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The Corvallis Folklore Society hosts a series of contra dances. All dances are open to the public and feature live music. Corvallis contra dances usually occur on the 1st and 3rd Saturday evenings of each month, September through June. (We take July and August off.) CFS is the official sponsor of contra dances in Newport on 5th Saturdays, roughly once per quarter. The calendar below lists upcoming CFS dances and other nearby dances of interest:

Corvallis Folklore Society Dances
CFS Dances in Newport
Eugene Folklore Society Dances
Other dances of likely interest
Weekend events requiring advance registration
English Country Dances
CANCELLED Dances

You can subscribe to CFS dance announcements sent out in mail messages.

A local dancer has set up a web log (blog) for announcements and discussions related to Willamette Valley contra dances.

So what's "contra dance"?

Contra dances are traditional American folk dances, related to English Country Dances, Square Dances, and "whole set longways" dances such as the Virginia Reel. The "living tradition" of contra dances includes tunes and dance sequences as new as last week, and some more than 200 years old. You can find more definitions on the WWW. Wm Leler has several on-line photo albums from a number of dance camps. You can also watch some videos of dances across the continent (over 100!) and contra dance instruction videos.

All CFS contra dance evenings
  • feature live music (perhaps fiddle, guitar, bass, flute, drums, dulcimer, saxophone, accordion, concertina, bagpipes,...)
  • begin with a "newcomer's session" at 7:30
  • run from 8 pm to 11 pm with an intermission
  • encourage newcomers to join the fun
  • draw dancers from teens to retirees
  • have a caller to "walk through" and call the dance sequences
  • charge $6 admission (Corvallis Folklore Society members, $1 more for non-members, "special" prices for some "special" dances)

We suggest that dancers wear "cool, comfortable, casual clothes" and flat, soft-soled shoes. (Tennis or gym shoes are fine.) Please refrain from wearing fragrances, perfumes, and colognes. Some of our dancers have chemical sensitivities.

Quite often, a CFS member will host a potluck before the evening dance. At the end of the night, after the chairs get put away and the cords wound up, several dancers will head out for a late bite or beverage. The most frequesnt destination is McMinnamin's, 420 NW 3rd Street (just north of Harrison).

For more information, contact Frank or Karen at (541) 745-1002 or cfs.contradances @ gmail.com

Did you say Swing?

CFS has held occasional series of swing dances. If you have interest in organizing one, please get in touch. Send a message to us at "cfs.contradances @ gmail.com".

Corvallis Contra Dance Weekend

The Corvallis Folklore Society will host its fifth annual contra dance weekend February 13-15, 2009. We have a separate Web site with more information.

CFS Dance Calendar

Date Location Talent Notes
Sept 6 Sat FCC Gatton Hall The Nettles with Lynn Ackerson
Sept 13 Sat Eugene Tunestruck with William Watson 6:00 Potluck: Patrick, 861 Adams, 485-6230
Sept 19-21 Vancouver, BC Chehalis Advance registration
Sept 20 Sat FCC Gatton Hall The Barnstormers with Sue Baker Pot-luck at Diane's
Sept 27 Sat Eugene Three Fingered Jack with Woody Lane 6:00 Potluck: Sue G.
Oct 4 Sat FCC Gatton Hall Cascade Crossing with Michael Schuh
Oct 11 Sat Eugene Rad Francine with Carol Piening 6:00 Potluck: Linda & Stephen, 3405 Storey, 688-3155
Oct 17-19 Seattle Wannadance Uptown Advance registration
Oct 18 Sat FCC Gatton Hall Unleashed! with Elinor Preston
Oct 25 Sat Eugene The Nettles with Sue Baker 6:00 Potluck: Tom & Clover, 1911 Lambert St, 870-4275
Nov 1 Sat Boys & Girls Club The OpporTunists with Susan Petrick OSU homecoming football game at 7:15!
Nov 6 Thur Eugene Wild Asparagus with George Marshall Special Thursday dance
5:30 Potluck: Ken & Jane, 912 Van Buren, 344-7615
Nov 7-9 SKY Camp Danceable Feast Advance registration
Nov 8 Sat Eugene NO DANCE
Nov 10 Mon FCC Gatton Hall Wild Asparagus with George Marshall Special Monday dance
Nov 15 Sat FCC Gatton Hall The Nettles with Eric Curl OSU football game today!
Nov 22 Sat Eugene Cascade Crossing with Erik Weberg 6:00 Potluck: William & Tiffany, 505-8930
Nov 29 Sat Newport TBA with TBA OSU football game 4:00!
Dec 6 Sat FCC Gatton Hall Laurel Valley Ramblers with William Watson
Dec 13 Sat Eugene a George Penk band with Gordy Euler
Dec 20 Sat FCC Gatton Hall Tunestruck with TBA
Dec 27 Sat Eugene TBA with TBA Dance itself is TBA
You can also find
Some historic information for our dances on Ted Crane's DanceDB.

