Indianapolis contra dancers have, weather permitting, a great dance opportunity on January 7 & 8, 2011.  Urbana, Illinois has their annual “Jan Jam,” with contras, a impressive pot luck (seriously! this table stays loaded with food until late, late at night), and many hours of couples’ dancing, jamming (bring your instruments!), and even supervised fun for children! No dancing Sunday, but there’s a pot luck brunch. Carol Ormand & David Ernst are calling. Music’s by Mean Lids, Big Bluestem, and the Money Creek Boys. Plus there are about a dozen workshops by other folks, including our own Dianna Davis playing for a Zwiefacher session.

Urbana is just 2 hours west of Indianapolis, and on Central time.  Schedule, travel info, etc. is at http://www.urbana-contra.org/jan_jam.html

Iron Curtain plays a mix of French-Candian, swing, old-time, eastern European, and new and old tunes in a energetic, fun fusion style.  Featuring fiddle, clarinet, accordion, guitar, viola, bass, and foot percussion – you can try to just sit still and listen, but it’s much more fun to dance!

We always welcome memberships, which cost $15, and save $1 off each weekly dance, plus other discounts on special events. Just use the form on our “Join us” page. It says “2011,” but every membership lasts 12 months, no matter when you join.

Membership dues help us pay expenses like sound equipment, renting the dance hall, newspaper ads, and for the company that hosts this web site.

Members can also vote in elections each February, for new board members. And can serve on the board.

If you’re already a member, or if one of your friends or family “should” be a member but isn’t, may we recommend buying a gift membership?

If you love contra, you might also want to join CDSS, a national organization, of which ITMDG is an affiliate.

Open Band (12/7) means that anyone who wants to play for dancing is welcome up on the stage. Yes, a little experience with kazoo, fiddle, or other instrument is a major plus. But if you just wonder what they see when “they” look out over the hall, this is your chance to find out. Bob Duffy calls. Cool.

No experience is EVER needed on the dance floor.