Swingin' Tern❤️Chloe Levine💜Contra Intuitive💙April 6💚A Dozen Dances

Chloe Levine

Contra Intuitive

This Saturday, April 6th

Saturday, April 6th 7:30—10:30pm

[Beginners’ Workshop at 7pm]

Chloe Levine & Contra Intuitive

Ryck Kaiser—fiddle; Peggy Kaiser—piano

Admission $15 [students $5]

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 200 Main Street, Chatham, NJ

All dances called to Larks & Robins

Vaccination and Masks are Optional

It may be contraintuitive that the contraband Contra Intuitive contains no contrabassoon, contrabass, or contrafogatto. In contradistinction, they contraposition contrapunctual contracts. Chloe’s contras contribute contrails of contentment. Contrarians are contraindicated.

Chloe Levine

Chloe Emma White Levine (she/her) is a Brooklyn-born caller and lifelong dancer currently based in Somerville, MA. In the ten years since she got started in a teen calling class with Atlanta dance leader Seth Tepfer, she’s traveled throughout the Northeast calling for communities of all shapes and sizes, bringing joy and warmth to every evening behind the mic. Now, she’s stoked to be back in her old stomping grounds making her Swingin’ Tern debut!

Contra Intuitive

Contra Intuitive features Ryck and Peggy Kaiser who combine their musical talents to provide lively dance music for contra dances, square dances, and civil war reenactment balls. Ryck has been fiddling for dances for over thirty years. His sound is southern Appalachian with a raggy, swinging feel. Expect to hear reels, rags, marches and a few jigs. Peggy is a retired music teacher and in addition to the piano, she plays the Appalachian mountain dulcimer. An experienced clinician, Peggy has taught workshops throughout Pennsylvania.

Collect the Whole Set!

Swingin' Tern's new booker Jon Justin, along with some help from Doug Heacock, has been working hard to fill our upcoming calendar with great talent. Three Double Dances are in your future along with a host of amazing evening dances. We can't wait to see everyone on the dance floor. How many dances will you be at?

Upcoming Dances at Tern

Our dances are held on the first and third Saturday year-round, plus NYEve. Regular dances run from 7:30 to 10:30pm with a beginners' lesson at 7pm.

Click here for complete information on our upcoming dances.

April 20 - Ridge Kennedy & Contra Rebels

May 4 - George Thomson & Smash the Windows

May 18 - Don Flaherty & Rhythmic Heart

June 1 - DOUBLE DANCE: Alex Deis-Lauby and Annie Kidwell & Grand Picnic

June 15 - Bob Isaacs & Box and String and Friends

July 6 - Sue Gola & Midnight on the Water

July 20 - Michael Karcher & TBA

August 3 - TBA

August 17 - Sunny Lawrence & Wry Bred

September 7 - DOUBLE DANCE: Gaye Fifer & The Orphans

September 21 - Carl Levine & French Toast

October 5 - DOUBLE DANCE: TBA & Sycamore

Swingin' Tern Video Vault

Eleven years ago to the day, we featured Perpetual eMotion with Bob Isaacs calling one of his grid squares.

You can find over 160 other contradance videos on Doug Heacock's Contradance Channel.

Order Your Name Button

The Swingin' Tern Name Buttons have arrived! What? You don't have one? Well, you're in luck! Name buttons will remain available for $3 apiece on an ongoing basis. You may order buttons online or at any dance.

Visit one of the 16 Restaurants within Two Blocks of the Dance

Click here for Printable Page of Nearby Restaurants

All Dances Called to Larks & Robins

Swingin' Tern Dances exclusively uses the non-gendered role terms Larks and Robins.

Click here for more info and FAQ on Larks & Robins

Bringing Back the Baked Goods

Back in Tern, BC [before Covid], we had quite the spread of tasty treats at the break. We welcome the return of home-baked goods [or your favorite store-bought treat] to share at the break—you'll be hungry after all the great dancing.

Please bring your own labeled water bottle which can be refilled at the kitchen sink.

Mass Transit from NYC and beyond

We are thrilled to once again have our dance easily accessible by mass transit. The Chatham train station is just two and a half blocks from the dance hall. Use New Jersey Transit from Penn Station in NYC and take the Morris & Essex line terminating at Morristown or Dover. Convenient train times to Chatham are lv 5:11/ar 6:15pm or lv 6:11/ar 7:15. Return trips leave Chatham at 10:35 and 11:35.

Updated Covid Policy

Proof of Covid Vaccination and Masking is no longer required.

Although vaccines are recommended, we are no longer checking vaccine status. Masks are optional in all dance lines.

Good Things to Know

Contra dancing is aerobic. Wear comfortable, cool clothing. To protect our wooden floor, please bring non-marking, non-street shoes to change into.

Volunteers are what make our dance run. Click the volunteer email link below to help out and get free admission to a future regular dance.

Make a gift to Tern by sponsoring a dance which is a great way to celebrate your special occasion. Click the Sponsor email link below.

Hungry before or after the dance? There are several restaurants within two blocks of the dance on Main Street: Indian, Italian, Pakistani, Chinese, Malaysian, Mexican, and American cuisines.