Chicory House contra dance set for Sept. 22

If you’re a fan of contra dancing, circle Sunday, Sept. 22, on your calendar. That’s the day a committee from the Chicory House Contra Dance Series has planned an afternoon dance, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the St. Faustina Parish Center, 520 South Hanover St., Nanticoke.

Music will be by the band the Contra Rebels — with Henry Koretzky, Todd Clewell and Barb Schmid playing guitar and fiddles. Caller Bob Nicholson will teach all the dances. No experience is necessary.

If you don’t know what contra dancing is …. well, some of its movements, like a “do-si-do” or “join hands and circle left” are similar to square dancing. But it’s more flexible because you don’t need groups of eight to dance.

Chicory House contra dances were a monthly event in the Wyoming Valley for almost 30 years, from December 1990 through March 2020. They were held at the Church of Christ Uniting in Kingston, St. Therese’s Church in Shavertown, Wyoming Seminary Lower School in Forty Fort and other locations.

During those 30 years I wrote several stories about the dances, with some regulars telling me it was their favorite day of the month and some newcomers saying they felt at home right away because the experienced dancers were friendly and eager to help them learn the steps.

But the local dance series didn’t resume after Covid — until perhaps now. If there is sufficient interest at the Sept. 22 dance, organizers likely will be able to bring back the series.

In the meantime, some diehard local dancers have traveled to Bethlehem, Honesdale or even further afield to find contra dances.

“I’m excited to have a local dance again that is close by,” dancer John Ochman of West Pittston said via email, along with a promise to distribute a flyer that says: “Please join us for the return of a fun and family-oriented event in our first dance since Covid” along with details of the Sept. 22 event

Contra dancing did make two brief appearances in the Wyoming Valley after the pandemic — in May 2023 and May 2024 at the Fine Arts Fiesta in Wilkes-Barre, with experienced dancers taking part and encouraging onlookers to join in.

For the Sept. 22 dance, people are welcome to attend as individuals, as couples, as groups of friends, or as entire families. Children as young as 5 have been known to catch on very quickly. There is no admission fee but the non-profit Chicory House will gratefully accept donations.

And if you want to come and just listen to the music, that’s OK. But you might not be able to resist joining in the dance.

Editor’s Note: Times Leader Features Writer Mary Therese Biebel is one of the organizers of this dance.