Spring American Contra

Name: Spring American Contra
Start: 2026-05-11T15:00:00.000000Z
End: 2026-05-15T09:00:00.000000Z
Location: Halsway - National Centre for Folk Arts

Our much loved annual midweek Spring American Contra course is hosted by Meg Griffin, with a great all-American team of caller Diane Silver and music from Contra Sutra (USA).

There will be dance and music workshops in the mornings, afternoons are free for you to explore this lovely area, and there are dances every evening. This is a really popular week so early booking is advised.

Who is it for?

Dancers of all levels of experience.

“This has been the best American contra week I’ve attended, very enjoyable, excellent dancing and great company. Great to learn from Americans, and Meg is a wonderful host.” Participant

The Team

Meg Griffin is a familiar face at Halsway Manor, and the perfect, friendly and knowledgeable host to make sure you get the best from your break at Halsway!

Diane Silver - Caller

Diane will transport you to contra dance heaven in no time with her careful attention to dancers’ pace and progress, her ability to think on her feet and her clear, efficient teaching of higher-level dances. Attend even one contra dance session with Diane Silver and you will see why we invited her down!

Contra Sutra (USA)

Contra Sutra began in 2009 with some wild ideas and a bunch of Dave Bartley tunes. Over the years and tours they’ve rotated fiddlers and percussionists as Dave, Marni, and their improvisational wackitude, approach to matching tunes to dances, and deep dive into Dave’s ouvre continue to define the ineffable Contra Sutra experience.

Dave Bartley is a dynamic and versatile dance guitarist/etceteraist and tunesmith. He has previously appeared at Chippenham Folk Festival with KGB, Roguery, and Bag o’Tricks. https://davebartleymusic.com

A brilliant fiddler, Ben Schreiber has rocked the contra dance world with Uncle Farmer, the Dam Beavers, numerous other groups, and has written some great tunes! https://www.bschreiber.com/

Marni Rachmiel has been playing winds for Contra & ECD wherever she’s been let to since 1990. Now that she’s re-matriated to Seattle, Contra Sutra rides again!

Courses

Dance

Arrival: Mon 11 May 2026 / 4pm
Departure: Fri 15 May 2026 / 10am

Tags: Spring American Contra

Pricing

Full board Including accommodation, tuition and meals
Single in ensuite room	£460
Shared in ensuite room	£420
Single in non-ensuite room	£420
Shared in non-ensuite room (exclusive use for you plus your partner or friend[s])	£380
A single bed in a dormitory style room (room 1, 3, 6 or 11)	£340
Camping Including tuition and meals
Per person	£290
Course only Includes tuition and lunch and dinner
Non-resident	£240

We offer bursaries to those aged 35 and under, for whom finance is a barrier to attending a course. Apply here!

Arrival & Departure

Unless otherwise specified, our midweek courses check-in from 4pm on a Monday and check out by 10am on Friday, and our weekend courses check in from 4pm on a Friday and depart on Sunday by 4pm. Dinner on the first night is usually at 6.30pm, and in general, no formal teaching or introductory sessions take place until after this.

Bring a friend

You can book on a course at Halsway and bring a friend who can explore the area while using Halsway as a base for meals and accommodation. Halsway Manor is in the Quantock Hills (England’s first designated National Landscape (formally AONB). We’re just minutes away from the West Somerset Railway (Britain's longest steam railway), a short drive or bus ride from Somerset’s Jurassic coast (ideal for fossil hunting), and surrounded by dramatic scenery and changing landscapes, from the wild hills of Exmoor to the flat expanse of the Somerset Levels.

Programme

Visit

Artist Development

Support Us

About Halsway

Who is it for?

The Team

Contra Sutra (USA)

Sign up for our newsletter