Country Dance & Song Society

Chicago Contra Dance
2026-03-16 19:00 - 21:40 (America/Chicago) | Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
The Chicago Barn Dance Company sponsors and supports contra dance, traditional square dance, and old-time music in the Chicago area. Our dances are held every Monday night, except holidays, in the beautiful fourth-floor Erin Ballroom at Chicago’s Irish American Heritage Center. The dance venue is near the Montrose Blue Line stop, or you can park in the large FREE parking lot on site.
Admission is $7-$10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students. Come at 6:30pm if you would like a beginner/refresher lesson.

The Asheville Monday Night Contra Dance
2026-03-16 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | The Ivy Building at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 9 Genevieve Circle, Asheville, 28801, United States
New Location, Times, & Admission
The Ivy Building at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
9 Genevieve Circle, Asheville, NC 28801
(On GPS, type the address, not the building name! The building looks like an old church and is across from the Ferguson Medical Building at 10 Genevieve Circle.)

Lesson: 7:00pm – 7:30pm
Dance: 7:30pm – 10:00pm
$0 – $50 Sliding Scale; $12 Suggested
Check our Facebook page for caller and musician info

The Asheville Monday Night Contra Dance, every Monday. Dancing to a live band and caller! Contra dancing is fun and energetic. The welcoming atmosphere makes it a perfect evening for beginners as well as seasoned contra dancers.
Beginners are welcome, lesson 7:00pm–7:30pm. Contra dancing from 7:30pm–10:00pm. A waltz ends the night!
Safe dance for all! Families welcome. All ages, races & ethnicities, LGBTQIA+ welcome. No discrimination or bullying of any kind will be tolerated. Volunteers earn a free dance.
Bring a water bottle. Bring comfortable, smooth soled shoes to dance in. No partner required. No experience needed for the beginners’ lesson.

Knoxville Monday Night Contra
2026-03-16 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave, Knoxville, TN, 37916, United States
Contra dancing to live music every Monday evening in Knoxville, TN. The dance begins at 7:30 with a lesson for new folks starting at 7:00. Everyone welcome.

Monday Cincinnati Contra Dance
2026-03-16 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Wyoming Fine Arts Center, 322 Wyoming Ave, Wyoming, OH, 45215, United States
Weekly Contra Dance at Wyoming Fine Arts Center, including waltz and maybe squares. Live music from many rotating bands. Many rotating callers using gendered or gender-free prompts. Teaching at 7 pm. Dance from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Monday Contra Dance in Nelson, NH
2026-03-16 19:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Nelson Town Hall, 5 Nelson Common Rd, Nelson, NH, 03457, United States
What better way to start the week? Only $5! It’s Monday, and we (almost) always dance on Monday.

Louisville Contra Dance
2026-03-16 20:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Highlands Community Campus, 1228 E. Breckinridge Street, Louisville, KY, 40204, United States
Louisville, Kentucky’s weekly Monday night contra dance, always featuring live music from the Monday Night All Stars open band! Dancing is 8:00-10:30pm with a beginner’s lesson at 7:30pm. Waltzing and snacks available at the break. Check out our website for details on the caller and special performances. Open calling on 5th Mondays!

Bloomington Contra Dance
2026-03-18 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Harmony School, 909 East 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN, 47401, United States
Please see our home page for the latest information.
Entrance fee: by sliding scale donation, with a suggested range from $3 to $20.
Striving Toward Safe Space Policy: We hope to create a dance in which everyone feels safe and welcome. Please take a moment to review our policy on respect and consent.
Membership: Membership is optional. Both members and non-members pay a sliding scale entrance fee; see above.
Volunteers are always welcome! Sign up with a dance coordinator for set-up or clean-up if you’d like! Many of us also go out for drinks and munchies after each Wednesday night dance.

Weekly Austin Contra Dance
2026-03-18 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Chicago) | Hancock Recreation Center, 811 East 41st St., Austin, TX, 78751, United States
A free weekly dance at Hancock Recreation Center, with music by the jam/pickup band, Local On-Call Orchestra (LOCO). We dance every week that Hancock Recreation Center is open. A brief beginners session is taught at 7:30, before the dance program begins. Dance ends about 9:30. Free parking lot.

We welcome beginners. If you can walk to a beat, you can contra dance! All dances are taught and called. No partner necessary. Dance either role – or both. Everyone is welcome.

Sober event. Family-friendly. LGBTQ+

Baltimore Folk Music Society Wednesday Contra Dance
2026-03-18 20:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Lovely Lane Church, 2200 Saint Paul St, Baltimore, MD, 21218, United States
The Baltimore Folk Music Society presents Contra Dancing on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays, 8:00 to 10:30 p.m., in the hall at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church.

Gender-free calling
No partner? No problem.
New dancer lesson every week at 7:30pm
Live music from local, regional, and national bands

Admission

$10 for members and affiliates (FSGW, ATDS)
$15 for non-members
Under 21 and full-time students with IDs: Free!

