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Traditional Dance
at the Alaska Folk Festival

Traditional dancing made it's first appearance at the 2nd Annual Alaska Folk Festival, in 1976. In the following years, the dances most often were scheduled to follow one or more of the evening concerts. In 1992 Alaska Folk Festival organizers added a separate dance venue during Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of the festival. Dancing, particularly contra and square dancing, had grown greatly in popularity throughout Alaska and musicians and dancers wanted more opportunities for dance at the festival. The type of dancing at festival venues is limited only by the kind of music played by bands who sign up for dance performance slots. Contra and square dance bands predominate but the festival also typically features Cajun dancing, swing, blues/boogie, and rock & roll. Klezmer bands and dancing to African drum rhythms have also been part of the dance scene.

With the creation of the separate dance venue in 1992, the tradition of having a Guest Caller/dance teacher at the festival was also begun. Warren Argo, a versatile contra and square dance caller who has been instrumental in building the folk music and dance community in the Pacific Northwest, was the first caller chosen. The role of the Guest Callers like that of the festival Guest Artists is to impart some of their special knowledge of country or folk dance traditions, heritage, and culture. They do this through dance performances, workshops, and personal contact with the dancers, callers, and musicians at the festival. At times the festival Guest Artists have doubled as Guest Callers/dance teachers when their music tradition also had a strong dance tradition.

In 2002, the Festival tried a new idea by also inviting a Guest Dance Band, to perform at the dance venue and give workshops. Cambalache, a Salsa band from Seattle was the first such Guest Artist.

Guest Callers/dance teachers & Guest Artist dance bands participating in the Alaska Folk Festival have been:

1992 - Warren Argo (caller) - contra and square dance

1993 - Benoit Borque & Trois Quebecois - Quebecois traditional dance

1994 - Kathy Anderson (caller) - southern and western square dance

1995 - Brian DeMarcus (caller) - square dance

1996 - Michael Alpert & Brave Old World - Klezmer dance

1997 - Dudley & Jacqueline Laufman - traditional New England contra dancing

1998 - Mike Richardson - contras, squares, English & French country dances

1999 - Marion Rose (caller) - traditional & modern contras and square dances

2000 - Larry Edelman (caller) - squares, contras, circles and unusual formations

2001 - Woody Lane (caller) - modern contras, fast squares, percussive dancing

2002 - Warren Argo (caller - zippy, friendly, interesting contras, AND, Cambalache (Guest Dance Band) - Salsa

2003 - Brian DeMarcus (caller) - square dance

2004 - Bill Martin (Guest Caller) - square dances, big circle "square" dances Maya Soleil (Guest Dance Band) - Afro-World fusion

2005 - Jawbone - Bruce Molsky, Tony Trishka and Paula Bradley - Old Time meets New grass

2006 - Becky Hill (Guest Caller) - Unusual Contra Formations to Contra Dancing for Beginners

Besides the festival sponsored events, another dance event has sprouted during the festival. Friday of festival week, the Juneau Thursday Night Contras dance group sponsors "Coffee and Jam" at St. Ann's Parish Hall in downtown Juneau. The event features an open mike for musicians and callers from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and provides an opportunity for out-of-town musicians and dancers to visit, play music, and dance. Free potluck breakfast and lunch are provided by locals to welcome visitors to the festival. With good weather, music jams and dance have been known to spill out onto the street during the day. The 15^th anniversary of the Coffee and Jam will take place during the 33rd Annual Alaska Folk Festival in April 9-15, 2007.