Each month Chili Jam holds a Contra Dance at Saint Michael's Church Hall in the Wellington suburb
of Kelburn. Contra dancing is usually danced in opposite facing lines. The dancers swap partners progressively through the
dance so everyone meets and dances with everyone in their opposite line. The steps are easy walking steps and involve simple
figures ( do-si-do, balance & swing, circles, and stars). Dancers of all ages and ranges of ability, from complete beginner
to highly experienced, join in the fun. It is a great way to meet people. Dancers switch partners often and many dancers come
to the dance without a partner.
Chilli Jam is composed of musicians from diverse musical backgrounds who play and jam on swinging
Contra tunes with Celtic, Old Time, Balkans, Jazz and other influences.
Bernard Wells- flute, fiddle and mandolin
James McNamara - fiddle
Jonathan Berkahn - accordian, piano
Mark Howell - hammered dulcimer, mandolin, guitar
Chris Mullins - bass, mandolin, guitar, banjo
Peter Rochford - bass
The dances are called by Cashy Yates, Janie Cook and Mike Savage
(updated August 2009)
