10/03/2026
Thank you The Snyder & Union County Times for the great article about our upcoming event.
Special Workshop & Evening Dance to Feature Contra and English Country Dance
Countryside Contra Dance and Bloomsburg English Country Dancers are sponsoring a special workshop and dance event on Saturday, October 10, at the Donald Heiter Center, located at 100 N. 5th Street in Lewisburg. Registration for the workshop and for the evening dance is required. Registration information will be available through Facebook for either group or by emailing [email protected].
Gaye Fifer, a nationally known and accomplished caller from Pittsburgh, will lead an afternoon workshop for English Country Dance and Contra Dance and an evening program with a mix of both. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making dances particularly satisfying for dancers. Her instructions are clear and concise. An easy smile and delightful sense of humor are part of Gaye's relaxed, pleasant style at the microphone.
Live music will be provided by Bruce Young from State College and Jill Smith from Lancaster. Live music is the heartbeat of an English country dance and Contra Dances, turning simple walking steps into a shared experience.
The English Country Dance and Contra Dance workshop will be from 2 to 5 pm. The evening dance featuring a mix of English Country Dance and Contra Dance will start at 7 pm and run till 10 pm. There will be a dinner break between the workshop and evening dance. Dinner will be on your own.
Admission to the workshop is $10 for adults, $5 for students age 17 and up (with student ID) and free for those 16 and under. Admission to the dance is $15 for adults, $5 for students age 17 and up (with student ID) and free for those 16 and under. You can sign up for both the workshop and the evening dance for the reduced fee of $20. ($10 for students).
English Country Dancing is a traditional social folk dance style that originated in England and dates to the mid-1500s. All dances will be taught and called by Gaye Fifer. The workshop will be an introduction to the figures called. The evening dance will build on that workshop.
Contra Dance uses figures or patterns that are similar to square dancing but unlike square dancing, any even number of people can dance because Contra Dancing is done in long lines of two people instead of squares of 8 people. It has mixed origins from English country dance, Scottish country dance, and French dance styles in the 17th century. Sometimes described as New England folk dance or Appalachian folk dance, contra dances can be found around the world.
Countryside Contra Dancers hosts dances on the second Saturday of every month from September through May. All dances are held at the Heiter Center in Lewisburg.
Caption
Gaye Fifer, a nationally known caller will lead both an afternoon workshop for English Country Dance and Contra Dance from 2-5 pm and an evening program beginning at 7 pm with a mix of both on Saturday, October 10.
