Bonjour-Hey Contra Dance Weekend

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Join us for our second annual contra dance weekend here in Montreal!

We are excited to bring you three days of contra dancing with music by Highwire Trio and The Turn Signals, and calling by Gaye Fifer and Qwill Duvall.

You can also look forward to an Electo Contra with Jamie Oshima and Québécois Square Dancing with Ghislain Jutras, Maia Dagher & Samuel Royer-Legault.

Interested but not ready to register? Join our Bonjour-Hey mailing list to stay up-to-date. Respond to or share our event on Facebook.

Talent

Highwire Trio (Max Newman, Julie Metcalf & Stuart Kenney)

The Turn Signals Hailing from New England and Canada, these four musicians come together to create a sound that is lively, unique, and relentlessly danceable. Bouncing musical ideas off of each other at light speed, their deeply collaborative and playful spirit takes you on journey after journey. This band features Aaron Marcus (Frost & Fire, The Turning Stile) on piano, Grace Hendrickson-Jones (Dawn Chorus, Les Quatre Patates) on flute, Molly Tucker (Northwoods, The Bubblegum Society) on fiddle, and Cecily Mills (The Pegasus Collective, The Bubblegum Society) on cello.

Gaye Fifer is an accomplished caller from Pittsburgh, PA. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making dances particularly satisfying for dancers. Her instructions are clear and concise, as she was a teacher by profession. An easy smile and delightful sense of humor are part of Gaye’s relaxed, pleasant style at the microphone. Gaye calls contra and English dances throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is also an enthusiastic advocate and instructor of contra-style waltz.

Qwill Duvall was drawn to contra dancing by its welcoming, intergenerational community, culture of dancing both roles, and the joy of connecting with everyone in the room. They have been calling since 2019 and touring nationally since 2023. Qwill brings an upbeat, playful energy to every dance, making the experience both welcoming and exciting. With clear, relaxed teaching and an eye for the skill level in the room, they keep dancers engaged — whether with creative choreography, unusual figures, or simply a well-chosen, satisfying dance. Expect a fun, inclusive atmosphere where beginners feel supported, experienced dancers stay intrigued, and everyone leaves smiling.

Jamie Oshima doesn’t live in Los Angeles, but is still a multi-instrumentalist and producer. He’s never had a real job but instead toured as a teenager with contra bands (Joy Compass, Barefoot, Henry Road) and for the last ten years made four albums with his Maine based alt pop duo Oshima Brothers. Now, at age 129, Jamie is diving back into the traditional music of his youth with all the bad influences of pop, funk, rock, and r&b, mixed together to hopefully make you dance like a fairy/gnome at a club.

Ghislain Jutras Traditional music and dance have been a cherished part of life in the Jutras family of Bas Saint-François, Québec. It was the family stories that inspired Ghislain “Gigi” Jutras to take up calling dances, just like his grandfather Lucien did back in the 1950s. His real spark came during the festive holiday gatherings of his teenage years with the Langlois family in the Eastern Townships. Step by step, he began calling dances in the early 2000s, joining his fellow musicians from the agronomy faculty at university. After 25 years of dancing and calling across the four corners of Québec and beyond, Gigi has honed an energetic, authentic, and unifying style that adapts easily to crowds of all kinds. Whether the setting is a folk festival or an electrotrad party, he delights in sharing that deeply human spirit characteristic of the square dance tradition. Novice or pro, young or young-at-heart — you’ll be swinging and laughing in that irresistible kitchen-party atmosphere!

Maia Dagher and Samuel Royer-Legault are Montreal-based trad musicians, active for the past several years on the scene. Both known for being dynamic and spontaneous, Maia and Sam together form a breathtaking duo that never gives the same show twice.

Venue

We will be dancing at Le Cardinal, 7111 avenue des Érables, Montreal. This is the same venue we danced at last year, with a new name and new look! This fabulous and recently renovated building has an original wood floor. It is a short walk from the D'Iberville metro station and many restaurants, with a park across the street.

Roles and language

Calling will use Larks and Robins. Everyone is welcome, and anyone may dance any role. Dances will be called in English, but we invite everyone to join us and we are happy to provide explanations in French.

