Nov 21: Contra Fusion & Joe DePaolo
2025-11-21 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
Contra Fusion & Joe DePaolo

Contra Fusion is:

Roger Reep, saxophone
Darren Burgess, guitar
Andrew Driscoll, violin
Diane Schulbach, keyboard

Caller Joe DePaolo
Times:
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Dance Venue:
United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
Schedule:
6:00pm - 7:00 - Setup
7:00pm - 9:45pm - Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

Alice Raibourn & The Mystic Gorillas
2025-12-19 19:00 - 22:00 | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
Alice Raibourne & The Mystic Gorillas
Contra dance caller Alice Raibourn
The Mystic Gorillas are:

Roger Eudy on guitar
Buz Sibley on fiddle
Lloyd Baldwin on banjo and fiddle

Times:
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Dance Venue:
United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
Schedule:
6:00pm - 7:00 - Setup
7:00pm - 9:45pm - Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

Jonathan King & Coral Riff
2026-01-16 19:00 - 22:00 | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
Jonathan King & Coral Riff

Coral Riff is:

Sarah Mitchell – flute/ penny whistle, hammered dulcimer, concertina, foot percussion
Kathie Aagaard – fiddle
Wes Maluk – tenor banjo, mandolin, percussion
Sherry Mattos – keyboard

Times:
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Dance Venue:
United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
Schedule:
6:00pm - 7:00 - Setup
7:00pm - 9:45pm - Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

G.O.D.S. Board Meeting 11 February 2026
2026-02-11 19:30 - 21:30 | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
G.O.D.S. Board Meeting Wednesday 11 February

Want to know who pulls the levers that make contra dances happen?
Ever had ideas or suggestions that you wish could be heard?
Are there bands/callers that you’d like to dance to more?

Here’s your chance to learn how the Gainesville Oldtime Dance Society’s wheels turn. And your chance to introduce improvements. And it’s fun, too!

Our next quarterly public meeting:
When: Wednesday 11 February @ 7:30 pm
Where: United Church of Gainesville (West Wing), 1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville

Agenda items:

Treasurer’s Report
Talent Wrangler report (when Diane arrives)
Thoughts on a dance weekend for late 2026/early 2027
Al Rogers’s Memorial Dance

Decorating committee
Food/snacks
Clothing swap/fund raiser?
Scholarships?

February Dance:

Valentine’s theme?
Decorations
Food/snacks

Recruiting new board members
Recruiting young(er) folks

Janie and the Fine Tuners with JoLaine calling
2026-02-20 19:00 - 22:00 | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
Janie and the Fine Tuners
featuring caller JoLaine

Janie and the Fine Tuners is a professional contra dance band led by world-traveling traditional musician Janie Rothfield. The ensemble is known for its high-energy performances at dances across the United States, including regular appearances in Chicago and Virginia.
Janie and the Fine Tuners is:

Janie Rothfield: Fiddle and banjo
Allan Carr: Guitar and vocals
Bronwyn Chilette: Bass

Times:
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Dance Venue:
United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
Schedule:
6:00pm - 7:00 - Setup
7:00pm - 9:45pm - Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

Bill Paine & Friends with caller Kevin Shepherd
2026-03-20 19:00 - 22:00 | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
Bill Paine & Friends with caller Kevin Shepherd

Bill Paine & Friends is:

Bill Paine on mandolin;
Vickie Frazier on banjo;
Kevin Moran on fiddle.

Times:
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Dance Venue:
United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
Schedule:
6:00pm - 7:00 - Setup
7:00pm - 9:45pm - Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

Al Rogers Memorial Dance with Vicki Morrison & The Wind That Shakes the Barley
2026-05-03 14:00 - 17:00 | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
Al Rogers Memorial Dance
featuring The Wind that Shakes the Barley
A celebration of the contra and English country dances that Al Rogers loved to dance and call
Vicki Morrison will guide you through both easy and challenging contra dances.

Annette Merritt and Randy Thorp will call some of Al’s favorite English country dances.

The Wind That Shakes The Barley is:
• Bill Dudley – guitar
• Kathie Aagaard – fiddle
• Sarah Mitchell – flute, hammered dulcimer, penny whistle, percussion
• Wes Maluk – mandonlin, banjo
Callers:

Vicki Morrison
Randy Thorp
Annette Merritt

A celebration of life for the late Al Rogers, Dance Angel extraordinaire and friend to every dancer he ever met. We invite all contra and English country dancers who may have known the late great Al Rogers to join us in our annual celebration of the dances that Al loved to call and dance to.

If you knew Al Rogers (and even if you didn’t know Al), be sure to circle the date on your calendar: Sunday 3 May from 2 to 5 pm at United Church of Gainesville.

United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
Times:
2:00 – 5:00 pm
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
This event is a fundraiser so that Al’s gift grows and continues for years to come. The suggested donation for this special dance event is $20, though, as always, no one will be turned away.
$10-20 (ages 26+)
$5-10 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

Katie's Contradiction & Jonathan King
2026-05-15 19:00 - 22:00 | Dancing Fish of Lake Santa Fe, 24800 SR-26, Melrose, 32666, United States
G.O.D.S. contra dance at The Dancing Fish
with Katie’s Contradiction & Jonathan King

Katie’s Contradiction is:

Pete Sucsy on banjo;
Eleta Sucsy on penny whistle;
Gary Zimmerman on fiddle;
Tim Stevens on guitar; and
Bill Paine on mandolin.

Jonathan L. King will be our caller.
Times:
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Dance Venue:
The Dancing Fish of Lake Santa Fe
24800 SR-26, Melrose, FL 32666
Schedule:
6:00pm - 7:00 - Setup
7:00pm - 9:45pm - Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

GODS 19 June Summer Solstice Contra Dance
2026-06-19 19:00 - 22:00 | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
G.O.D.S. 19 June Summer Solstice Contra Dance
Are you an oracle, astrologer, tarot reader, palm reader, diviner, mystic, or seeker?
Our summer solstice-themed dance of 19 June will gather more than dancers: astrologers, palm readers, tarot card readers, and kindred spirits will be setting up their stalls, sharing their knowledge, and adding a little “contra magic” to the evening.
All are welcome to join the circle, no partner or experience necessary. Come for the music, the movement, the solstice energy, and the cosmic joy of community dancing as caller John Rogers leads us through an evening where every turn, swing, and promenade may feel written in the stars.
Featuring caller John Rogers

Band – Just In Time* Andrew Cox on violin;* Dan Peterson on bass;* Diane Schulbach on keyboard; and* Dan Hardwick on cello.
Times:
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Dance Venue:
United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
Schedule:
6:00pm - 7:00 - Setup
7:00pm - 9:45pm - Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

Vicki Morrison and In Cahoots
2026-12-18 19:00 - 22:00 | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32603, United States
Vicki Morrison and In Cahoots

Vicki Morrison of Tallahassee is a beloved contra dance caller whose warmth, clarity, and deep love for the tradition shine through every dance she leads. Known for her thoughtful programing and inclusive style, Vicki fosters a welcoming atmosphere that encourages both new and experienced dancers to connect with the joy of the music and movement.

In Cahoots is a fixture in the Tallahassee contra dance scene, playing regularly at the Tally Contra Dance.

In Cahoots is:

Andrea Stanley
Steve Hodges
Laura Gayle Green

Times:
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Dance Venue:
United Church of Gainesville
1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32603
Schedule:
6:00pm - 7:00 - Setup
7:00pm - 9:45pm - Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suggested Donation:
$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
• This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
• No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
• No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
• Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.
