Bands & Callers
Calling by Will Mentor
Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight. All the while, keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about the dancers!”
Calling by Koren Wake
Koren Wake has been dancing, loving, and obsessing about contra since she was a child. Originally from New England, she spent decades analyzing the art and flow of contra and developing a deep understanding of the dance before she finally picked up a microphone in Seattle, where she is now based. She quickly rose to prominence in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, charming bands and dance communities with her reassuring voice and clear communication. She loves nothing more than to help dancers discover the patterns and connections of well-crafted choreography. Koren’s primary goal as a caller is to combine exquisite dance selection with clear and accessible teaching in order to bring dancers of all skill levels together on the floor.
Music by Kingfisher
Kingfisher plays both traditional and modern contra dance music, and has been hailed as one of the most versatile bands on the road today. Jeff Kaufman anchors the duo from the piano and mandolin, along with a number of instruments he created himself, giving Cecilia Vacanti the opportunity to wow you with intense fiddling renditions of tunes across the spectrum.
Music by Natterjack
Natterjack is a Seattle-based dance band featuring Hayden Stern on fiddle, Ezra Jane Landsman on guitar and bouzouki, and Alex Sturbaum on button accordion, bouzouki, and bodhran. The trio lay down a complex, layered soundscape, and can still go quite hard when the situation requires.