Name: April Contra with The Lost Keys
Start: 2026-04-11T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Woodlawn Elementary

Join us for a Contra Dance at Woodlawn Elementary School in Lawrence, Kansas.
Doors 6:30
Lesson 7:00 (don't be late!)
Dance begins 7:30
Open to both beginners and newcomers without experience. Those new to contra should attend the free lesson at 6:45. All ages welcome!
Our dances are social, inclusive, fun, and beginner friendly. No experience? No partner? No problem!
We strongly recommend that newcomers and beginners arrive at 6:45 for the lesson. The lesson is fun and an invaluable experience - you will enjoy the rest of the dance much more after the lesson.
All dances are taught and prompted, and feature live music.
You’ll hear our callers use gender free terms like Larks and Robins. Larks dance on the left side of a pair of dancers; Robins dance on the right side.
Contra dancing is fun and vigorous! Wear comfortable clothes and clean shoes. Be aware of damaging grit, especially in boots, please, no black marking heels.
Flexible admission rates for in-person dances:
Adult admission pay what you can between $8 to $15+ to help support our dances.
Adults just listening (not dancing) $5
Students $5
Children under 16 $free
Don’t miss another dance opportunity! Sign up on our email list to get twice a month reminders of all upcoming events on our website.
On our website, check out our tips for beginners, complete with videos of lessons.
Band: The Lost Keys
The Lost Keys are a family string band from Lawrence, KS. Renowned fiddlers, artists, and multi-instrumentalists Tricia Spencer and Howard Rains of the duo Spencer & Rain lead the band which features three of their kids: Isaiah Sibi on fiddle and guitar, Orion Spencer-Speirer on banjo-uke, and Ru Yother on bass. The Spencer family has been in Douglas county for over 150 years and has been playing music in these parts almost just as long, making them one of the oldest fiddling families in the country!
Caller: Jim Hemphill
His wife,Mariah, and he found contra dance in 2002. They quickly fell in love with the dance style and the wonderful people in the contra dance community. In 2008 they moved to rural southeast Missouri, far from any contra dance communities. They decided to learn to call and teach contra dances in hopes of starting a contra dance community closer to home. He found he enjoyed calling contra dances almost as much as he enjoys dancing. Along the way he also became fascinated with the patterns and flows of the dance and began writing new contra dances. He will try out the Lawrence Barn Stomper, at the dance in April.
When he is not on the dance floor, he enjoys taking care of his 70 acre nature preserve, foraging and cooking with wild edibles and providing entertainment for his cats Stormy and Onyx.
Photography:
Our photographer, of Denis Nicholson Photography, may be on site at this dance. He will post photos after the event and will have prints available through his web site. These are fun reminders of a magical evening and make great gifts and holiday surprises for the dancer in your life!