The Contradictions is a contradance band based in Ithaca NY.  They offer an eclectic mix of fiddle tunes and songs from American and European traditions. 


  1. BulletLaurie Hart on fiddle

  2. BulletRick Manning on fiddle, mandolin and vocals

  3. BulletTom Hodgson on guitar

  4. BulletDave Davies on bass and vocals

  5. Bullet...and often Vikki Armstrong calling dances


The Contradictions’ hot rhythms and fiddle harmonies are ideal for contradances and other dance events. Formed in 1990, the Contradictions' repertoire ranges from lively Irish jigs and French Canadian reels to enchanting Venezuelan waltzes, slick bluegrass tunes and 1930s swing standards, all designed to get your hands clapping and feet dancing. The Contradictions can add a dance caller on request. 

Click on triangles to hear excerpts:


UPCOMING GIGS:


Nov 1 Sun

Halloween Contradance with caller Vikki Armstrong at Ecology House, Cornell University, Ithaca NY, 7-10pm.


Jan 16, 2010 Sat

Contradance with caller Vikki Armstrong.  Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca.


  Laurie Hart writes: "It's fun to be in a band together because we came from very different musical traditions, and have taught each other a lot over the years. I played classical violin from age 6 to age 19, then quit completely and started up again a few years later with the same violin but a very different  repertoire. Now I specialize in Irish, Quebec, French and Scandinavian fiddle music.


  Rick Manning began playing music in college in Texas, and has focused on Texas contest fiddling, bluegrass, and swing fiddle and mandolin, as well as harmony singing, composing and song-writing.


  Tom Hodgson played folk guitar as a teenager, and has gone on to accompany some of the great fiddlers of the Irish, New England and Midwest dance scenes, including Randy Miller and Martin Hayes.  He has traveled extensively with a Vermont dance performing group, the Green Mountain Volunteers. 


  Multi-instrumentalist Dave Davies brings jug-band, blues, swing and jazz influences to the group. He is a regular staff musician at Ashokan Western & Swing Week, and performs with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason.  And the list doesn't stop there, because every now and then we’ve been asked to do something we'd never done before, like a Greek wedding, and a whole new repertoire is added. 


  We love working with Vikki Armstrong, whose wide experience calling in different situations and light-hearted attitude makes dancing fun for beginners and advanced dancers alike."

Vikki Armstrong has been calling and teaching dances since 1991.  Originally from Ottawa, Canada, she is known for her charm, warmth, sense of humour and graceful teaching style.  She has called for many dances throughout the Northeast, including the Brattleboro Dawn Dance, the Greenfield Dance and at Mariposa Folk Festival.  She has been on staff at Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp, and at the Summer Strings Program at Vassar and Bard Colleges.  She has called at a number of elementary schools and has called for numerous weddings and private parties.  Ms. Armstrong's love of dance and the joy of participation shines through as she draws on her wealth of experience not only in traditional Anglo/American community dance but in many other forms of dance: Swing, Cajun, African, Middle Eastern, Modern, Scandinavian, French Canadian, Greek and Israeli.


 

Reel Beatrice (Québec)

East Tennessee Blues

Contradictions’ past appearances include:

  1. BulletSaratoga Springs Dance Flurry

  2. BulletBrattleboro Dawn Dance

  3. BulletRochester Thanksgiving Dance Weekend

  4. BulletPhylla Mae dance weekend


The Contradictions lead instrumental, vocal and band workshops of many kinds.


They play for the following dance styles:

  1. Bulletcontradance

  2. Bullet  square dance

  3. Bullet  swing dance

  4. BulletEnglish country dance

  5. Bulletwaltz, tango, two-step, ballroom

  6. BulletScandinavian couple dance

  7. Bulletstep dance (clogging, Irish, French Canadian)

  8. Bulletmany other traditions (Latin, Greek, Jewish...)


Event organizers and sound technicians click here for Contradictions’ technical requirements.


Back to Laurie Hart’s Bands



For bookings:

San Rafael (Venezuela)

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