have all played at Queer Contra Dance Camp previously,
Aaron (piano, concertina, foot percussion) with Giant Robot Nano and
Frost and Fire,
Anna (clarinet) with
Elixir, and Emily (fiddle) with
Anadama.
After playing together in various gigs on the east coast,
they all wanted to come back to Aptos just as much as we want to have them.
Together they can make the most of their richly eclectic background, exuberant energy, and musical passion.
bring their eponymous hats and mean musical skills from Illinois to our dance floor.
Inspired by wide ranging styles including Cajun, Celtic, and old-time,
Ben Smith (fiddle & banjo), Miriam Larson (flute & jawharp),
and Matt Turino (fiddle & guitar), create an organic blend with grit, pulse, and sweetness.
Their twisted tunes, long lonesome sounds, and kickin’ grooves have been delighting dancers for the past ten years.
Chris Ricciotti
is the original gender-free contra caller.
Chris single-handedly founded
LCFD,
the first regular gender-free contra dance.
Chris is still a leader in the community and has only become more beloved as a caller.
A longtime friend and supporter of Queer Contra Dance Camp,
Chris has contributed to our traditions of high tea, pop contra, and English Country Dance in the past.
Now Chris is back as a contra caller to share Chris's breadth of dance knowledge, innovative spirit, and passion with us.
is a contra dance caller and choreographer from New York City.
She’s been calling dances for the last 10 years around the Northeast
and across the country at festivals, weekends, and regular dances alike.
She writes dances that are both compelling and idiomatic,
is an advocate for safer and more inclusive dance spaces,
and ran our popular “Folk Singing for Today’s Folks” workshop at Queer Contra Dance Camp in 2018.
This year, she’s back to spread more joy, dance, and unrepentant puns.
Nick Cuccia
has provided dancer- and musician-friendly sound at numerous events throughout
northern California during the past twenty-five years,
including BACDS Family Week, English Week, Fall Frolick, and Playford Balls and camps;
NBCDS Mad Robin Balls, SCDS Echo Summit weekend, RSCDS-SF Valentines' Ball and Asilomar Scottish Country Dance Weekend & Workshop,
and every Queer Contra Dance Camp.
Nick also calls contras and English country dances throughout central and northern California.