Contra Dance! Saturday, January 17 - Zephyr with Chris Hernandez at Lance Hall, Circular Church + PALMETTO BUG STOMP!

[Charleston Folk Contra Club]

Dear Charleston Folk,

Please join us at our upcoming Contra Dances:

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Saturday, January 17, 7:30 pm (Doors open at 7:15) 
Zephyr with Chris Hernandez calling at Lance Hall, Circular Church, 150 Meeting Street, Charleston
Zephyr is Susan Conant on flute, John Holenko on guitar and guest performer Andrew Finn McGill on fiddle.  Chris Hernandez is a favorite Charleston caller.

See our full calendar of upcoming dances here.

DANCE INFO AND PRICES:
Admission is $15 cash, check, or Venmo (@chscontra $15.50 on Venmo).  Doors open at 7:15 and the dancing begins at 7:30 pm with a beginners' walk-through (highly recommended!).  Children aged 6 to 12 accompanied by a paying adult dance for $5. Children 5 and under are free. Teens 13 and over pay full price, still a deal at $15.  Family Rate:  $40 for one or two adults and their children under 18. Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult at all times. Children who are not able to participate in the dance must stay off the dance floor. 
Please wear non-marking, soft-soled shoes.  Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.  Wear your name button!

COMFORT and SAFETY:  We are a community and want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable.  If you have a suggestion, comment, concern or question, please bring it to one of our board members (wearing a board member button at the dance) or email us at charlestonfo...@gmail.com.

HEALTH POLICY:  Masks welcome and optional.  Please stay home if you are sick!

A TIP FOR NEWCOMERS: Don't dance with another newbie! Ask an experienced dancer to show you around.  Anyone can ask anyone to dance. It is customary to ask a different person for each dance.  By the end of the evening, you will have danced with everyone in the room, and you will see why contra dance is so much fun.  : )

SNACKS!  Our dance community takes turns bringing finger-food snacks to each dance.  Please consider bringing something to contribute to the snack table at the back of the hall.

Volunteer opportunity:  Get in free by helping the board host at the front desk.  We have two shifts, early (6:30-9) and late (8:30-11).  You can dance and then work, or work and then dance, and the dance portion of your evening will be free.  Duties are arriving early or staying later for setup or cleanup, assisting the board host with the box office as people arrive, and managing tasks as they come up.
Emily Rettberg is coordinating this – if you can help out, please visit signupgenius to chose the dates you can volunteer.  THANK YOU!  

Learn more about contra at ABOUT CONTRA DANCING  or LOTS OF TIPS. Check out some great contra videos and photos here.

Join our Facebook group to receive updates and event invitations.  Follow us on Instagram.

Palmetto Bug Stomp!  
February 27 – March 1, 2026
Notorious and ContraForce!
Seth Tepfer and JJ Luxe!
ENT Sound Productions, LLC
Register on Eventbrite $160 + Eventbrite fee
Ticket includes Friday night potluck and Sunday continental breakfast, with dances, workshops and snacks throughout the weekend. 
The Bug Stomp venue this year is 2731 Gordon Street, North Charleston, SC  29405 (former Morningside/Garrett school)                                       
 *** See weekend schedule here ***

Notorious is Eden MacAdam-Somer on fiddle and vocals, Larry Unger on guitar and banjo, Sam Bartlett on mandolin and banjo, and Mark Hellenberg on percussion.

Charleston-based quartet ContraForce is fiddler and guitarist Andrae Raffield, percussionist and saxophonist Joey Dorwart, guitarist Jimi Peirano, and vocalist and fiddler Karin McQuade.
 
Seth Tepfer has called dances and festivals in almost every state in the union and around the world. Known for his infectious energy and short walk-throughs, Seth’s enthusiasm is contagious and gets everyone moving.
 
From Lexington, South Carolina and Orlando, Florida, JJ Luxe is a young-generation caller who brings fun and high energy to their dances and calling.
 
ENT Sound Productions is Ben Meyer, based right here in Charleston.

Join the event on Facebook to invite friends and see who else is coming! 

Volunteer tickets:  If you are willing to work a total of 8 hours during the weekend to make this Bug Stomp the best it can be, there are a limited number of $80 Volunteer tickets available.  Please send an email to CharlestonFolkC...@gmail.com

Housing is offered with local dancers if available. You may request housing after you register.  Housing requests will be considered beginning December 1; you should reserve a hotel in the meantime to be on the safe side.
LOCAL DANCERS, if you can offer a bedroom, sofa, or air mattress to an out-of-town dancer or two, please send an email to palmetto...@gmail.com with HOUSING  in the subject line.  Many thanks!

Bug Stomp Give & Get Contra Clothing Exchange is back!  Bring in your old contra clothes to recycle. If you find something that fits, help yourself  : )

Do you have any quilts to lend us for the Bug Stomp weekend?  These serve as decoration for the hall as well as sound buffers.  If so, please contact Troy Thieszen at troyth...@gmail.com and thank you!

[Charleston Folk Contra Club]