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
7
Contra dance with caller Diane Hartzell, music by High Strung
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main St, Chatham, NJ, USStep away from the screen; this vibrant community invites you to join us in real life! 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: With a smile ever at the ready, DIANE HARTZELL loves sharing the joy of contra—the dancing and the music—with both new and seasoned dancers. Diane is known for patiently guiding dancers seeing to it that everyone has a great time!
HIGH STRUNG is Philadelphia’s rocking quartet of multi-instrumentalists reinventing the string band by combining bold North Atlantic energy with cool West Coast sensibilities. From banjo-driven Québécois reels to foot-stomping Old-Time marches, inspiring originals, and silky-smooth modern jams, High Strung explores fresh and exciting textures of trad music, guaranteed to keep dancers moving. Featuring: Jared Bishop on fiddle, Max Thoburn on mandolin and guitar, Alec Charon on guitar and tenor banjo, and Adam Bodine on bass and foot percussion. See High Strung here at this spring's NEFFA Festival.
Admission: $15-$20 as you're able. Students $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.
8 attendees
Contra dance with caller Liz Nelson, music by Missing Lynx
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: From Massachusetts, LIZ NELSON has called dances from Maine to Hawaii. Known for her clear teaching and warm, welcoming energy, Liz's steady presence helps people of all ages and experience levels find joy in the dance hall.
MISSING LYNX drives a dynamic dance engine. Prepare for fresh tunes from a variety of northeast folk repertoires as the duo brings expert execution, tight arrangements, gentle lift and smoothness to your dance! Featuring: Oliver Scanlon (fiddle, viola, mandolin, feet, vocals) and Alex Fortier (piano, keyboards).
Admission tonight: $20. Students $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.
3 attendees
Contra dance with multiple callers, music by Larry Unger & Tory Horner
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Main St, Chatham, NJ, USFREE DANCE TONIGHT. Join us in celebration of Ken C's birthday. 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: Leading the fun will be three callers: Bob Isaacs, Christie Riehl, and Karen Justin.
LARRY UNGER has been a full-time musician since 1984, playing guitar, banjo, and bass, while composing more than 5000 tunes played by his various bands Notorious, Big Table, The Reckless Ramblers, Uncle Gizmo, and Kaleidoscope. TORY HORNER is a fiddler based in Cambridge, MA. She got her start playing for dances in the Asheville music scene in 2023 and in 2024 moved to Boston and formed Here on the Hill. A graduate of Vassar College with a music degree focused on violin performance, Tory’s playing balances her technical skill with her sensitivity to the groove. She draws from her deep knowledge of contra dance to enthrall dancers and listeners alike with fiddling ranging from rhythmic and driving to groovy and flowing.
Admission tonight: NO CHARGE
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.
3 attendees
Contra dance with caller Sue Gola, music by Where's Fred?
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: A long-time contra dancer, SUE GOLA was drawn into calling contras in 2014. Since then, she has called at dances both large and small throughout the Northeast. Sue gives instructions concisely and clearly and has a friendly way about her that makes dancers feel welcome.
WHERE'S FRED features Robin Russell on piano, Michael Gorin on fiddle, and Helen White on flute and percussion.
Admission: $15-$20 as you're able. Students $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.
3 attendees
Past events
225
Group links
Organizers
Members
737
