Fiddling Frog Dance Festival
February 23-25, 2024
A full weekend of great contra dancing to fabulous bands and skillful callers in beautiful Pasadena, CA, February 23-25, 2024!
| Talent | COVID Policy | Schedule | Registration & Payments |
| Cancellation Policy | Location | Parking | Travel-Airports, Transport & Lodging |
| Food | Clothing Exchange | Contact Us | Past years |
Talent
Bands:
Stomp Rocket is a New England based trio that delivers high energy foot-stomping dance music for Contra dancing. The band consists of Dave Langford on fiddle, Glen Loper on mandolin and banjo, and Bethany Waickman on guitar and keyboard.. They’ve played for contras throughout New England, and at dance weekends from Alaska to Tennessee, and Quebec to Florida. Sample their music by clicking here!
The Engine Room is a brand new contra dance band hailing from both coasts and places in between. Featuring Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, mandolin, foot percussion), Kelsey Wells (fiddle, banjo), and Alex Sturbaum (guitar, button accordion), the Engine Room will lay down a driving, nonstop groove that is sure to get you moving. Sample their music by clicking here and here!
Callers:
Lisa Greenleaf calls regularly in the Boston and New England areas and has been a staff member at dance camps and festivals throughout the country and beyond. She combines a deep understanding of contra choreography and tradition with a high-spirited presence and irreverent wit. Her specialties include traditional and contemporary contras, fun squares, challenging dances of all shapes and sizes, and caller training. See her being “gatored” (an honor to the caller) at Fiddling Frog 2010 here! And notice her amazing recovery after the gatoring!
Susan Michaels is a caller of traditional American dancing, especially contra dancing and square dancing especially known for her terrific sense of humor. She has called and taught dances at local evenings to dance weekends to week-long family camps throughout the U.S. and Canada. Susan believes her “calling” in life is to teach people how to hold hands in a circle. She specializes in creating joy, making community, and allowing everyone with whom she comes into contact to experience the pure pleasure of dance. Sample her calling by clicking here!
Gender neutral calling (Larks and Robins) all weekend.
Sound by Victor Garza.
Chef extraordinaire and volunteer coordinator Brenda Goodwin.
COVID Policy
In order to protect the health and safety of our dance community, attendees of Fiddling Frog 2024 must meet the following requirements before being allowed entrance:
- Free of key Covid-19 symptoms
- Agree to general and Covid-19 waivers
- Agree to contact tracing policy
- Same day rapid test results. If you test before you arrive, please take a picture of you with the test results and show the photo at registration. Please provide your own text kits. If you have extra tests to share, please bring them to the registration table on Friday night. Thanks!
- Masks are optional for all dancers and performers at all times. We ask you to respect the choice made by others and to refrain from making comments, expressing opinions, or joking about the choice made by others.
- If you are not feeling well at any time during the course of the weekend, please let the organizers know immediately and excuse yourself from the dance location as soon as possible.
- If you have air purifiers, please bring them with you for use in the side break room. Thanks so much!
- Note that evidence of vaccination is not required.
These guidelines may change in line with current conditions and health advisories, and we will provide plenty of advance notice, while also refunding the fees for anyone who feels they cannot comply with any changes.
Draft 2024 schedule
Friday
| 6:30-7:00 pm | Welcome / Registration |
| 7:30–11:00 pm | CONTRA DANCE!! Theme – _________: Show off your sparkles and your favorite stars! |
| 7:30–9:00 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #1 & Band #1 |
| 9:00-9:30 pm | Break |
| 9:30-11 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #2 & Band #2 |
Saturday
| 9:30-10:00 am | Waltzing with Band #2 |
| 10:00-12:00 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #1 & Band #2 |
| 12:00-12:30 pm | Break |
| 12:30-1:00 pm | Medley – Both bands & both callers |
| 1:00-1:15 pm | Break |
| 1:15-3:15 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #2 & Band #1 |
| 3:15-3:30 pm | Break |
| 3:30-4:30 pm | Workshop – Caller #2 |
| 4:30-7:00 pm | Dinner Break |
| 7:00-11:30 pm | A Fancy Affair Contra Dance! |
| 7:00-9:00 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #2 & Band #2 |
| 9:00-9:30 pm | Break and Victor’s Dance Party! |
| 9:30-11:30 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #1 & Band #1 |
Sunday
| 10:00-10:30 am | Waltzing with Band #1 |
| 10:30-12:00 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #2 & Band #1 |
| 11:00-12:00 pm | Workshop with Caller #1 |
| 12:00-12:30 pm | Break |
| 12:30-2:15 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #1 & Band #2 |
| 2:15-2:30 pm | Break |
| 2:30-3:30 pm | The Final Hoorah – Both bands & both callers |
| 3:30-4:00 pm | Clean up and Goodbyes (help appreciated!) |
| 6:30-10:30 pm | EVENING DANCE: Open-to-the-public dance – Both bands & both callers. Sliding Scale $25-$40. Check website for COVID requirements for Fiddling Frog weekend. |
| 6:10-6:30 pm | Contra dance lesson for beginners – Caller #1 |
| 6:30-8:15 pm | Contra Dance – Caller #1 & Band #2 |
| 8:15-8:45 pm | Break |
| 8:45-10:30 | Contra Dance – Caller #2 & Band #1 |
Registration and Payments
Registration for Fiddling Frog Dance Festival 2024 will be open in October 2023! Online registration is preferred and encouraged. A link to a pdf of the registration form will be provided upon request. Registration closes Thursday, Feb. 22nd; there will be no day-of or walk-up registration available.
- Early registration for payments before 1/1/24 is $180 per person. Late registration for payments after 12/31/23 is $190 per person.