Dance Locations

FCC Gatton Hall (First Congregational Church)

4515 West Hills Road, Corvallis, Oregon

From downtown Corvallis, head west on Western Avenue. Shortly after the four-way stop at 35th Street, Western Avenue veers left, but you should stay right on what becomes West Hills Road. In less than half a mile the road goes downhill, and you pass the first driveway for the church, then the church itself. Enter on the second driveway, follow it to the parking lot behind the church, and park. From the east end of the parking lot, you can enter Gatton Hall (the fellowship hall) where we dance.

You can find several on-line maps to the church: (Google, Yahoo, Mapquest, MapsOnUs )

FUMC Community Hall

1166 NW Jackson Avenue. We use the community center, on the southwest corner of 11th and Jackson. It has a large parking lot directly on the corner.

You can find several on-line maps to this location: (Google, Yahoo, Mapquest, MapsOnUs )

Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis

1112 Northwest Circle Blvd, 757-1909

You can find several on-line maps to this location: (Google, Yahoo, Mapquest, MapsOnUs )

Cheldelin Middle School

987 NE Conifer, between Hwy. 99 and Hwy. 20.

You can find several on-line maps to this location: (Google, Yahoo, Mapquest, MapsOnUs )

Newport High School, West Gym

322 NE Eads Street
7:30 Newcomers' workshop, dance 8:00 to 11:00
$7 admission at the door (maximum $25 for families)
Please bring snacks to share.
For More Information, contact Evelyn Brookhyser: brookhyser (AT) newportnet (DOT) com or 541-265-8023
Homestays available; call Janet 541-265-9514
(For the 29 March 2008 dance: Potluck at 5:30 pm at 316 SE Penter Lane, Newport)

Click for online maps from Google, Yahoo, MapQuest.com, MapsOnUs.com

Newport Senior Center

20 SE Second Street (opposite the Rec. Center)
7:30 Newcomers' workshop, dance 8:00 to 11:00
$7 admission at the door
For More Information, contact Evelyn Brookhyser: brookhyser (AT) newportnet (DOT) com
Click here for a map from MapQuest.com

Mohawk Valley Grange

Mohawk Grange Road, Marcola, OR, 97454 Get a map from
Google, Yahoo, Mapquest, or MapsOnUs.

Coming from I-5 (Eugene or south or west)
126 E towards springfield
Exit 42 street exit to Marcola.
Turn left at end of ramp go N on 42nd st
Right on Marcola road.
17 miles to Shotgun recreation area.
Go past shotgun and look at first road on the right. Mohawk Grange road.
Take a right.


Coming from I-5 from the north
Exit Brownsville exit Rd 228 E
Go through crawfordsville.
First Right after crawfordsville is Brush Creek Rd
Turn Right
Approximately 15 miles roadsign will say Mabel
Look on left for Mohawk Grange road.
If you see shotgun recreation area, you've gone too far.
If you get to Marcola, you've gone way to far.

Salem Knights of Columbus Hall

725 Shipping NE (off Broadway)
7:30PM newcomers' workshop, dance 8:00 to 11:00
$3 - Students
$6 - Adults
Donations Appreciated
For More Information, contact Rosalie Schele: rschele (AT) willamette (DOT) edu
Click here for a map from MapQuest.com

Where else can I dance?

We will eventually add links to other Corvallis dances (square, folk, swing, etc.)


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This page created 30 September 2003.

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