Chain Reaction! Maine Contra Dance Weekend

***THIS IS 2025's EVENT - GET YOUR 2026 TICKETS HERE!***

Don't miss 3 days of fabulous contra dancing in Downeast Maine!

PRICING
Whole Weekend: Sliding scale admission: $80-$120. Only 160 tickets available, so book now!
Day Tickets: $20 Fri / $50 Sat / $30 Sun. Limited availability.
Morning Tickets: $15 Sat / $15 Sun. Limited availability.
May 27 update: 16 full weekend tickets remaining!

Calling: Will Mentor & Alyssa Adkins
Music: The Engine Room & Drivetrain
Sound: Ed Howe
See performer bios at the bottom of page

SCHEDULE
May 30th, 31st & June 1st
Friday 7pm - 12.30am
Saturday 9am - 12.30am
Sunday 9am - 5pm
CLICK HERE FOR FULL SCHEDULE!
What to expect: 90 minute dance segments with breaks. Larks & Robins role terms. Waltzing, dance clothes swap, flatfooting workshop, techno contra, jams, fusion dance, community meals!

VENUE
The Surry School Auditorium has unsprung but slick floors, and carpeted walls for awesome sound!

LOCATION
Surry Elementary School, 754 North Bend Rd, Surry, ME 04684
By car: 50 mins from Bangor Airport, 2.75hrs from Portland ME, 4.5hrs from Boston MA
Surry is a small and quaint town along the coast of Downeast Maine. The venue is walking distance from the town wharf, hiking trails, convenience store and ice cream shop!
Bonus: Surry is only 40 minutes away from Acadia National Park! If you haven't been, it's spectacular... consider extending your stay here and visit more of this beautiful corner of the world.

ACCOMMODATIONS
~ Camping available Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun for only $20 per person per night! 50 spots available, just 10 minutes walk from the dance at The Gatherings community center. Basic tent or car camping, or RVs without hookups. Shared indoor kitchen & bathrooms, basic outdoor shower. Wifi. Drinking water. Book your spot during checkout!
~ Stay with a local dancer - we'll do our best to connect hosts and guests, indicate interest during booking
~ AirBnBs nearby, plus hotels/motels/campgrounds in Surry/Ellsworth/Blue Hill & further afield

VOLUNTEERING
The plan is that everyone will help out a little bit at the dance! That may be at check-in, with floor sweeping, checking the bathrooms, etc etc. There may also be a few larger volunteer positions for check-in/parking coordination, and for housing performers, for a partial refund on your ticket. Indicate your interest during booking.

FOOD & DRINK
We will have food & drinks available to purchase, on-site and nearby, provided by local non profit organizations! There will be lunchtime meals, a community dinner on Fri & Sat evening and even breakfast! Your food purchases will help the Surry Fire Dept, School Garden Club, Girl Scouts, The Gatherings, Grange, and Old Schoolhouse.
Feel free to bring your own food, too. Nearby Ellsworth (6 miles) and Blue Hill (9 miles) have ample grocery stores, cafes and restaurants.
There's a filtered drinking fountain on site... remember your refillable water bottles!

CHEM-FREE
Absolutely no alcohol, drugs, smoking or strong perfumes - thank you!

SPONSORS
Huge thanks to Bagaduce Music for supporting this dance weekend! They offer tons of music classes & events in the area, check em out!

REFUND POLICY
You may cancel your ticket and receive a full refund (minus any fees and donations made) up to 14 days before the event begins.

QUESTIONS?
Email here or call 207-385-7694

MEET THE PERFORMERS!

ALYSSA ADKINS
Dancers have described Alyssa’s teaching and calling as joyful, clear, and zesty, and their voice as smooth, “like ASMR!” An experienced contra dancer, folk waltz and fusion dance teacher, Alyssa stays precise and concise (and often hilarious) in her communication to leave more time for connection with the dance, the music, and each other.

WILL MENTOR
Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight, all the while keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about the dancers!”

DRIVETRAIN
Drivetrain is Ed Howe (fiddle), Bennett Konesni (guitar) and Stuart Kenney (bass). They didn't give us a write-up yet but gotta fill in this space so the page layout looks okay... will keep bugging them! ;) Check em out here!

THE ENGINE ROOM
The Engine Room is a new contra dance band hailing from both coasts and places in between. Featuring Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, mandolin, foot percussion), Kelsey Wells (fiddle, banjo), and Alex Sturbaum (guitar, button accordion), the Engine Room will lay down a driving, nonstop groove that is sure to get you moving. Check em out here!