Venue-
Greig Hall, Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6AD
Please bring refreshments to share.
2026
Jan 2nd Ivan Aitken with Trip Hazard.
6th Feb - Geoff Cubitt with Willpower.
6th March -Charlotte Rich Griffin / Naomi Tiley with Contrary Faeries.
10th April -Charlie Turner with Hoik.
8th May - Diane Silver with Contra Sutra from USA
5th June -Jack Kanutin with Box of Frogs.
4th Sept - Liam Binley with Bearded Dragons.
2nd Oct -Seth Tepfer/ Katrina Killey with Sail Away Ladies. Mostly from USA
6th Nov - Lynne Render with Contrasaurus.
2027
8th Jan - Rhodri Davies with Vertical Expression
5th Feb - Nicola Scott with King Kontra String Band
5th March - Geoff Cubitt with Willpower
2nd April - Mark Elvins with Nozzy
14th May - Will Mentor with Audrey Leigh Jaber and Ali Messer
4th June - Naomi Tiley with Box of Frogs
3rd September - Liam Binley with Matt Norman, Paul Hutchinson and Vic Smith
8th October - caller tba with Contrasaurus
12th November - Lynne Render with Contrary Faeries
Dances run from 7-45 to 10-45 pm.
The charge is £9.00 for paid advance booking (ring Meg on 07864 926561) or £10 on the door. Students £4.00. You may pay more as a supporter.
Newcomers to Contradancing
Newcomers to contra dancing are welcomed and are vital to the contradance movement. Dancing is done with a partner in company with many other couples to form longways sets. This can be quite daunting due to the fear of mucking it up for the other dancers. The thing to remember is everyone else has been in this situation and will be sympathetic; we are only there to have fun and people will be helpful. There is a lot of repetition with the dance turns lasting about 30 seconds, there being between 10 and 20 turns to the complete dance. You will very soon remember the simple moves required. All dances are walked through beforehand and the caller will prompt you as required throughout the dance. If you are new and inexperienced try to arrive at the beginning and mention to Meg that you are new and nervous and she will ensure the caller is aware of your concern so they can keep their eye on you. It's best to get up near the band end if you can to make it easier for the caller. If you have done a bit of barn dancing you will already know some terms like forward and back and swing.
About us
Alcester Contras are organized by Meg, an enthusiast of folk dancing and a nationally known folk dance musician. The dances are non profit making with all proceeds used to pay the hire of hall, band and caller.
Alcester is in Warwickshire and lies on the A46 between Stratford upon Avon and Evesham and is easily approached using this road from the M40 (J15), Coventry area, and from the southwest by leaving the M5 at J9. From Birmingham and the M42 (J3) use the A435.
