All posts by Barry Levitt

Zion Church Tonight – Vickie + Troika

Tonight only we will dance at Zion Church with Vickie Stohl calling and the band Troika playing. Zion Church is located at the corner of New Jersey St and North St (across from the Old National Centre – Murat Shrine building). Zion church address is 603 N. New Jersey St. Please carry in your soft-soled dance shoes as street shoes are not permitted on their sprung wood floor.

May Tuesdays

May 9 Bob Duffy with Sunday Night Swing / May 16 David Ernst with Tim MacDonald and Jeremy Ward from Chicago / May 23 Frank Buschelman with The Stuff from Asheville NC / May 30 at ZION church Vickie Stohl and Calliope

April 2017 Tuesdays

April 4 – LEDfoot with Rhonda Minnich /

April 11 – Kathy Bianco with band TBA /

April 18 – Minor Contravention (UK) Band with Ken Gall /

April 25 – Calliope and Adam Nichols

4 dances in March + Mean Lids CD release party Sunday

Tuesday, March 7th
Haus Party and Friends with Adam Nichols calling

SUNDAY March 12th
THE MEAN LIDS!! with LAUREN PECKMAN!!!!

Tuesday, March 14th
Indy Ceili Band with Kathy Bianco calling

Tuesday, March 21st
The Freight Hoppers with Vickie Stohl calling

Tuesday, March 28th
Emily Ann and Kelly Thompson with Bob Duffy calling

Elections + Electro Contra 2-28

Electro Contra with DR Shadow and Cincinnati caller Shelley Zeiser are featured Tuesday Feb. 28.  The annual meeting and elections for half of the group Board of Directors will also occur February 28, 2017. On the ballot for election are Nathen Cox, Ian Fulford, Barry Levitt and Elizabeth “Liz” Pech.

at Zion church: Troika & Rhonda Minnich

This Tuesday only at Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ, corner of North and New Jersey Streets, dance to the folksy music of Troika and calling by Rhonda Minnich. There is free parking in the church lot off New Jersey St (if asked, mention contra dancing). (The Gypsy Moon Ball was held at Zion church.) The February 14 dance and later Tuesdays will be back at Grove Haus.

January 2017

January 3rd
SUPERTRAD (Sam Bartlett and Eric Shedler) with Vickie Stohl calling
Vickie brings her warmth and wit to the stage while the duo of Sam Bartlett and Eric Shedler (Supertrad) provide the awesome music to get us moving.

January 10th
Sunday Night Swing with Jonathan Sivier calling

Dianna Davis on clarinet, accordion, and piano, Tobe Woodrough on fiddle and mandolin, Daryl Jones on guitar and mandolin, and Bob Foster on bass bring their bluesy, old-timey, swingy music to Grove Haus, while our friend Jonathan from Urbana shows us the way.

January 17th
Emily Ann and Kelly Thompson with Kathy Bianco calling
Local favorites of Emily Ann and Kelly bringing the music while Kathy entertains with her wonderful sense of humor and smooth dances.

JANUARY 22nd, SUNDAY DANCE
TURNIP THE BEET! with Beadle calling        
One of the most energetic and electrifying duos around, rooted in the traditions of Southern Appalachia and their local contra dances, Kelsey Wells and Jeremy Lekich combine fiddle, guitar, percussion, and the occasional banjo in an innovative and jubilant musical harvest. Beadle (Matthew Beadlecomb) of Nashville joins the fun and we will not want to miss this amazing Sunday dance!
January 24th
Haus Party and Friends, caller TBA
One of Grove Haus’ local bands, Dianna Davis, Tyler McElfresh, MaryRose Minnich and Elizabeth Quay bring their swingin’, jazzy and fun tunes to the stage.
January 31st
LEDfoot, caller TBA
Another local favorite, LEDfoot, which is Leslie Selden, Dave Schroeder, Lisa Wagoner Schroeder, and Steve Kobe, brings their mix of fiddle, bass, mandolin, flute, guitar and more to play for us on the last day of the month.

December 2016

12-13 DR Shadow with Rhonda Minnich

DR Shadow on his own brings the hotest (*coughonly*) electro contra show in the country. But paired with guest DJs?!? It’s so hot we’re bringing 3 extra floor fans and cranking the AC down as far as it goes (in December, no less!). Invite all your friends for this one time only event at Indy Contra! As always beginner’s lesson is at 7:30, dancing until 10 p.m. Calling by the lovely M.C. Rhonda Minnich.

12-20 Troika with caller Adam Nichols

Troika is back with all of our world music grooves! Sarah Skreko on violin and saw, Mario Joven on guitar, Adam Riviere Long on percussion, and Dianna Davis be on clarinet and accordion. Adam Nichols will call.

