Southern Illinois Community Contra Dance

05/10/2026

Contradance- at the intersection of art, AI, African American women and erasure.

CARBONDALE — AAUW Carbondale members stepped onto the dance floor at the branch's April 21 program, titled "From Erasure to Extraction: Re(A)Imagining with Care: Black Women, AI, and the Ecology

05/08/2026

I've seen this clip before. I may have even posted it. But, I've never had an opportunity to talk about (not write and post) to people who understood these movements through the eyes of memory. Seeing these movements from 1914 took me back to seeing my aunties and uncles in the jook in my little town. But as someone who had danced Irish House, contra, quadrilles, and more I can easily see more in this dance.

What was absolutely amazing to me is how many people of color were doing square dance in the 50s and 60s in Chicago.

Twenty years later it was just not a thing.

Imagine waking up out of a coma, and hip hop, a genre that has now been with us since the 70s, did not exist among Black people.

Thanks Paul.

Also on the call is Carol July from the Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival Decolonizing the Music Room African American Pathways Program and my baby sis Tina who has followed me across the country dancing.

05/06/2026

Gonna be in Chicago for the Juneteenth? Come dance with us. We celebrate the ending of story collection, the launch of our mobile museum and digital archives all while remembering Juneteenth and the multiple untold stories of African Americans in country song and dance history. Thank you Healing Illinois for your support.

05/06/2026

https://wgntv.com/video/hey-hey-the-gangs-all-here-a-chicago-barn-dance/9607722
There is an interview that accompanies this. In it Paul is referenced for attending square dances in Chicago at an early age with his grandfather.

I met Paul almost two decades ago as an ethnic dancer. He really is responsible for me doing contra dance. And I knew he called, but I never realized how deep his roots were. And, I didn't have a clue that he was a historian in the area of African Americans and contra and squares.

Country music as we know it may not have been possible --without the Chicago radio scene. "the barn dance" premiered in Chicago *100 years ago --setting the stage for all that followed in country music. So what would a barn dance be like in 2024? One live radio show is answering that question with c...

05/05/2026

So remember my dear friend Paul Collins? I know Paul as an ethnic (folk dance). What I didn't know was the rich history he has in Square and Contra Dance. Paul, who identifies as African American is a living monument with lived histories that span seven decades. With parents who were also folk dancers, Paul is also a culture keeper who has access to the folk dance memories of two generations.
This Thursday, I will interview Paul as part of my Migraciones in Healing Illinois - Story Groups If you would like to listen in and ask questions please contact me at [email protected].

I just caught up with my dear friend Paul Collins from Chicago.
If you are anywhere near Chicago put this on your calendar.
So, how many of you would be interested in doing folk dance in Southern Illinois a few times a year? Let me know in the chat.

04/29/2026

Looking for a community? We are so much more than a social dance.

04/22/2026

I just caught up with my dear friend Paul Collins from Chicago.
If you are anywhere near Chicago put this on your calendar.
So, how many of you would be interested in doing folk dance in Southern Illinois a few times a year? Let me know in the chat.

04/20/2026

Contra callers have one of the toughest jobs you’ve never heard of. After getting entangled in the culture wars, it got even harder.

04/19/2026

In story after story last night, a compelling theme came through- contra dance is life affirming. Contra Dance 'is' community. It in one dance does so much of what trauma experts suggest for healing. With so many families experiencing estrangement and so many people in epidemics of loneliness, contra dance is that place and space where people come-touch-smile-spin.... contra dance is a whole adult playground.

03/22/2026

I put together a "zine" to help crystalize the notion that the work of the caller is field work. For historical Black callers, this takes on many meanings. But for all organizers, callers, musicians who are bringing more folks in o the fold...it's all field work. Stay tuned to learn how you can get a copy.