Update as COVID-19 Spreads

Keeping everybody safe

As COVID-19 spreads throughout the Northeast, it's inevitable that Maine will see cases soon.

We're monitoring the situation carefully and paying close attention to CDC and World Health Organization recommendations.

Your safety is our top priority -- and the last thing we want is to negatively impact members of our community who are at-risk because we selfishly wanted to dance together!

So, here's what you should know:

We will make decisions regarding future dances thoughtfully and will keep all of you informed. AND, we strongly urge you to take the following precautions when attending a dance:

  1. STAY HOME if you're sick or have been sick in the last week.

  2. STAY HOME if you've been on a cruise or in a location with ongoing community spread in the past 14 days (Italy, China, Iran, South Korea, Washington State, California, New York). If you're in MA and NH where a few cases have been found, consider not traveling to us.

  3. If you're immunocompromised or otherwise at higher risk of contracting the disease, please consult with your doctor and make the best decision for you. People with chronic medical conditions and older adults are at higher risk. Consider staying home for your own safety.

  4. WASH YOUR HANDS before the dance, often during the event, and after the event. We'll have the kitchen open for hand washing. Use hand sanitizer (available at the top and bottom of the hall) throughout the evening.

  5. Cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue you immediately discard. Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.

  6. Don’t touch your face. If you need to touch your face, use a tissue and throw it away immediately.

  7. Sanitize your phone, devices, water bottle, etc. that you use at the event before and after the event.

Again, we'll be monitoring and making decisions regarding events ongoing. We'll keep you informed.

Thank you for your support keeping everyone safe and healthy!

Welcome New PICD Leaders!

These are the folks who help keep our dance community awesome.

Julia Fitzgerald, Jennifer Melillo, Graceson Cyr, Jim Beckwith, and Shane Myers have all joined recently the bevy of PICD dance managers. See them soon on stage making announcements, paying our so-lucky-to-have-them performers, and making everything goes smoothly.

 
 
See The Full Team

Spots Available: Calling 101 on Jan 5 and Jan 12

MORE INFO & REGISTRATION
 
Students making contra dance cards at Calling 101 on December 15, 2019

Students making contra dance cards at Calling 101 on December 15, 2019

 

There’s still room for more dancers to learn how to be a contra dance caller! On Sundays, January 5 and January 12, 2020, Dugan Murphy is hosting a 5-hour class. Sign up for the date that works for you!

If you are a contra dancer who has zero experience calling contra dances but you want to know how it works, this experience for you.

Next Open Band Night: March 12

 
The Pic'd Up Orchestra 12/20/18

The Pic'd Up Orchestra 12/20/18

 

The sixth open band night at Portland Intown Contra Dance will be Thursday, March 12, 2020. Whether you are just starting to learn your instrument or have been working on it for decades, there’s a place for you in The Pic’d Up Orchestra.

 

Next open band night: Thursday, March 12, 2020

Piano - Neil Pearlman

Fiddle - Clara Stickney

Fearless Leader - Emily Troll

Other Instruments - YOU!

 

There will be a practice party about a week in advance of the gig - not absolutely necessary for you to attend, but helpful if you want to play with the band on March 12.

More information about the open band, including a list of tunes they play, is on the open band page of this website.

To find out about the date and location of the practice party, email Emily at etroll@wesleyan.edu

 

The last open band night on October 10, 2019

 

Oct 26 Caller Workshop a Success

Eight callers got together with musician Clara Stickney on Saturday, October 26 to discuss and practice best practices for callers working with musicians to achieve great experiences for contra dancers. Thanks to Clara the workshop was a success - so much fun and also so helpful for the callers who attended!

 
 

This workshop was sponsored by PICD and designed by Clara Stickney, Dela Murphy, and Dugan Murphy.

Caller Workshop on Working with Musicians Scheduled October 26

 
clara.jpg
 

Musician Clara Stickney, in collaboration with callers Dela Murphy and Dugan Murphy, has designed a workshop that PICD is offering to callers from the local area and further afar.

Improve your calling skills by learning more about contra music and musicians!

Saturday, October 26, 2019

10AM-3PM

Hosted at the home of Dela and Dugan Murphy above Heritage Seaweed on India Street in Portland, Maine

Veggie chili and vegan cornbread included

$35 advance registration required

Limited to 12 participants

Click here for more information and to register.

Special House Concert with The Faux Paws Monday, October 7

JOIN US FOR A HOUSE CONCERT WITH THE FAUX PAWS!

7:30 p.m. ‘til 9:30 p.m.

20 bucks suggested donation goes straight to the musicians

Above Heritage Seaweed at 61 India Street, Portland, Maine

THE MUSICIANS:

With instrumentation that includes saxophone, banjo, fiddles, mandolin, foot percussion, guitar, and voices, the Faux Paws (Noah VanNorstrand, Andrew VanNorstrand, and Chris Miller) pack a vast amount of music and heart into a small package. A typical set shifts from intricately arranged compositions to completely spontaneous bursts of improvisation, but the music is always infectious, taking the audience along for a wild ride.

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING:

This concert will be at the home of Dugan Murphy and Dela Murphy above Heritage Seaweed at 61 India Street. For directions, use Google Maps. Find the door with signage about the concert. Metered parking in the area is free after 6PM.

 
 

Dance Outside Friday, September 13

Free dance for regulars and walk-ups.

 
Photo by Emma Hindall

Photo by Emma Hindall

 

This is your opportunity to spring contra dancing on your unsuspecting friends and relatives. Just walk by and join in!

This event is a collaboration with Friends of Congress Square Park. The dancing will be on Friday, September 13 from 6 'til 8 PM in Congress Square Park, located on the corner of Congress and High Streets downtown.

 
FOCSP.jpg
 

 

We have an awesome lineup of talented folks:

Katy Heine calling with Lake Effect

Lake Effect (Chuck Abell, Matt Sloboda, and Rowan Wolf) from Rochester, NY will be performing, joined by caller Katy Heine from Ithaca, NY. They'll also be performing for us for our regular Thursday-night contra dance on September 12.See you in the park!