Weekly Wednesday Night Contra Dances – Join Us! Donate Here
(Updated January 2023)
About Our Dances
- When: Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
- Location: Harmony School, 909 E 2nd St, Bloomington, IN 47401
- Entrance fee: by sliding scale donation, with a suggested range from $3 to $20. We hope that everyone will give at least something because the event is sustained by the community. We estimate that if everyone were to give $10, we would break even after paying the rental fee and the performers. Donations may be made online or at the door.
- Striving Toward Safe Space Policy: We hope to create a dance in which everyone feels safe and welcome. Please take a moment to review our policy on respect and consent.
- Membership: Membership is optional the first two times someone attends the dance in 2023. Becoming a member is easy!
1) Fill out a membership form at the dance or fill it out ahead of time and bring it.
2) Send proof of up-to-date vaccination to communications@bloomingtoncontra.org or bring it to the dance.
3) Pay $10 either at the dance or online (free for those 15 and under). - Up-to-Date Vaccination* Requirement: All attendees (dancers, musicians, callers, observers) are required to have the most up-to-date COVID vaccine they are eligible for. Attendees may bring their most recent vaccine card to the dance or email a copy of it to communications@bloomingtoncontra.org by Tuesday night before the dance. (For most vaccinated people, this means a bivalent booster after September 2 or having had COVID within the past 90 days.)
- Masks Encouraged: Additionally, masks are required if you have been exposed to COVID recently.
- Stay home if you…
- have symptoms of COVID (which could also mean cold or flu symptoms), regardless of whether or not you tested for COVID
- first tested positive for COVID within the last 5 days, even without symptoms
- first tested positive for COVID more than 5 days ago and still have a fever, and/or your symptoms are not yet getting better
- Exercise caution and wear a mask if…
- you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive (spent more than 15 minutes less than 6 feet away from them, without masks on, indoors, or spent 20 minutes or more in intense conversation or close proximity even outdoors, without masks on)
- err on the conservative side
- watch yourself for symptoms
- take a COVID test on day 5.
- If the exposure happened within 5 days of the dance, it is probably wisest to stay home then, too, until you have a chance to test yourself. Please note that this is more conservative than the CDC’s guidelines at this point.
- you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive (spent more than 15 minutes less than 6 feet away from them, without masks on, indoors, or spent 20 minutes or more in intense conversation or close proximity even outdoors, without masks on)
- Notify us if…
- you are diagnosed with COVID-19 within 10 days of attending any BOTMDG event, please let the board know, at communications@bloomingtoncontra.org, within 24 hours of your diagnosis if you possibly can, so that we can inform others.
Please see the BOTMDG newsletter, Google calendar, or Facebook page for details. If you have questions or would like to sign up for the newsletter, contact us
*Up-to-date vaccination, for the purposes of our dance, means that you have had your initial Covid vaccine, plus the bivalent booster, if you qualify. This means that if your 2nd dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine was at least 6 months ago or your single dose of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine was at least 2 months ago, you will need to show us evidence of a bivalent booster shot as well. Thank you for helping to keep us all safe.
BOTMDG is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of Old Time musicians, callers, and dancers in a nurturing and friendly atmosphere. We are a non-profit organization based in Bloomington, Indiana, that is run entirely through the efforts of volunteers — your help is always needed and welcome!
We sponsor a contra dance every week and several special dances throughout the year. All dances feature live music (Old Time, New England, and Irish dance tunes). Callers lead mostly contra dances, with some squares, mixers, and other dances forms as well. This type of dance has a devout and enthusiastic following around the world. BOTMDG is one of the oldest groups of its kind in the country, and has danced every week since the group started in 1972.
