Contra Dance in Franklin

The last of our autumn series of live-music community dances will be hosted by Macon County Public Library on Thursday, November 20, starting at 6:30pm. 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, and all are welcome, including beginners, and no dance experience or fancy clothing are necessary. Those who would like to come out just to listen to the music are welcome, too.

The band, Paddy’s Return, is strong on lively celtic tunes of Ireland and Scotland and hails from Brasstown, NC, with strong ties to John C. Campbell Folk School. Three of the members are instructors at the Folk School, and all of the five members are multi-instrumentalists. The instruments will outnumber the musicians — anything from penny whistle to keyboard to guitar to bodhran to tenor banjo!

Dawn Davis, the band’s founder, is a veterinary-tech-turned-composer, who also teaches traditional-style tunes and songwriting. David Bellino has been a performing musician for much of his music career, arranging and producing music as well as instructing guitar. Both have CDs of their music. Amanda Burts is a mental health therapist with long experience playing Irish music. Dawn, David and Amanda also play with the English Country Dance Band, Mist O’ the Glen.

Brothers Brian and Dakota Gatti both dance with several folk-style dance teams affiliated with the Folk School. Brian is a middle-school math teacher who assists with the Folk School’s Junior Appalachian Music Program, and plays with the Appalachian St. Andrews Pipe and Drums band. Dakota is self-taught on several instruments, a member of the Brasstown Folk Ensemble and a budding audio engineer.

Harrison Keely will call the dance (for the uninitiated, the caller walks the dancers through the steps of the upcoming dance for a few minutes, and then continues to call the moves in time to the music so the dancers know what to do next), to include contras, squares, mixers, and perhaps a few other types of folk dances appropriate to the level of the dancers in attendance. Harrison frequently acts in theater productions in Hayesville, and is known for his clear dance calling instructions, enthusiasm and permanent smile.

Beginners are strongly encouraged to arrive by 6:30pm for the instruction, and experienced dancers are quite willing to help those new to contra dance get started with the movements. The dance is from 7-9pm. A suggested donation of $10 per person goes to pay the band and caller; 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.

The Macon County Public Library is located at 149 Siler Farm Rd, Franklin, NC. Dances will be on hiatus this winter, and will resume in March.

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. Visit and follow us on facebook.com/FranklinContra for photos and details about upcoming dances. And/or email us to be put on the email-notification list: ContraDanceFranklinNC@gmail.com.