About us
Contra dancing is an easy-to-learn style of social dance accompanied by a live band. Do you like smiling, laughing and interacting with friendly folks? Getting some healthy exercise while having fun? Contra dancing might be for you. Knowing how to dance is not necessary because a caller prompts the moves and guides the dancers. A short workshop is given at the start, teaching basic terminology and dance moves.
Come alone or with friends. It's customary to dance with a variety of partners throughout an evening. Typically at a dance there are 40 to 80 people of varied experience levels, ages and backgrounds.
Much of the music is drawn from Appalachian, Celtic, and old-timey traditions, with pop, jazz, Eastern European and electric for good measure. From lively and playful to smooth and elegant, the music always has a great beat enhanced by the collective energy of joyful dancers.
Swingin' Tern is known both as a beginner-friendly dance group and the host of special events that draw dancers from several states.
LOCATION: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main St, Chatham, NJ 07928
DATES: First and third Saturday of every month.
LESSON: 7:00-7:30 PM, DANCE: 7:30– 10:30 PM
COST: $15 adult, $5 student (certain special dances may be higher)
More information: http://swingintern.org
Upcoming events
5

Contra dance with caller Qwill Duvall, music by Kaleidoscope
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main St, Chatham, NJ, USJoin us for a celebration of spring and Daniel B.'s birthday. Save room for cake! Welcome notes for new dancers: The beginner's lesson at 7:00 PM will get you dancing in no time. Come alone or with a friend. Throughout the evening, we mix around and dance with everyone. The music is live, and the steps are called/prompted. People of all ages attend, and our events are alcohol-free. Dancing is aerobic; dress lightly and bring a water bottle. Flat-soled shoes are best; heels or flip-flops are not recommended.
Tonight's talent: QWILL DUVALL brings an upbeat, playful energy to every dance. With clear, relaxed teaching and an eye for the skill level in the room, they keep dancers engaged — whether with creative choreography, unusual figures, or simply a well-chosen, satisfying dance. Expect a fun, inclusive atmosphere where beginners feel supported, experienced dancers stay intrigued, and everyone leaves smiling.
KALEIDOSCOPE presents everything from traditional New England and old time American, Quebecois and Celtic fiddle tunes, to jazz, blues, Latin, and the group’s own originals. Kaleidoscope features Minda Cowen on fiddle; Larry Unger on guitar, banjo, and jaw harp; Dominique Gagné on Latin and Brazilian jazz influenced flute; and Marco Brehm on swinging stand-up bass. Together they create an ever-changing swirl of dance music with their melodic and creative approach to the folk traditions. https://www.facebook.com/p/Kaleidoscope-Band-61564183524679/
Admission: $15-$20 as you're able. $5 with student ID. Cash, credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay accepted at the door.
Times: Beginner's lesson at 7:00 PM. Dance from 7:30-10:30 PM, first and third Saturdays.There is ample parking in the lot behind St. Paul's and the adjacent municipal library. The Chatham train station is just two and a half blocks away. Use New Jersey Transit from Penn Station in NYC and take the Morris & Essex line terminating at Morristown or Dover.
Hungry before the dance? Chatham has many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines all within two blocks of our location on Main Street.
Swingin' Tern dances are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month and are presented by The Folk Project. Join our email list here to get dance announcements, and check out our Facebook page. Our dance is run by volunteers. Sign up to lend a hand at a future dance and get a free pass for that evening! Home-baked goods or other snacks to share at the break are welcome.
5 attendees
Contra dance with caller Adina Gordon, music by Oliver Alex Owen
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main St, Chatham, NJ, USWelcome notes for new dancers: The beginner's lesson at 7:00 PM will get you dancing in no time. Come alone or with a friend. Throughout the evening, we mix around and dance with everyone. The music is live, and the steps are called/prompted. People of all ages attend, and our events are alcohol-free. Dancing is aerobic; dress lightly and bring a water bottle. Flat-soled shoes are best; heels or flip-flops are not recommended.
Tonight's talent: ADINA GORDON finds an outlet for her loves of travel, music, dance and silliness by calling and dancing throughout the U.S. and Canada, facilitating joy and minor chaos wherever she goes. Combining a voice that makes you WANT to do what she says with a commitment to using that power for good and not evil, Adina calls dances both old and new that cause spontaneous eruptions of joy on the dance floor.
OAO combines the talents of three amazing musicians who have played with the best contra bands in the country: Fiddler, mandolinist and tunesmith Oliver Scanlon, pianist Alex Fortier, and flatpick guitarist Owen Morrison. Don't miss this opportunity to see them together!
Admission rates for tonight: $20 adult or $5 with student ID. Cash, credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay accepted at the door.