- Scholarships & Work/trade Registrations are available. Please discuss with an organizer at 2fiddlingfrog@gmail.com BEFORE making payment
Online registration is preferred. Paper registration forms or a pdf link will be provided upon request.
Online Payment — We have ZELLE this year! Also Paypal (with fees) and good old-fashioned checks. Digital payments methods are preferred.
OPTION 1 – Zelle (preferred method) – Complete the online registration form and make a Zelle payment of $180 per person to treasurer@caldancecoop.org. IMPORTANT! Write in memo section “Fiddling Frog 2024” and any add’l people you are paying for
OPTION 2 – Paypal – Prices below include registration plus PayPal fees ($186 for one person, $372 for two people).
• Click on the button for 1 registration, 2 registrations, or click on the 3rd button to type in the amount of any donation you would like to make.
OPTION 3 – Checks – Complete the registration form and send in $180 per person if registered AND payment is received before 1/1/24. $190 per person after 12/31/23. IMPORTANT! Write in memo section “Fiddling Frog 2024” and add’l people you are paying for
NEW MAILING ADDRESS!
Checks payable to: California Dance Co-op
Send to: Fiddling Frog c/o Jacqui Grennan
P.O. Box 2732
San Pedro, CA 90731
Transfer & Cancellation Policy
Registration is not transferable, please contact us at 2fiddlingfrog@gmail if you need to cancel. Cancellations up to Jan. 31, 2024 will be issued in full less any bank/Paypal transaction fees incurred. Cancellations from Feb.1, 2024 to Feb. 16 will be issued at 50% after bank/Paypal transaction fees are deducted. No refunds after Feb 16 except in special circumstances.
• Questions? Contact Registrar – 2fiddlingfrog@gmail.com
Location
Fiddling Frog is held at the fabulous Pasadena Masonic Temple, at:
200 South Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, CA
Dance floor, Lounge overlooking the dance floor, Exterior photo, Grand staircase, Grand foyer
Parking
Pasadena has varying parking rules which change by days of the week and the time. Please plan your parking IN ADVANCE. On-street parking in the area is limited but usually possible within a few blocks, especially south of the hall. There are also paid lots in the area. Read the parking restriction signs carefully. Carpooling is recommended. THERE IS NO OVERNIGHT STREET PARKING IN PASADENA WITHOUT A PERMIT (WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE).
City of Pasadena parking rules
Travel – Airports, Public Transportation and Lodging
Airports – Nearest airports are Los Angeles (LAX), Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), and Ontario (ONT, be sure you book to Ontario, California, NOT to the one in Canada).
Public Transportation – Google Maps is an excellent resource. Del Mar station on the Metro A-line is a 0.4 mile, 10-minute walk, from the hall.
Lodging – We cannot coordinate housing due to the scarcity of dancers who live close to the hall. A list of local hotels is provided below.
Nearby Lodging
Feel free to post in the Facebook group to coordinate any of your transportation and lodging needs. Fiddling Frog Contra Dance Weekend
| Name | Address | Phone Number | Miles From Hall |
| Hotel Dena (FKA Sheraton) | 303 Cordova St, Pasadena, CA | 626-469-8100 | 0.07 |
| Hilton Hotel | 168 S Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA | 626-577-1000 | 0.10 |
| GreenTree-Pasadena Inn | 400 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA | 626-795-8401 | 0.34 |
| Westin Hotels & Resorts | 191 N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA | 626-792-2727 | 0.50 |
| Courtyard Marriott- Old Town Pasadena | 180 N Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA | 626-403-7600 | 0.65 |
| Pasadena Rose & Crown | 1203 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA | 626-449-3170 | 1.03 |
| Saga Motor Hotel | 1633 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA | 626-795-0431 | 1.53 |
Food
A wide variety of healthy & hearty refreshments will be provided throughout the daytime and evening dances. Or check with our friend Google for LOTS of restaurant options nearby.
No Fragrances, please!: Please no perfume, scented lotions, aftershave, essential oils, etc. Many dancers have severe allergies to scented products. Thank you!
Clothing Exchange
Want your old favorites to become someone else’s new ones? Start perusing those closets now.
Contact
Questions or comments? Reach us at 2fiddlingfrog@gmail.com
Performers in previous years
2023 – Gaye Fifer, Jeremy Korr, Root System (Audrey Jaber, Amy Englesberg, Ashley Hoyer), Dam Beavers (Scotty Leach, Ness Smith-Savedoff, Ben Schreiber substituted by Audrey Jaber, )
2022 & 2021 COVID closure
2020 – Frannie Marr, Lindsey Dono, Wake Up Robin (Audrey Knuth, Andrew Van Norstrand, Noah Van Norstrand, Amy Englesberg), Uncle Farmer (Ben Schreiber, Michael Sokolovsky)
2019 – Lisa Greenleaf, Bob Isaacs, Free Raisins (Audrey Knuth, Jeff Kaufman, Amy Englesberg), Eloise & Co (Rachel Bell, Becky Tracy, Andrew Van Norstrand)
2019 Bob Isaacs and Eloise & Co
2019 Lisa Greenleaf and Free Raisins
2018 – Steve Zakon-Anderson, Dana Parkinson, Groovemongers (Rebecca McCallum, Jane Knoeck, Tom Santarsiero, Ralph Gordon, and Mark “Pokey” Hellenberg), Gaslight Tinkers (Audrey Knuth, Peter Seigel, Garrett Sawyer, and Joe Fitzpatrick)
2017 – Lisa Greenleaf, Will Mentor, Latter Day Lizards, StringRays
2016 – Lisa Greenleaf, Luke Donforth, Giant Robot Dance, The JEMS