Great Valley Gathering • October 3, 2026

Three-Day Festival will feature a community contra dance on Saturday at 1 pm. No experience or partner required. All dances taught. Live music with Rock Candy (Terry Barrett and Karana Drayton). Courthouse Park (1100 Van Ness Avenue, Downtown Fresno, Complete festival details: https://gathering.actaonline.org/

Terry Barrett and Karana Drayton

Evo Bluestein has brought traditional American forms of community dance to California schools and communities for many years.
By the numbers, Evo plays 14 instruments, teaches 12 instruments, and has spent 5 decades in professional performance. He sings, clogs, and calls English country, contra, and square dances, and he co-founded both the Fresno Folklore Society and the California Autoharp Gathering. At the festival, Evo will be calling a contra and square dance, with Terry Barrett and Karana Drayton accompanying him to make up a fiddle, banjo, and mandolin trio.
🌄 Dance with us at the Great Valley Gathering this October!

Turner Dance Week • October 19- 23, 2026

Turner Elementary School, Fresno, CA
Barn Dance Friday!

“My students develop greater listening skills and concentration, math skills, historical perspectives, and cooperative behavior. Their improved behavior is noted after returning to class. I have found the dance residency deepens my students understanding of important math concepts. My students are learning social graces of a historical era in which courtesy and manners were common. My students develop greater self-esteem from knowing that they can be well-mannered and courteous.” Laurie Piazza, second grade teacher

Evo Bluestein School Programs and Fine Instruments