Times: Beginner's lesson at 7:00 PM. Dance from 7:30-10:30 PM, first and third Saturdays.Park in the lot behind St. Paul's and the adjacent municipal library. Overflow parking is on the street or one of the nearby free municipal lots (maps available at the dance).
The Chatham train station is just two and a half blocks away. Use New Jersey Transit from Penn Station in NYC and take the Morris & Essex line terminating at Morristown or Dover.
Hungry before the dance? Chatham has many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines all within two blocks of our location on Main Street.
Swingin' Tern dances are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month and are presented by The Folk Project. Join our email list here to get dance announcements, and check out our Facebook page. Our dance is run by volunteers. Sign up to lend a hand at a future dance and get a free pass for that evening! Home-baked goods or other snacks to share at the break are welcome.
4 attendees
Contra dance with caller Alex Deis-Lauby, music by Brooklyn Swing Ensemble
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main St, Chatham, NJ, USWelcome notes for new dancers: The beginner's lesson at 7:00 PM will get you dancing in no time. Come alone or with a friend. Throughout the evening, we mix around and dance with everyone. The music is live, and the steps are called/prompted. People of all ages attend, and our events are alcohol-free. Dancing is aerobic; dress lightly and bring a water bottle. Flat-soled shoes are best; heels or flip-flops are not recommended.
Tonight's talent: ALEXANDRA DEIS-LAUBY's smooth voice, clear teaching style and engaging dance selections delight dancers from coast to coast. Her encouraging demeanor welcomes dancers of all experience levels. When she’s not calling, you can find her on the dance floor twirling away!
BROOKLYN SWING ENSEMBLE are beloved for their unique blend of fiddle tunes, Klezmer music, and swing/blues. With fiddle and clarinet as the lead instruments, the world is their musical oyster, and they are unafraid to explore! Featuring: Danny Elias on clarinet, Sam Zygmuntowicz on fiddle, Marco Brehm on double bass, and Norman Plankey on guitar.
Admission: $15-$20 as you're able. $5 with student ID. Cash, credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay accepted at the door.
Times: Beginner's lesson at 7:00 PM. Dance from 7:30-10:30 PM, first and third Saturdays.There is ample parking in the lot behind St. Paul's and the adjacent municipal library. The Chatham train station is just two and a half blocks away. Use New Jersey Transit from Penn Station in NYC and take the Morris & Essex line terminating at Morristown or Dover.
Hungry before the dance? Chatham has many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines all within two blocks of our location on Main Street.
Swingin' Tern dances are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month and are presented by The Folk Project. Join our email list here to get dance announcements, and check out our Facebook page. Our dance is run by volunteers. Sign up to lend a hand at a future dance and get a free pass for that evening! Home-baked goods or other snacks to share at the break are welcome.
2 attendees
Contra dance with callers Janine Smith & Susan Taylor, music by DeadSeaSquirrels
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main St, Chatham, NJ, USWelcome notes for new dancers: The beginner's lesson at 7:00 PM will get you dancing in no time. Come alone or with a friend. Throughout the evening, we mix around and dance with everyone. The music is live, and the steps are called/prompted. People of all ages attend, and our events are alcohol-free. Dancing is aerobic; dress lightly and bring a water bottle. Flat-soled shoes are best; heels or flip-flops are not recommended.
Tonight's talent: Two fantastic callers who delight folks across the country! Together, Janine Smith and Susan Taylor are the Too Hot Mamas. Expect the unexpected as they share their love of music, dance, and singing with an irrepressible sense of humor. Every dance is a party when the Too Hot Mamas are in town.
The DEAD SEA SQUIRRELS push the boundaries of the southern style with fiddle and fiddle/guitar harmonies. Their eminently danceable tunes use rhythm and dynamics to augment the excitement of a dance. Featuring: Cathy Mason on fiddle; Craig Edwards on fiddle, banjo, and mandolin; and Henry Yoshimura on guitar.
Admission: $15-$20 as you're able. $5 with student ID. Cash, credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay accepted at the door.
Times: Beginner's lesson at 7:00 PM. Dance from 7:30-10:30 PM, first and third Saturdays.There is ample parking in the lot behind St. Paul's and the adjacent municipal library. The Chatham train station is just two and a half blocks away. Use New Jersey Transit from Penn Station in NYC and take the Morris & Essex line terminating at Morristown or Dover.
Hungry before the dance? Chatham has many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines all within two blocks of our location on Main Street.
Swingin' Tern dances are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month and are presented by The Folk Project. Join our email list here to get dance announcements, and check out our Facebook page. Our dance is run by volunteers. Sign up to lend a hand at a future dance and get a free pass for that evening! Home-baked goods or other snacks to share at the break are welcome.
2 attendees
Past events
218


