Toronto Contra Dance

05/13/2026

Caller Alexandra Deis-Lauby and band Les Quartes Patates led the dancing for the TCD's 2026 Spring Thaw.

Video: Simon Chambers
https://www.youtube.com//videos

Caller Alexandra Deis-Lauby and band Les Quartes Patates led the dancing for the TCD's 2026 Spring Thaw.

05/13/2026

In Owen Sound, June 6th is the year end dance celebration with potluck snacks at break! The musicians will be Maureen Keating and Dan MacDonald with caller, Lyn Allan.

Centre, 890 4th Ave E, Owen Sound

05/13/2026

Thanks so much to everyone who was able to share the weekend at our Spring Thaw!

It's a time when people have a chance to look past their differences and share in an act of togetherness and joy! Toronto Contra Dance is so happy to provide a place and space where people from the GTA and beyond can "balance and swing" together.

Special thanks to Alexandra Deis-Lauby for the spectacular calling, to Les Quatre Patates from la Belle Ville de Montréal for bringing so much colour to our dance as well as the local trio, Adam Iredale-Gray, Jon Cannon and Áine Schryer-O’Gorman!

As we are wrapping up the season soon, we'd like to thank the TCD Committee for making all this happen!
Aaaaaannnnd...
- all of the dancers that came, from near and far
- Floor managers - Elly, Gary, Annie, Jennie and Wilfred
- Sound crew - Mitch, Mark, Natalie and Neil
- Photos and video - Simon
- Lights / Decorations - Simon, Julia, Wilfred
- Snack Crew - Karen, Elisa, Elly, Maxine, Annie, Jennie, Wilfred
- Jocelyne for all of the wonderful samosas
- Maxine for hosting Les Quatre Patates and Alexandra
- Scott for booking the bands and caller
- Walter for chauffeuring Alexandra to and from the airport

Everyone who helped in any way - from showing up early to help setup, refilling the water jugs when they were running low to sitting out a dance at the door.

Until next year!!

05/08/2026

Are you ready to attend Spring Thaw? The musicians sure are! 40 minutes until the first balance and swing!!

05/02/2026

Exciting news from our friends at Ottawa Contra Dance.

Registration has opened for Ottawa’s Hey Fever! contra dance weekend October 30-November 1, 2026!

It promises to be a high energy, twirling, foot stomping weekend featuring bands The Engine Room and Calico, led by callers Liz Nelson and Adina Gordon! As usual, larks & robins role terms will be used.

We anticipate another sold out weekend, so get your tickets early! Early bird registration ends June 30th.

Don’t forget your Halloween costume for the evening dance on Saturday, October 31st (optional, of course)! 👻🎃💀

https://ottawacontra.ca/heyfever/

La période d'inscription est ouverte pour « Hey Fever! » - la fin de semaine de contra américaine à Ottawa qui aura lieu du 30 octobre au 1 novembre 2026 !

Un week-end festif et dynamique en perspective ! Ça promet!! Avec les groupes The Engine Room et Calico, animés par Liz Nelson et Adina Gordon au call. Comme d'habitude, les termes Larks & Robins seront utilisés.

Nous prévoyons un autre week-end à guichets fermés, alors achetez vos billets tôt ! Billets à rabais en pré-vente jusqu'au 30 juin.

N'oubliez pas vôtre déguisement d'Halloween pour la danse samedi soir le 31 octobre (facultatif, bien sûr!) 👻🎃💀

https://ottawacontra.ca/heyfever/

04/28/2026

May 8–9, 2026
Get ready for a full weekend of dancing, connection, and incredible music!

✨ Featuring:
Caller Alexandra Deis-Lauby
with music by Les Quatre Patates
plus Adam Iredale-Gray, Áine Schryer-O’Gorman, and Jon Cannon bringing the heat all weekend long!

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and start getting excited—Spring Thaw is coming.
👉 https://www.tcdance.org/spring-thaw-2026

04/28/2026

April 25th Toronto Contra Dance — what a night!

Last weekend threw a lot at us — Gardiner closures, Jays and Raptors games, on top of all the usual Toronto traffic chaos. That made it extra special to see so many of you make it out and bringing your energy and connection. ❤️

Huge thanks to Tom & Myra for fantastic calling across both dances (afternoon TECD and evening TCD). And a big cheer to Daev Clysdale & Áine Schryer-O’Gorman for keeping the music lively and flowing from start to finish!

💖 Behind-the-scenes heroes:
🔹 Floor Managers: Aili and everyone who jumped in to help
🔹 Jocelyne — for the ever-popular samosas
🔹 Mark — for keeping the sound running smoothly

(Apologies if we missed anyone — it truly takes a village!)

📢 Volunteer Callout:
Toronto Contra Dance runs on community heart and helping hands. Want to join the team? Send us a message or chat with a floor manager — we’d love to have you! ❤️
👉 www.tcdance.org

🗓 Next Dance: Spring Thaw! May 8 & 9
https://www.tcdance.org/spring-thaw-2026

04/14/2026

April 11th Double Toronto Contra Dance — what a day!

Huge thanks to Bev Bernbaum for fantastic calling across both dances. And a big cheer to Adam Iredale-Gray & Elise Boeur for keeping the music lively and flowing from start to finish! 🎶

💖 Behind-the-scenes heroes:
🔹 Floor Managers: Cathy, Maxine, and Annie — plus everyone who helped the day run smoothly
🔹 Cathy — for clear, upbeat announcements
🔹 Don, Natalie, and Mark — for steady sound all day and night

(Apologies if we missed anyone — it truly takes a village!)

📢 Volunteer Callout:
Toronto Contra Dance runs on community heart and helping hands. Want to join the team? Send us a message or chat with a floor manager — we’d love to have you! ❤️
👉 www.tcdance.org

🗓 Next Dance: April 25 — Mask-mandatory
(We alternate between mask-mandatory and mask-optional dances.)

03/29/2026

March 28th Double Toronto Contra Dance — what a day!

Huge thanks to Jennie Worden for expert calling across both dances, including some delightfully challenging afternoon material. And a big cheer to Tom Santarsiero, Alex Fortier, and Cat Sloboda for carrying the music beautifully from start to finish!

💖 Behind-the-scenes heroes:
🔹 Floor Managers: Cathy, Julia, and Wilfred — plus everyone who helped the day run smoothly
🔹 Wilfred — for clear, upbeat announcements
🔹 Jocelyn — for keeping the samosas flowing 🥟
🔹 Mark — for steady, all-day and night sound

(Apologies if we missed anyone — it takes a village!)

📢 Volunteer Callout:
Toronto Contra Dance runs on community heart and helping hands. Want to join the team? Send us a message or chat with a floor manager — we’d love to have you! ❤️
👉 www.tcdance.org

🗓 Next Dance: April 11 (another double dance!) — Mask-optional
(We alternate between mask-mandatory and mask-optional dances.)

01/29/2026

And yet another clip from the January 24th Toronto Contra Dance! Here's a stage view of Tom Santarsiero (guitar and foot percussion) + Saskia Tomkins (nyckelharpa).

Next Toronto Contra Dance - February 14th with Jon Cannon + Saskia Tomkins plus open band musicians!
This will be a mask-mandatory dance.