Email address: calling.luke@gmail.com
Luke Donforth is a contra caller and choreographer based in Burlington, VT. He brings a warmth to the mic and focuses on facilitating everyone in the hall joyously moving to the music. He's a founding member of the Mad Robin Callers Collective, and calls everything from family dances to festivals. Luke is a prolific writer of dances, and you can expect new and classic compositions to keep your feet flying.
I don't tend to shoot or curate these, but many wonderful members of the dance community share them.
Flurry Festival in 2025
LCFD in 2017
Mad Robin Dance from 2017, including my new dancer orientation
Portland in 2017
ContraCopia in 2015
Catapult in 2013
Greenfield in 2013
Note, as a living tradition, the language used in contra dancing has evolved over the time that I've been calling.
I now default to Larks & Robins, but will use local preferences as requested.
Board book written by Luke Donforth and Illustrated by Sarah Hirsch.
Free PDF of book
Free mobi file of book for e-readers
To buy a physical copy of book, you can purchase it from CDSS here. If you'd like a signed and/or dedicated copy, find me at one of my gigs or email me about purchasing from me directly.
Checkout a supercut of the community reading the book (from the Kickstarter).
Interviewed on From The Mic
Vermont Public radio blurb about calling contras
Review of The ABCs of Contra Dancing in Seven Days.
My dance, Voyager, published in CDSS News. Note: I write lots of dances, some simple variations, many more than I ever try with real dancers. Email me if you'd like to talk about favorites.
Most of Luke's Dances are available here.
Letter to the Editor On Open Stages in CDSS News.
Reflection on Catapult published in CDSS News.
For some years, I've loosely maintained a database of contra dance callers.
Click here to view the database and find a caller in your area.
Click here to submit yourself to the database.