The Wednesday Contra Dance is sponsored in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
See our Contra dance FAQs for general information on Contra Dances.
Please see our Behavior Policy.

Princeton Country Dancers’ Contra Dance
2026-03-18 20:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Dr, Princeton, NJ, 08502, United States
Weekly contra dance on Wednesday nights, 8:00-10:30.

Old Tyme Contra & Community Dance of Macon County, NC
2026-03-19 18:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Macon County Library, 149 Siler Farm Rd, Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Third Thursday of every month:* lesson at 6:30, dance 7-9pm.
Live band and dance caller for contras, squares, round, and fun crazy family dances, too.
Beginners are welcome! No need to bring a partner, but you are welcome to do so.
Children over age 8 who are game to participate may also attend.
Bring a closed water container and a snack if you choose.
Smooth-soled shoes work best on the Library’s wonderful wood floor.
Please do not wear perfume or scents to the dances.

Suggested donation: $10 adults; kids under 14 free.
* Note: Our venue changes often. Please check our Facebook page for updates.

Lake City Contra Dance
2026-03-19 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Latvian Community Center, 11710 3rd Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98125, United States
Thursday nights; doors open at 7 pm
Dances: intro/refresher workshop 7:15 pm, dancing 7:30 till 10:00 pm
Admission on a sliding scale $10 – 20 – pay what you can
The hall is well-ventilated and air-conditioned!
For more information call 206-525-0932, or send us email.

2026 Spring Breakdown
2026-03-20 - 2026-03-22 | Kimball Ballroom – Stephens College Campus, 6 N. College Ave., Columbia, MO, 65201, United States
Plan now for a full weekend of dancing, workshops and more!
March 20-22, 2026
In Kimball Ballroom (Stephens College campus), 6 N. College Ave., Columbia, MO 65201
Featuring:
Big Brandy and Wendy Graham!
Big Brandy—Four cross-genre musicians from the Cosmic Otters and Birdhouse Hollow combine forces to form Big Brandy. They take the best of old-time Appalachian, Irish, and French tunes and weave them into exhilarating arrangements, perfectly tailored for contra dancing. Meg Dedolph (guitar, percussion), Wren Eisenhauer (banjo, vocals), Jonathan Whitall (fiddle, piano), Qi Yang (accordion, piano).
Wendy Graham (Brasstown, NC) is a self-described “dance maniac.” Her passion for traditional folk music, song, and dance caught fire in 1991 on a youth dance tour in Denmark. Today, she leads many kinds of dance, including English Country, American contras and squares, partner (swing, latin, waltz, blues, country), and line dances at community and private events around the country and abroad—from Alaska to Denmark and everywhere in between. When not leading and teaching dance, Wendy programs dance weeks/weekends and classes for teens and adults at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. She proudly served on the Lloyd Shaw Foundation and Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) board and Lifetime Contribution Award committee. She is a current CDSS nominating committee member.

Rivanna Contra Dance
2026-03-20 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Greenwood Community Center, 865 Greenwood Rd, Crozet, VA, 22932, United States
Third Friday contra dances in Charlottesville, VA. A few miles off I-64. Mask optional. Larks & Robins. Intro lesson 7:00 PM. Dance starts 7:30 PM.
Sliding scale admission: recommend $20

Contra Dance with Alice Raibourn & The Mystic Gorillas
2026-03-20 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | United Church of Gainesville, 1624 NW 5th Ave, Gainesville,, FL, 32603
The Mystic Gorillas are:

Roger Eudy on guitar
Buz Sibley on fiddle
Lloyd Baldwin on banjo and fiddle

Schedule:

6:00pm – 7:00 – Setup
7:00pm – 9:45pm – Introductory workshop & Contra Dance
9:45 – 10:15pm — Cleanup

Suggested Donation:

$10 (ages 26+)
$5 (ages 16-25)
Dancers ages 15 & under get in FREE when accompanied by an adult.

Please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.
This is a friendly welcoming recreational activity and all are welcome.
No partner or experience is necessary.
Contra dancing is fun and we’ll teach you how.
No special dress is required.
Wear comfortable, casual attire & soft-soled non-marking shoes.
Smoking and/or alcoholic beverages are not allowed at our dances.

Orlando Contra Dance
2026-03-20 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Winter Park Ballroom Dance Co., 6904 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, FL, 32792-7003, United States
Welcome to the Orlando Contra Dance! We feature high-tempo, gender-neutral dancing. We are Florida’s only gender-neutral contra series. Dancing is open to everyone and free for students and returning beginners (2nd dance is free)!
We usually dance on the first and third Friday of the month. Holidays, semester breaks, and regional events happen, so check the schedule before going!

3rd Friday Hot Springs NC Contradance
2026-03-20 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Pine Hall, 64 South Spring St, Hot Springs, NC, 28743, United States
Monthly 3rd Friday dance in Hot Springs North Carolina, a mere 200 yards from the Appalachian Trail!
Find us on Facebook: Friends of Hot Springs Contradance

Friday Contra Dance, Nashville TN
2026-03-20 19:30 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | The Activity Center at Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville, 3511 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37215, United States
All are welcome to come and dance! You don’t need to bring a partner. Contra dancing is easy to learn. We have beginners’ lessons for anyone who hasn’t done it before, or wants a reminder.
$7 – $25, pay what you can.

