Contradance Calling Schedule
"I'm smiling so hard, I can't eat my carrot."
Scroll down a bit for current dances you can come to!
Tina Fields calls contra dances, traditional American community “barn” dances, singing squares, simple medieval and later English dances, and sacred circle dances, with the goal of creating maximum joy for all. Unless otherwise requested, she uses gender-neutral terms.
Dancers and musicians say Tina is known for her “effervescent sparkle, great sense of timing, clear enunciation, singing style, calm patience with new dancers, collaborative way of working with bands, and comfortable humor.” Her day job skills (years of serving as a college professor) help make her dance teaching clear, concise, and accessible to different kinds of thinkers.
Tina has been calling contras since 2007. She is also a versatile singer/songleader, ceremonial facilitator, and storytelling orator. Based in the Front Range of Colorado, she books callers for the Boulder contra, and has served on staff for dance/music camps in several states as both contradance caller and community songleader. (See the EnChantMent! page for singing events.)
Along with our area’s scheduled contradances, she is available to call private hoedown dances for weddings, birthday parties, harvest festivals, schools, and the like, including arranging an excellent band and sound engineering. She excels at making dancing fun and accessible for beginners.
More info, including her current calling calendar, some testimonials and history, more videos, and links to her articles about traditional American dance can be found directly below.
2026 Dances
Come dance with us! Everyone is welcome and no partner is needed; the whole community becomes your partner. For details about the Boulder, Denver, Zesty, and Hands Across contra dances, plus the Family Dance and English Country dances, see CFootMad.org. For Fort Collins contra dances, see FoTD.org.
January 10, 2026 — Zesty Contra (advanced: no lesson), with Sandra Wong (fiddle) & Rodney Sauer (keyboard, accordion). Avalon Tango Studio, Boulder
January 25, 2026 — Private birthday party at Frog Belly Farm, CO, with Teri Rasmusson (piano) & Julia Hays (fiddle)
January 30, 2026 — 5th Friday Hands Across (queer/gender-free) contra dance, with Andy Reiner (fiddle) & Rodney Sauer (keyboard, accordion). Avalon Tango Studio, Boulder.
February 27, 2026 – Family Dance, with Rodney Sauer (keyboard, accordion) & Kat Fritz (fiddle). Avalon Tango Studio, Boulder. Bring your kids!
February 27, 2026 — After the Family Dance comes English Country Dance, 8-10 pm. I’ll call one dance in the mix.
February 28, 2026 — Private birthday party dance at Growing Gardens, Boulder CO, with the Rhythm Rangers (Barb Kirchner - piano; Mark Brissenden - fiddle; Ed Secor - clarinets)
March 7, 2026 — Fort Collins, CO contra: co-call with Ed Hall, with Roysten Hunget (fiddle) & Peter Romero (guitar)
March 13, 2026 — Denver contra, with Nerea the Fiddler and Tony Branch (guitar)
April 3, 2026 – Boulder contra, with Sandra Wong (fiddle) & Rodney Sauer (keyboard, accordion). Avalon Ballroom.
“You [Tina] calling with Rodney and Sandra playing is such a dream combo, I absolutely can’t wait!” — Brenna Saia, on the 4/3/2026 Boulder dance coinciding with her 30th birthday
TESTIMONIALS, PHOTOS, and some recent CALLING HISTORY can be found by scrolling down. Previous years’ calling in detail can be seen on my old blog: https://indigenize.wordpress.com/events/contradance-calling/
Pie Ranch Barn Dance, Pescadero CA
“We asked AI where to find a dance caller for our party, and it said, “Tina Fields is the best caller in your area.” - Mike MacKinnon
Harvest Festival, Ziji Montessori School, Boulder CO
History
Tina has called contra and barn dances extensively in the western USA since 2007, mostly along the Front Range of Colorado and in California’s Bay Area, but also in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, New Hampshire, Maine, New Zealand, and one beach in Australia.
Dance & Music Camps and other special events that Tina has called &/or led song for include:
Local harvest festival and hoedown events include (CO): Ziji Early Elementary School, Laughing Buck Farm, Yellow Barn Farm, YMCA of the Rockies, Flatiron Farmers’ Coalition at Benevolence Orchard & Gardens, McKenzie Farm, Shining Mountain Waldorf School, Ollin Farms; (CA): Pie Ranch, Green String Farm, Frey Vineyards, Buckeye Gathering; (both CA and CO): Biodynamic Gardeners BDANC conferences.
Boo Camp contradance weekend, Jemez Springs, New Mexico
Stellar Days and Nights 4-day contradance camp, Buena Vista, CO (dance calling, dance workshops: Contradance as Awareness Practice, Gender Shenanigans, Lead With Your Body, Flight Time for Callers, Fomenting Momentum, Flow & Fun; and singing workshops: Funny Chorus Songs; Chants, Rounds & Sacred Songs from Many Traditions; Bawdy British Ballads)
Fall Has Sprung – 12 hour contradance in Grass Valley, CA
Queer Contra Dance Camp, Monte Toyon, Aptos CA (songleading)
BACDS Family Week Dance Camp. Foothill Horizons Outdoor School, Sonora CA. (contradance calling & workshop, and a week-long singing class)
BACDS English Week Dance Camp. Mendocino Woodlands Camp, CA (songleading of chants, rounds, old English ballads, pub songs & sea shanties)
BDANC (Biodynamic Gardeners’) Conferences, CA and CO
Buckeye Primitive Skills Gathering, CA
Colorado Mountain Moon Festival, Gold Hill, Colorado (dance calling, workshops in Contra Calling 101, & rounds singing)
Colorado ROOTS Music Camp, Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, Divide, CO
North Bay Hootenanny, Santa Rosa, CA
Solabration! Denver, Colorado
Allemande Joy month-long contradance tour in south island, New Zealand
No Snow Ball, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, Oakland CA (calling)
Just Because It’s June! Doug von Koss’ midsummer evening event, Berkeley, CA (guest songleader for ~150 people)
Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend, Durham, NH. (Emerging caller spot, 2009)
Articles Tina has written about traditional dancing:
Leading a Contra Dance Role-Swapping Workshop (with co-author Erik Erhardt), (Journal of the Country Dance & Song Society – excerpts, with full text available on CD+S Online)
Square Dancing in the Rural West: An Oral History (CD+S Online)
Gallery
Boo Camp faery callers & dancer
Dancing Under the Stars, Niwot CO
Past Events of Yore
Here is a detailed list of dances I called last year. Previous years in detail can be seen on my old blog: https://indigenize.wordpress.com/events/contradance-calling/
2025 Dances
January 1, 2025 — New Years Day contra, Avalon Ballroom, Boulder, CO, part of a Cavalcade of Callers with Cieran Morden (fiddle) & Ben Cohen (keyboard). 3-6 pm, no lesson.
