Call of the Loon
14th Annual Contra Dance Weekend
April 9, 10 & 11, 2027
Tapestry Folkdance Center
Minneapolis, MN
Featuring Callers Jacqui Grennan and Robin Nelson with live music by The Syncopaths and Sugar on the Roof, plus Mattie Rynkiewicz as Caller/DJ for a special late-night Techno Contra!
Questions? Reach out to calloftheloon@tapestryfolkdance.org!
Student/Young Adult Registration (Early Bird)Admission$80.00
Individual Registration (Early Bird)Event Admission$130.00
About Call of the Loon
Join us for Tapestry Folkdance Center’s 14th Call of the Loon Contra Dance Weekend—a joyful celebration of community, music, and dance! Enjoy lively traditional tunes, energetic contra dancing, and the warmth of a welcoming folk dance community.
Whether you’re a seasoned contra dancer or new to the dance floor, you’ll find opportunities to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and share in the infectious rhythms and spirited fun of this uniquely social dance tradition.
This year’s Speakeasy theme adds an extra touch of flair to a weekend full of music, movement, and connection. Come be part of the fun!
Featuring Callers Jacqui Grennan and Robin Nelson with live music by The Syncopaths and Sugar on the Roof, plus Mattie Rynkiewicz as Caller/DJ for a special late-night Techno Contra!
About the Bands and Callers
Syncopaths:
From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths bring a fresh, contemporary spin to tunes and songs rooted in the Scottish, Irish, and American folk traditions. Evolving through their contradance origins, they are creating a “chamber folk” sound, characterized by the compelling rhythmic interplay of fiddle and mandolin, rich vocals, and unexpected colors and rhythms of the piano and bodhrån. The exuberant joy they derive from the music and each other is palpable and contagious.
Sugar on the Roof:
Sugar on the Roof brings the spirit of 1930s and 1940s American roots music alive, alongside their own originals. Blending old-time string band traditions, early country, and Western swing, the quartet delivers joyful, danceable performances that capture the sincerity, charm and gritof a bygone era.
Jacqui Grennan:
Jacqui Grennan is a contra dance caller, English Country Dance caller, choreographer, and past organizer of a dance series and weekend. She started contra dancing in Los Angeles, CA, in 2009. Since then, she’s taken a deep dive into folk dancing, first as a contra caller, then choreographer, then English Country Dance caller and choreographer, and now taking on the challenge of learning modern western square dancing. She is known for her clear and caring teaching with a stage presence that is a blend of calmness and dynamism. She knows what dancers want, and knows how to make it happen, seeing herself as the host of a party who wants to help everyone have a good time.
Robin Nelson:
Robin has a blast calling regularly for the Contra and Family dances at Tapestry, the Queer Contra, and the Monday Night Square Dance; as well as for weddings, special parties, schools, and seniors. Her great joy is to facilitate community-building and celebration through dance and song.