Apple Blossom Bliss Contra Weekend

May 9-11th, 2025

Apple Blossom Bliss Registration
from $30.00

Music
River Road
The Jig Lords

River Road delivers beauty, power, and groove to contra dances with a highly revered mixture of contemporary and traditional tunes with strong influences from Quebecois, New England, & Maritime traditions, featuring Sarah-Hadley Yakir on fiddle, Kristen Planeaux on piano, flute, and accordion, and Jesse Ball on mandolin, guitar, accordion, and foot percussion. While they are geographically divided by the Connecticut river, an aptly named River Road connects them to create an energy that is highly sought after in the contradance scene.

The Jig Lords is comprised of Brad Battey on fiddle and foot percussion and Kendall Rogers on piano and guitar.

Gender Free Calling
Lisa Greenleaf
Maeve Devlin

  • Walk-ins are welcome, but advanced registration is encouraged.

  • Cancellations accepted until 5/2/2025; Cancellation fee is $10.

  • Bring clean, indoor shoes for dancing. No street shoes permitted on the dance floor!

  • Earl Bird registration closes on 4/10/2025.

  • List of local restaurants

  • For housing, please contact mbean@emich.edu.

  • Questions: mbean@emich.edu or call/text (734) 695-0225

Rates
Early Bird Full Weekend: $100
Full Weekend: $120
Friday Only: $40
Saturday Only: $60
Sunday Only: $30
Saturday Night Contra: Pay-What-You-Can; Suggested $25
T-Shirts: $20

When
May 9-11th, 2025

Location
Concourse Hall
4531 Concourse Dr
Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Front & Back T-Shirt Design

Limited availability at dance for $20!

Program

Friday, 5/9

  • Contra Dance 7-11pm

    • Jig Lords w/ Maeve Devlin

    • River Road w/ Lisa Greenleaf

Saturday, 5/10

  • Open Waltz 10-11am

    • Jig Lords

  • Contra Connection & Communication 11:30-12:30pm

    • River Road w/ Lisa Greenleaf

  • Lunch Break 12:30-2:30pm

  • Workshops 2:30-3:45pm

    • Hot Button Caller Workshop w/ Lisa Greenleaf

    • Arranging Tunes for Dancing w/ River Road

      • Discussion/Demo - No Instrument Needed!

  • Contra Dance 4-5:30pm

    • Jig Lords w/ Lisa Greenleaf & Maeve Devlin

  • Dinner Break 5:30-7:30pm

  • Contra Dance 7:30-11pm

    • River Road w/ Lisa Greenleaf & Maeve Devlin

Sunday, 5/11

  • Challenging Contras 10-11am

    • River Road w/ Lisa Greenleaf

  • Farewell Contra 11:30-2pm

    • Jig Lords w/ Lisa Greenleaf

    • Snack Break 12:30-1pm

    • River Road w/ Maeve Devlin