Who is PICD?
Portland Intown Contra Dance is a dynamic, growing community of people in Portland, Maine who really love to dance and really like spending time with each other. We're creative, zesty, welcoming, loving, respectful, and delightful. We're tons of volunteers, a handful of core organizers, and a whole network of people we impact by spreading our joy.
We take our values seriously and have fun with just about everything else. Here's what we're up to:
Our contra dance strives to be welcoming and affirming to all people.
We do our best to create a safe and respectful space together, encouraging healthy self-expression and high quality communication.
We cherish our local dance community and act in ways that nourish it.
As members of the broader Maine and North American contra dance communities, we honor our roles in preserving and evolving contra traditions.
And we have fun. Lots and lots of fun.
Troy Bennett of the Bangor Daily News dropped in on us in January 2017 and made a pretty video and article about the dance. Read it here.
Board But Not Boring.
Every contra dance series is independently organized. As for us, Portland Intown Contra Dance is a nonprofit whose mission is to enrich lives and cultivate a vibrant community through dance. Our board members are:
Dugan Murphy, President
Open Position!, Secretary
Dela Murphy, Treasurer
We are a group affiliate of the Country Dance & Song Society (CDSS). CDSS is a national organization that promotes participatory music, song, and dance from England and North America by educating, marketing, and creating connections between participants who bring these traditions to life.
Volunteer With Us.
Bunches of really wonderful folks work together to make PICD happen. We have plenty of opportunities and would love to have you join in:
You can volunteer at events — one time or many times! Managing dance nights, greeting people at the door, bringing popsicles and plugging in the fans on warm nights… every role is important and appreciated. You dance free the night you volunteer!
Volunteers with space in their home can host traveling performers! Many of the artists who perform for us come a long way to get here and they need a place to stay after the dance. Everybody loves chatting contra over breakfast. Hosts are thanked with free dances and other considerations!
Get in touch to express your interest!
Come perform.
We'd probably really like each other. Why not come call or play music at one of our dances? We welcome performers from inside and outside Maine.
What can you expect? We cherish you and want you to feel like you're a part of our local community — and you will be by the end of the night! You'll have a really wonderful night having dinner at one of the awesome nearby restaurants, have an easy time setting up, have a rad evening performing for people who really appreciate you, and then end your evening with some snacks and drinks at our after-party, or simply settle into a cozy bed at a local host's place.
We can also help you plan a tour of Maine contra dance series. There are an abundance of weekday and weekend dances in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, as well. We’re happy to tell you more about tour possibilities.
Get in touch to start the booking conversation!