Name: Holiday Dance! Contra Dancing with Bayside Travellers
Start: 2025-12-13T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-12-13T22:30:00-05:00
Location: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Traverse City

Holiday Dance! Contra Dancing with Bayside Travellers

Join Bayside Travellers for another contra dance! See FAQ's below!
The Bayside Travellers tradition of a special holiday dance in December continues! In addition to our normal wonderful evening of music and dance, we will also be having a potluck dinner and a special White Elephant dance!
We hold dances on the second Saturday of each month, October through June! Dances are currently scheduled to be at this location through June 2026! Put us on your calendar!
DETAILS:
Saturday, December 13th, 2025
Potluck Dinner 5:30pm
Beginner Workshop 7pm
Dances 7:30 - 10:30pm
POTLUCK INFORMATION:
Turkey will be provided, generously donated by Oryana Community Co-Op!
Please bring a dish to pass, and your own drink and table service! We will have extras available for those who forget.
Please remember to clean up your own tableware and take your dish home with you!
We will happily accept volunteers for help with clean-up!
WHITE ELEPHANT DANCE:
At some point in the evening, we will have our traditional White Elephant Dance! Bring a wrapped gift, something you no longer need, to be exchanged many times during the dance. You'll end up taking something home with you! (If you are able to bring an extra gift or two for people who may forget to bring one, that is very welcome as well!)
LOCATION:
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
1050 Peninsula Drive, Traverse City MI 49686.
TALENT:
Live music by Union Street String Band!
Dances Called by BOTH Pat Reeser and Dave Goodwin!
COST:
Dance By Donation!
A range of $10-20 / person is suggested, but all donation amounts are welcome.
Bayside Travellers is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers, and all donations received go directly into putting these dances together. It costs money to have dances, and we wouldn't be able to do this without you! We are able to accept cash or Paypal, but unfortunately not cards at this time.
Thank you for supporting traditional music & dance!
SNACKS:
Snacks to share during the dance are always welcome! There is a drinking fountain for water in the building, and we encourage you to bring your own reusable water bottle - we will no longer be providing water to reduce waste!
FAQ'S:
-What is Contra Dancing?-
Contra is a type of traditional folk partner dancing, similar to square dancing in many ways but set up in long lines down a hall (we often have some square dances thrown into the mix too!). There are no specific steps, only walking to the beat of the music in the order that the caller directs. Our dances always feature live music by local folk bands and artists!
-Do I Need to Know How to Dance?-
No! All dance experience levels are welcome, from beginner on up. We have a beginner workshop at 7pm that teaches you everything you need to know, and all dances are guided by the caller. If it's your first time, make sure to join us at 7pm for the workshop and you'll be good to go! If you can walk, you can contra dance!
-Do I Need a Partner?-
Contra is partner dancing, but you don't have to bring one of your own! We encourage groups, couples, and individuals to join us! If you don't have someone to dance with we will pair you up with someone, and it's very common to dance with different people through the night - you learn something from each person!