January 3, 2025 — Boulder, CO contra, with Julia Hays (fiddle), Tina Gugeler (hammered dulcimer), & Ben Cohen (keyboards and crazy washboard device). (Role terms: Larks/Robins)
March 1, 2025 --- Fort Collins, CO Contra Dance, co-calling with Ed Hall to music by Ben Cohen & Royston Hunget. (Role terms per organizer: Ladies/Gents)
April 12, 2025. — Zesty contra, Boulder, CO - one of a Cavalcade of Callers, with Cieran Morden & Jacob Chen. (Advanced dance, no lesson.)
April 18, 2025 — Boulder, CO contra, with Nerea the Fiddler & Teri Rasmusson - keyboard. (Role terms: Larks/Robins)
May 30, 2025 — Family Dance, Boulder, CO, with Rodney Sauer & Deb Carstensen.
May 30, 2025 — 5th Friday Hands Across contra dance, Boulder CO, with with Rodney Sauer (keyboard, accordion) & Deb Carstensen (fiddle). (Calling shared w/Sam Smith. Role terms: Larks/Robins)
June 6, 2025 — Glenwood Springs, CO: private “Cowboy Couture” wedding celebration party. With Andy Reiner and Rapidgrass (Alex Johnstone - mandolin, Mark Morris - guitar, Charles Parker - bass, & Danjo on Banjo)
June 13, 2025 — Nederland, CO Community Dance for ages 60+, with Rodney Sauer & Carabeth Wilson. NCC.
June 21, 2025 — Fort Collins, CO contra, with Nerea the Fiddler & Tony Branch. (Role terms per organizer: Ladies/Gents)August 9, 2025
August 9, 2025 — Washington Park Boathouse, Denver CO: Private birthday party dance, with Cieran Morden (fiddle), Rodney Sauer (keyboard & accordion), & Ed Secor (clarinet & sax).
August 15, 2025 — Arts at Altitude Music Fest: BBQ & Contra Dancing with the Cleveland Pops Ensemble & Rodney Sauer. “Grab your boots and get ready to dance! Enjoy a full BBQ dinner with live music and contra dancing fun.” YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park center. 6 pm, $20.
August 22, 2025 — International Club, Denver CO: Private birthday party dance featuring squares, with Rodney Sauer (keyboard & accordion), Joel Hayes (fiddle), & Ed Secor (clarinet & sax).
September 5, 2025 — Boulder, CO contra in the magnificent Avalon Ballroom, with Corwin and Grace, aka Raven & Goose. (Role terms: Larks/Robins)
Sept 26, 2025 — Family Dance, Avalon Tango Studio, Boulder CO, with Rodney Sauer & friends. 6-7:30 pm.
Sept 26, 2025 — English Country Dance, Avalon Tango Studio, Boulder CO, with Rodney Sauer & friends. 7:30-9:30. I’ll call one or two along with other callers.
Oct 3, 2025 — Harvest Festival, Ziji Early Elementary School, Boulder CO
Oct 5 , 2025 — Laughing Buck Farm fundraiser, Fort Collins, CO, with Questionable Decisions: Ed Secor (clarinets), Harmony Tucker (fiddle), and Nathan Johnson (guitar).
Oct 10, 2025 — Denver, CO contra dance, with the Coffee People (Rodney Sauer – piano & accordion, Cieran Morden – fiddle, mandolin, piano, & Ben Cohen – percussion)
October 31, 2025 — Hallowe’en Dance! Fifth Friday Hands Across (gender-neutral) contra dance, Boulder, CO. Co-call with Sam Smith to music by TBA. Prizes for costumes! Much fun will be had. (Role terms: Larks/Robins)
November 7-9, 2025 — Dare to be Square West, Berkeley CA (I’m going to learn!)
November 15, 2025 — Avalon Ballroom 20th Anniversary Party, Boulder CO – MC many types of dance demos and call a contra or two. 5 pm potluck and dancing onward.
November 30, 2025 — CFootMad Community Gratitude Dance. Avalon Ballroom, Boulder, CO. Free!
December 5, 2025 — Boulder, CO contra, with the Rhythm Rangers (Barb Kirchner – keyboard, Ed Secor - woodwinds, & Mark Brissenden – fiddle)
December 20, 2025 — Winter Solabration! Contact me if you’d like an invitation.
Previous years in detail can be seen on my old blog: https://indigenize.wordpress.com/events/contradance-calling/
Come dance with us! Everyone is welcome and no partner is needed; the whole community becomes your partner.