About
Frannie’s first exposure to contra dancing was by her sister, who lives on the east coast. Frannie quickly fell in love with contra dancing. In 1998, she began teaching contra dances to her elementary school students as a vehicle to expose them to new and fun activities. After calling exclusively to children for 10 years, Frannie debuted to rave reviews at a regularly scheduled Los Angeles contra dance and was strongly encouraged to keep on calling. Since 2008, Frannie has been calling regularly, traveling from coast to coast, and has appeared in over a dozen states at some of the biggest name venues with some of the hottest and most popular contra dance musicians. Her teaching style, honed in elementary schools, is clear and efficient. She doesn’t waste words and knows how to keep your attention during short walkthroughs. Clear instruction, great dances, and a warm friendly smile make Frannie a draw at contra dance events throughout the country.
Frannie, let me extend my great thanks and appreciation for making our fifth birthday celebration memorable for all! You really had the crowd in your hand and people really enjoyed the opportunity to, as you said, join in a COMMUNITY DANCE! We'd love to have this happen again.
Highlights of Past Appearances
- Fiddling Frog Dance Festival 2020 with Wake Up Robin and Uncle Farmer
- Dancing with the G.O.D.S. Weekend 2020 with Dam Beavers and Contra Sutra
- New Year’s at Norse Hall 2020 Portland, OR with Campaign for Reel Time & Lost Pass
- BACDS No Snow Ball 2019 with Maivish
- Wasatch Wiggle 2019 Salt Lake City, UT with Gaslight Tinkers and Toss the Possum
- Labor Day Dance Away 2019 Julian, CA with Audacious and The Dam Beavers
- A NW FOLKLIFE session 2019 Seattle, WA
- Desert Spring 2019 Mesa, AZ with Drive Train and Syncopaths
- The DANCE FLURRY FESTIVAL 2019 Saratoga, NY with multiple bands
- LCFD Fall Camp 2018 Becket, MA with The Dam Beavers
- Adirondack Dance Camp 2018 Lake George, NY with Party of Three and Eloise & Co.
- Juneau Dance Camp (CAMP DAMP) 2018 Juneau, AK with Cascade Crossing
- Memorial Day DAWN DANCE 2018 Brattleboro, VT with Russett Trio
- A NEFFA Session 2018 Mansfield, MA
- Contra Carnivale 2018 San Luis Obispo, CA with Riptide and Maivish
- New Years Eve 2017 San Diego, CA with Box Percolate
- FALL BALL 2017 Peterborough, NH with Nova
- A NW FOLKLIFE session 2017 Seattle, WA
- A NEFFA Session 2017 Mansfield, MA
- Epicenter Dance Weekend 2017 San Rafael, CA with Genticorum & Wake Up Robin
- New Years Eve 2016 Pasadena, CA with Syncopaths
- BACDS No Snow Ball 2016 with The Burning Man Band featuring Audrey Knuth, Ben Schreiber, Scotty Leach and Chris Knepper
- Contra-copia Dance O’Plenty 2016 Philadelphia, PA with The Gaslight Tinkers
- Dance in the Desert 2016 Oracle, AZ with Contra Sutra, Privy Tippers & Adobe Bros.
- Fall Ball 2016 Pinellas Park, FL with Lift Ticket
- BURNING MAN CONTRA CAMP 2016 Black Rock City, NV
- Folk Madness 2016 Socorro, NM with STEAM! & Nova
- A NEFFA Session 2016 Mansfield, MA
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Queer Camp 2016 Monte Toyon, CA with the Syncopaths & Switching Protocols
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Corvallis Dance Camp 2016 Corvallis, OR with Great Bear Trio & Contra Sutra
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Dancing Fool 2016 Seattle, WA with Elixir & Riptide
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Florida Snow Ball 2016 Gulfport, FL with the Syncopaths & The JEMS
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12 Hour Twirl 2015 Hayward, CA with Contra Sutra
- BURNING MAN CONTRA CAMP 2015 Black Rock City, NV
- A NW FOLKLIFE session 2015 Seattle, WA
- Dancing Fool 2015 Seattle, WA with Stringrays & Mean Lids
- New Year’s Eve 2014 San Diego with Bill Tomczak, Karina Wilson, & Larry Unger
- Balance the Bay 2014 San Francisco, CA with Latter Day Lizards & Uncle Farmer
- Catapult Showcase! 2014 Atlanta, GA
- A NEFFA session 2014 Mansfield, MA
- Epicenter Dance Weekend 2014 San Rafael, CA filled in at the last moment for Lisa Greenleaf with Latter Day Lizards & Blue Ribbon Dance Band
- Dancing Fool Fall Fool 2013 Seattle, WA with Great Bear & Crowfoot
- A NW FOLKLIFE session 2013 Seattle, WA
- Cascade Contras 2013 Eugene, OR with Contra Sutra & The Sevens
- Mt. Baldy 2013 Mt. Baldy, CA with Bonnie, Emil and Rich
- Fall Has Sprung 2012 Grass Valley, CA 12 hour dance with KGB & Hot Cider
- A NEFFA session 2012 Mansfield, MA
- Pasadena 2012 12 hour dance with Celtic Spring & Avant Gardeners
- Harvest Moon 2011 Santa Barbara, CA with Notorious & The Sevens
- Ghost Town Chill Down 2010 Jerome, AZ with Perpetual eMotion
Frannie is definitely one of my favorite callers! She’s friendly, clear, and because she frequently contra dances, her choice of dances rocks. She knows what the dancers want!