Friday Night Contra at Glen Echo, Maryland
2026-03-20 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD, 20812, United States
Join us in Glen Echo, Maryland, for a fun night of contras and an occasional square! There’s a free lesson at 7:30pm.

Pittsburgh Contra Dance
2026-03-20 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Wightman School Community Building, 5604 Solway St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, United States
Come dance to the music of AlleMonOh with caller Bob Devaty. Our free beginner lesson begins at 7:30pm. As always, we will offer a couple waltzes during breaks.
$15 suggested donation.

Lenox Contra Dance
2026-03-21 07:15 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Lenox Community Center, 65 Walker St, Lenox, MA, 01240, United States
Come join us contra dancing to live music. We have a different band and caller each month. Dances are held on Third Saturday nights in Lenox, Massachusetts in the Lenox Community Center, at 65 Walker Street. Experience the pleasure of dancing on a beautiful wood floor, in a high-ceiling second floor (handicapped accessible) ballroom with a raised stage.
Admission is $12-15 for adults and $8-10 for students. New Dancers – 2nd dance free!
Dances begin with a 15-minute beginner introduction at 7:15 followed by dancing from 7:30 to 10:30. Refreshments are offered during the social break from dancing. All the dances are taught. No partner necessary. Come alone or bring friends. Details at LenoxContraDance.org.

Tucson Contra Dance
2026-03-21 18:30 - 22:00 (America/Phoenix) | Southern Arizona Dance Center, 4801 E 29th Street, Tucson, AZ, 85711, United States
Join us for our first and third Saturday contra dance! Doors open at 6:00 pm. Intro lesson at 6:30 pm. Dance from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Check our website for more details.

Monterey Contra Dance
2026-03-21 18:40 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Monterey YMCA, 600 Camino el Estero, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
Monterey Country Dance Community holds contra dances most first Sundays and third Saturdays, unless otherwise noted in our schedules and calendars. Come alone or bring a friend—beginners are always welcome!

First Sundays: Lessons at 3:40 PM; dance from 4–7 PM
Third Saturdays: Lessons at 6:40; dance from 7–10 PM.

​Prices:

$15-$30, sliding scale, general admission
$10-$25, members of MCDC, BACDS, CDSS or other sister organizations;
$5, active military & full-time students, with ID;
FREE! for children 12 & under

South Florida Contradance
2026-03-21 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2601 St Andrews Blvd, Boca Raton, FL, 33434, United States
Enjoying contra dance
You’ll be smiling and laughing.
No partner is necessary. Lesson at the beginning. Wear casual clothes and soft soled shoes.
Age range 10-100
Dances are called.
Put the phone down and destress your life.

South Florida Contra Dances
2026-03-21 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton, 2601 St Andrews Blvd, Boca Raton, FL, 33434, United States

Syracuse Country Dancers Contra Dance
2026-03-21 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | United Church of Fayetteville, 310 East Genesee St, Fayetteville, NY, 13066, United States
Contra dancing every 1st and 3rd Saturday.

3rd Saturdays Contra Dance, Grass Valley CA
2026-03-21 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Grass Valley Elks Lodge, 109 S School St #3, Grass Valley, CA, 95945, United States
Live music, historic ballroom, sprung dance floor, beginner/refresher session at 6:40pm. Dance 7-10pm. Doors open 6:30. $15. Potluck snacks/treats at halftime!
Elks Lodge in downtown Grass Valley: 109 S. School St., 95945 (fairly easy parking on street and town lots); across from the Center for the Arts. Check our website for band & caller info.

3rd Saturday Contra Dance in Austin
2026-03-21 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Go Dance Studio, Go Dance Studio 2525 W Anderson Ln. #530, Austin, TX, 78757, United States
This monthly contra dance meets most 3rd Saturdays at Go Dance Studio, in Northcross Mall Plaza near First Watch (NE corner).
No partners necessary. Beginners welcome. All dances taught and called. Dance either role—or both. Newer dancers should arrive early for instructions on the basics.
Suggested admission $10 sliding scale. Tips for the band are appreciated. You can see the band and caller on the schedule on our website.
This is a fragrance-free event. Sober event. Family-friendly. LGBTQ+. Everyone is welcome!

Lancaster, PA Monthly Contra Dance
2026-03-21 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA, 321 W. Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA, 17603, United States
Join us on the third Saturday of each month for a community contra dance! Fall, winter and spring at the church; summer in the park pavilion.

Santa Fe Contra Dance
2026-03-21 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Denver) | Odd Fellows Hall, Santa Fe, 1125 Cerrillios Rd, Santa Fe, NM, 87505, United States
Instruction at 6:30 and dancing starts at 7:00PM. Everyone is welcome at contra dancing, no partner required. For more details about contra or the FolkMADS organization, see our website.
