About Youth Dance Weekend Organization

YDW is an awesome youth-focused traditional dance and music gathering in rural Vermont featuring lots of contra, English, and couples dancing, as well as singing, jamming, and opportunities to get to know cool people from near and far. Our goal is to help and inspire the next generation from across North America to connect with each other and develop skills for participating and leading in all aspects of our vibrant dance community.

The weekend is open to anyone 18 or older, and is designed to be affordable and accessible, especially to younger dancers. You can read more about the history and mission of YDW, or meet our organizing committee.

The Youth Dance Weekend Comittee

Eileen O’Grady (She/her)

Eileen began playing fiddle music at age 12 under the guidance of folk legend Pete Sutherland. Growing up in Vermont, she was a founding member of The Irregulars, a six-piece teen trad band. She has experimented with and been influenced by many fiddle styles over the years, including Irish, Quebecois, Cape Breton and Old Time. While a student at Mount Holyoke College, she founded the Mount Holyoke Folk Music and Dance Society. She is a member of Calluna, a Massachusetts-based trad trio that plays driving dance tunes from an Irish contemporary repertoire. You can often find her dancing at BIDA or playing at Irish sessions in Boston.

Gus Cantieni (he/they)

Gus Cantieni grew up contra dancing from an early age and performing tenor banjo with his parents in Wild Asparagus. He went on to form the contra band Calluna and has become an avid Irish-session-goer in the Boston area. Ask them about mushroom growing, programming, or cooking if you have a spare 30 minutes :p

Kemma Kahn (She/They)

Kemma Kahn grew up in the contra dance community and is a third generation partner/folk dancer. Her dancing background also includes other forms of partner dancing, and her newest obsession queer country line dancing. She is currently in grad school at Smith for her MSW and will be practicing with adolescents this year. Talk to her about the NBA, psychodynamic theory, cats, or pole dancing.

Rhia Henderson (She/Her)

Rhia has danced since she could walk. Starting with ballet and highland dancing, then switching to all forms of partner dancing in her teens. She started contra dancing at age 11 at the Concord Scout house, and it has been a huge part of her life ever since. Other dance accolades include starting a northern VT blues and fusion dance scene, and an extensive background in international folk dancing. Outside of the folk world, Rhia lives in Syracuse, NY and is a wildlife biologist studying disease and parasite transmission - only ask if you’re prepared to have your ear talked off! She is a cat lover, an advocate for disability access at her school, and has a passion for an ever-changing array of hand crafts.

Annie Kidwell (They/Them)

Annie grew up contra dancing in Kentucky and has followed that love all around the country. Now they’re based in Somerville, MA, where they dance, call, choreograph, and teach. You can find them calling contras around New England and beyond, or teaching Fusion dance in and around Boston. Outside of the social dance world, they’re a director and a theatre educator. Ask them about fantasy books, knitting, or Shakespeare!

Molly Tucker (She/Her)

Molly Tucker is a Boston-based fiddler, educator, and composer. Growing up in California, she spent a great deal of her childhood listening to and playing fiddle tunes and awaiting the next contra dance. She found joy in building folk music community while studying at Oberlin College, where she organized monthly contra dances as well as Dandelion Romp. She now performs regularly with folk duo Casey Murray & Molly Tucker and contra dance band Northwoods, while teaching at two community music schools and running her own private teaching studio. She can be found walking her dog, watching reality TV, or playing tunes.