong teaching and musical skills, her rhythmic vocal quality, and her knack for finding dances that enhance the joy and connection of contra dancing. For her, that is what contra dancing is all about!
Star Thistle plays contra dances featuring Celtic, old-time, and other music. The band (left to right, as pictured) is Lonna Whipple (fiddle), David Wright (fiddle and mandolin), and Cheryl McKinney (keyboard).
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: Kelsey Hartman
Music: Magic Reelism (David Wright, Sue Jones, Cheryl McKinney & Del Eckels)
Sound: Esper (Autumn) Schmidt
Date: Saturday, November 8th, 2025 (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.
Kelsey Hartman is a “contraholic,” and can often be found any given weekend dancing or calling a contra dance. Her inspiration for calling comes from Nils Fredland, whose callers’ workshop at American Week (BACDS) in 2012 spurred her down the caller’s path. When calling, she considers herself a conduit between the dancers and the band, helping to channel the joy of the musicians’ music through flowing, interesting dances.
Magic Reelism plays Celtic, old-time, French-Canadian, northern, and original tunes for dances around Sacramento and the Bay Area. David Wright on fiddle and mandolin, Sue Jones on concertina and recorders, Cheryl McKinney on piano, and Del Eckels on percussion bring energy, drive and creativity to the dance! They play for contradances and for special events like weddings and private parties.
For more information and some recordings, see https://www.facebook.com/MagicReelism.
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: Star Thistle (Lonna Whipple, David Wright, and Cheryl McKinney)
Sound: Sue Jones
Date: Saturday, October 25th, 2025 (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.
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.
Star Thistle plays contra dances featuring Celtic, old-time, and other music. The band (left to right, as pictured) is Lonna Whipple (fiddle), David Wright (fiddle and mandolin), and Cheryl McKinney (keyboard).
Costumes are encouraged!!
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: Mike Fynan
Music: Wild Goose Chase (Margo Meredith, Ann Meigs, Kate Dwyer)
Sound: Clark Smith
Date: Saturday, Oct 11th, 2025 (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.
Clear, clever, and energetic Santa Rosa caller Mike Fynan is always welcome here!
Flown in live from Nevada County, Wild Goose Chase (Margo Meredith, Ann Meigs, and Kate Dwyer) is always a fan 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: Dane Wallinga
Music: The Sactown Revellers (Kathrine Gardner, Cynthia Llano, and Allen Barnes)
Sound: David Wright
Date: Saturday, September 27th, 2025 (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.
Rockin’ vintage tunes for your contra dancing pleasure! Kathrine Gardner discovered her life’s purpose playing some of the first Sacramento contras with Cynthia Llano and David Faulkner in the mid 1980s, then went on to further develop her talents playing in the Bay Area and elsewhere before returning to Sacramento. Local Cynthia Llano, renowned for her musicianship and great backup playing on guitar, mandolin and old-time piano, is a member of the Faulkner Family band (with her husband David Faulkner and their son Joaquin), who play for the third-Fridays dance at the Coloma Grange. Talib Huff calls that dance. Allen Barnes of Davis is a multi-instrumentalist and singer who has played a wide variety of traditional folk music styles for over 50 years. In the 1980s he played with the Possum Trot String Band, whose approach to Southern old time music inspired many, including Kathrine. His mandolin accompaniment in the Revelers kicks up the excitement level for the 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.
We’re all dancing at the Echo Summit Dance Camp. Join us on September 27th, when Dane Wallinga calls to the music of the Sactown Revellers (Kathrine Gardner, Cynthia Llano, and Allen Barnes)!
Next weekend, though, will kick off the complex September schedule with an English Country Dance at the YLI in Sacramento on Sunday, September 7th, called by Yvonne Couvillion to the music of Quite Carried Away. First Sunday dances are normally in Roseville, but the YLI has better air conditioning.
Next, beginning on Friday September 12th, there’s the annual Echo Summit Dance Camp. For more information on that or to register, see https://registration.sactocds.org/.
Because that event will go all weekend, the usual Contra on September 13th is Canceled.
Next up will be the English Country Dance on September 21st at Sacramento’s YLI, called by Bruce Hamilton, to the music of Quite Carried Away.
Rounding out the month will be the Fourth Saturday Contra Dance on the 27th, called by Dane Wallinga to the music of the Sactown Revellers. Enjoy!
But next month you’ll get to choose between the Echo Summit Dance Camp on the weekend of September 12-14 (http://registration.sactocds.org) and the September 27th dance, where Dane Wallinga calls to the music of the Sactown Revellers (Kathrine Gardner, Cynthia Llano, and Allen Barnes). Or better yet, do both!
And beginning in September, college student admission (with student ID card) will rise to $10, and the admissions cap for families will rise to $30.