Community Contra Dance

Our next community dance will be hosted by Macon County Public Library on Thursday, September 17, from 6:30-9:00pm. Contra dance is a form of social folk dancing from which square dancing evolved, so it shares many of the same movements. As always, no partner is necessary, generations mix, all are welcome including beginners, and no dance experience or fancy clothing are necessary. Anyone wanting to just listen to the music and watch the dancing is also welcome.

Claire Takemori, of Asheville, will return from months of dancing in Europe to call our dance, to include contras, squares, mixers, and perhaps a few other types of folk dances appropriate to the level of the dancers in attendance. Claire is known for her clear teaching, positivity and gift for unsnarling the occasional contra knot.

George Paul is one of the premiere musicians for contra dances throughout the southeast. He is well known as the core member of the band Playing with Fyre. George has been playing the piano since he was 3 years old, composed many tunes, and at this point, music just flows from his heart into his hands. Amelia Morgan is primarily a fiddler, and she is also well versed on guitar, mandolin, and tenor banjo. She is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after dance fiddlers in the region, plays several genres of music and studied Bluegrass music at East Tennessee State University. Both have created several CDs. You won’t believe the energy and sound that comes from only these two musicians!

A suggested donation of $10-20 per person goes to pay the band, caller, and other expenses; kids age 14 & under are free; children over age 8 who are game to participate, or sit and watch with an adult may also attend. Bring a closed water container and a snack if you wish. Smooth-soled shoes work best for dancing on wood floors. Please do not wear perfume or other scents to the dances.

The Macon County Public Library is located at 149 Siler Farm Rd, Franklin, NC. Visit and follow us on facebook.com/FranklinContra for photos and details about this and our next dances Oct 18 and Nov 19. And/or email us to be put on the email-notification list: ContraDanceFranklinNC@gmail.com.