12-27 caller Bob Duffy & band TBA

12-6 Calliope with caller Ken Gall

November 2016

November 15th
Haus Party and Friends with Kathy Bianco
Experience the fun that is “Haus Party and Friends”, with several of our dancers (Dianna Davis, Ben Smith, Elizabeth Quay, MaryRose Minnich and Tyler McElfresh) providing the fantastic music. Kathy will bring her fresh and fun dances to share.

November 22nd
Electro Contra with DR Shadow and Frank Buschelman        
Our very own DR Shadow (Ben Smith) electrifies the dance with his fantastic fiddle and wonderful electronic sounds, while our friend Frank Buschelman from Cincy comes to energize the dancers.

November 29th
Sassafras Stomp with Vickie Stohl

Johanna Davis and Adam Nordell bring their wonderfully rich music from Celtic and “old-timey” influences and they play to make us dance! This is a group you won’t want to miss! Vickie Stohl will bring her calm and warm demeanor to get us moving. Admission rates: $8 public; $6 members; $5 ages 14-24

November 1
Sunday Night Swing with Rhonda Minnich calling
                
Local caller Rhonda Minnich brings her fun and clear teaching to the Haus while Dianna Davis on clarinet, accordion, and piano, Tobe Woodrough on fiddle and mandolin, Daryl Jones on guitar and mandolin, and Bob Foster on bass bring their bluesy, old-timey, swingy music.

November 8th
The Mckenzies and Dwayne Johnson
Husband and wife musical duo Woody and Marcia Mckenzie bring with them their unique blend of contemporary and original folk, traditional music of southern Appalachia and the British Isles, children’s music, funny songs, and even some swing and jazz standards. Dwayne Johnson is an experienced caller that will bring the best of all things contra to the Haus.

October 2016

All Tuesday dances are at Grove Haus, 1001 Hosbrook St, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Tuesday dances begin at 7:45 pm, with a beginner’s lesson at 7:30 pm
Tuesday Admission: $5-10

Tuesday, October 4th
Convolution (with Mark Conway) with Bob Duffy calling

Tuesday, October 11th
Baba Yaga’s Stew with Trevor DeWitt calling

Tuesday, October 18th
The Kitchen Sink with Ryan Smith calling

Friday October 21-Sunday October 23 at Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ
Gypsy Moon Ball with Party of Three, Mulberry Street, Cis Hinkle and Bradley Smith

Tuesday, October 25th
Dianna and Friends with Adam Nichols calling


October 4th
Convolution (with Mark Conway) with Bob Duffy calling
                
Local caller Bob Duffy brings his long-time experience and interesting dances to the tunes of Dianna Davis and Ben Smith (Convolution), joined by Mark Conway.
October 11th
Baba Yaga’s Stew with Trevor DewittWith Lucia Thomas on fiddle and banjo and Dianna Davis on piano and clarinet, Baba Yaga’s Stew draws from Eastern European Music and beyond. Trevor DeWitt is an experienced clogging dancer and instructor and will bring his unique talent to the stage.
October 18th
The Kitchen Sink with Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith, our friend from Cincinnati, comes to Indy to bring his very special talents while he calls to the tunes of The Kitchen Sink. The Kitchen Sink is our very own MaryRose Minnich with Matt Willman and Chris Wood from Cincy. We will be delighted and entertained and of course, there will be much dancing.
October 25th
Dianna and Friends with Adam Nichols calling

Dianna brings some of her friends to the stage to play for Indy Contra’s Board President Adam Nichols calling. Make sure to come dance to this fun combo.
October 21-23 GYPSY MOON BALL
Party of Three and Mulberry Street, two great bands!
Callers Cis Hinkle and Bradley Smith!!

Come join us for the final Gypsy Moon Ball, as Indy Contra will be shaking things up a bit and bringing an all new great dance weekend for 2017.Registration is live at:

Register Online for Hoosier Partner


Deadline for discount pricing and tee-shirts is October 11.Party of Three brings together three musicians from diverse musical backgrounds who share a depth of experience playing for dancing. Combining high energy Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle music with Latin and Funk influenced piano and drum grooves, Party of Three has been enthusiastically received by dancers across the mid-atlantic and northeast. Members include Lilly Pearlman on fiddle, Neil Pearlman on piano, mandolin and banjo, and Joe De Paolo on drums, doumbek and bodhran.

Mulberry Street, made up of Ben Hemmendinger (accordion), Perin Ellsworth-Heller (fiddle) and Kristen Planeaux (piano and percussion) play a mix of traditional, modern, and original compositions with a lush and richly textured sound. Fierce, soaring fiddle and pulsing accordion swing and harmonize around persuasive piano grooves, accented by driving foot percussion and hand drumming. We draw influences from many well-worn avenues (and some odd little alleys), mixing our love for what’s come before with our urge to explore and create.

Cis Hinkle has delighted contra and square dancers since 1985 with her skilled teaching, welcoming manner, playful enthusiasm, and masterful selection of dances.

Bradley Smith of Louisville brings his humor and interesting dances to delight and enchant us all.