Schedule

Friday 7:00 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A complete schedule will be published when ready.

Pricing

We are using a Pay-What-You-Can system this year. Our wish is that everyone who wants to come should be able to no matter their finances, so we have a sliding scale of $110-$170+ (US$80-US$130+).

We expect our break even point to be about $140 (US$105). If all dancers paid this we'd break even. Any more you're able to pay is greatly appreciated and will help others be able to attend below cost and ensure a sustainable dance for years to come. If this works it may allow us in future years to lower the price points, have more workshops or special events, offer scholarships or pay our talent more.

If you can only pay the minimum, or an amount below the break even, that's ok, that's why we offer it. We'd love for you to join us!

Please pay after submitting the registration form ; you're encouraged to combine your payment with those of people registering with you. Your registration is not complete until we receive your payment!

Canadian Dollars

Intended for Canadians or anyone with access to Interac e-Transfer. Pay by sending an e-Transfer to bonjourhey@contramontreal.org .

United States Dollars

Intended for Americans or any other international visitors. Pay at this Stripe page. Stripe accepts all major credit cards. Price includes all fees.

Refund policy

Email us to cancel your registration. We will refund your registration cost (minus transaction fees) if any of the following are true:

• You cancel your registration by February 28, or
• We are sold out and we can fill your place, or
• You are sick— Please don't come if you are sick!

Transportation

No matter how you come to Montreal, we recommend you use public transit to get to the hall. You can buy an unlimited weekend pass or a three-day pass at the airport, at any metro station or, for Android users, in the mobile app. We are a short walk from the D'Iberville metro station. If you drive, be aware that many street parking spots are for residents only. We encourage you not to rent a car while here— public transit is the fastest and easiest way to get around!

Housing and Meals

Housing and meals are not included in your registration. There are many great restaurants a short walk from the hall, and some grocery stores nearby, as well as the famous Jean-Talon public market a short hop west on the 93 bus or the metro. The hall will be open during meal breaks to eat your own food, and there is a nice park behind the hall.

There are no hotels within walking distance of the venue, but there are many choices a quick drive or metro trip away. Prices start around CA$125/US$90 a night. There are many options at various price ranges around town, including downtown (great for transit access, but if you drive you'll likely have to pay for parking), in a few small hotels and homestays in between downtown and the hall (Plateau, Rosemont, etc.; good for both transit and driving, but limited options) and along many of the major highways (easy car access, less good transit access). We encourage you to check your preferred major hotel aggregator websites for options.

We understand that many people would prefer to skip the hotels and stay with a fellow dancer instead. While we would love to be able to host/billet everyone, we have very limited space; last year we hosted about 10 dancers. Let us know on your registration form if you are interested in being a host or a guest. This is not a commitment or a guarantee; we will reach out closer to the event to finalize the details. We encourage local dancers to participate if you can! This is a great way to welcome dancers to Montreal and even make new friends!

International visitors

Montreal welcomes millions of tourists every year and you'll have no trouble getting by even if you don't speak French, but feel free to dust off your French and a smile. We encourage you to explore our lovely city before, during and after our weekend. We're happy to answer any questions and help make your visit a memorable one!

And don't forget your passport! Here are a few references we recommend reviewing before crossing the border:

• Documents needed to enter Canada (For US citizens it's usually just a passport)
• Border reminder checklist
• Restricted and prohibited goods
• Crossing the border into Canada

Volunteer

We will have a limited number of volunteer spots available, providing a full or partial refund in exchange for a number of hours worked before or during the weekend. These will be reserved for local dancers who require financial assistance or are already involved in the community. Please note on your registration form if you are interested, and we will contact you closer to the event to coordinate.

If you are unable to attend without financial assistance we would still like for you to come! Send us an email so we can talk about volunteer positions before you register and pay.

Share

This event is only possible thanks to the wonderful dancers who come and encourage others to come as well. Here's what you can do to help:

• Respond to our Facebook event
• Print our flyer to share at your local events
• Talk to your friends about it in person!

Contact

Got a question? Email us at bonjourhey@contramontreal.org