Country Dance & Song Society

Scissortail Contra Dance in Oklahoma City
2026-07-25 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | First Unitarian Church Oklahoma City – Daniel Hall, 600 Northwest 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73103, United States
Scissortail Contra Dance in Oklahoma City, second and fourth Saturdays. Check our Facebook or our website for more details!

Portland Country Dance Community 4th Saturdays Contra Dance
2026-07-25 19:00 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Fulton Park Hall (L’Etoile French Immersion School), 68 SW Miles St, Portland, OR, 97219, United States
Mark your calendars now for the next Saturday night dance at Fulton Hall. Dances are called using gender-neutral terms.

7:00 pm newcomer/refresher lesson
7:30 pm dancing starts
10:30 dancing ends

Sliding scale $6-$20.
Some dancers head to a pub for “afters”—all are welcome!

CDK Contra & Square Dance
2026-07-25 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Oshtemo Grange, 3234 North 3rd St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49009, United States
Contra & Square Dance – Beginning Workshop 7pm, Dancing 7:30-10:30pm
Suggested donation $5-$20

Princeton Country Dancers' Combination Contra and English Country Dance
2026-07-25 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Dr, Princeton, NJ, 08502, United States
Combination Contra and English Country Dance every 4th Saturday, 7:30-10:30 (except February)

Richmond Saturday Evening Contra Dance, Sponsored by TADAMS
2026-07-25 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | West End Ballroom, 2300 John Rolfe Parkway, Henrico, VA, 23233, United States
Join us in Richmond, VA for a Saturday evening contra dance, hosted by TADAMS, at the West End Ballroom. Beginner lesson at 6:45pm, dance from 7:30-10:30pm. Please see our full website calendar for band and caller details. Admission is $15 non-members, $10 members & students, children under 13 are free.

Contra Dance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-07-25 20:00 - 23:00, 2026-08-01 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Chicago) | Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55406, United States
Every Saturday
LARGE STUDIO

7:30 – 8:00 pm Lesson
8:00 – 11:00 pm Dance

Cost:
Live Music: $15 General Admission | $12 Tapestry Member | $8 Young Adult (Ages 18-30) | $4 Youth (Ages 10-17) | Under 10 – Free
“Pay What You Choose” first seven days of every month (1st through the 7th)
Recorded Music: $12 General | $10 Members | $7 Young Adult & Youth (Ages 10 -21)
What is Contra Dance?
In a Contra dance, a leader, known as a caller, teaches basic dance steps during an introductory “walk-through” of the dance. Dancers learn by walking through the steps and formations, following the caller’s instructions. The dance figures are similar to those of old-time square dancing except the figures are usually danced in a line, with leaders and followers facing each other.
​These dances are lively, social, easy to learn, and aerobic. Although you will dance with a partner, it isn’t necessary to come with one. All dances are taught and are usually done in “long-ways sets” (partners facing in long lines down the hall). Many of the regular Tapestry Folkdance Center Contra bands play old-time music (similar to bluegrass), but the music at any given Saturday night Contra may reflect a range of music traditions, such as New England, French Canadian, Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and modern compositions.
How does Contra Dance Work?
“A contra dance can be thought of as a triangle of energy with the three vertices being the musicians, the dancers and the caller. Magical evenings occur when all three come together, feeding off of each others’ energy to raise and sustain an atmosphere of fun and joy. The caller’s role in this is paramount. Good music and dancers without a good caller may not be magical. Poor teaching, lack of rapport or inappropriately selected dances can lead to frustration. But a good caller can make even new dancers feel like they are good, and by working with the musicians to match music to dances, set the right tempo, and feed off the energy of everyone in the hall, the caller can help make magic.”
by Beau Farmer, Tapestry Folkdance Center Contra Caller

4th Sunday Monthly Albuquerque, NM Contra Dance
2026-07-26 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver) | Albuquerque Square Dance Center, 4915 Hawkins St. NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109, United States
Everyone is welcome at contra dancing, no partner required. For more details about contra or FolkMADS organization, see our website at folkmads.org
All dances are Pay What You Want – suggested $10/person, $10-20/family.

Hayward CA Contra
2026-07-26 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hill and Valley Club, 1808 B Street, Hayward, CA, 94541, United States
Hayward Contra presents contra dancing on 2nd & 4th Sunday afternoons, 4pm-7pm in Hayward (SF Bay Area). Check the website for details, including how to find carpools or arrange for a pickup from BART (advanced registration).

Chicago Contra Dance
2026-07-27 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
2026-07-27 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
2026-07-27 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
2026-07-27 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.

Louisville Contra Dance
2026-07-27 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!

Park Avenue Contra (Swarthmore PA)
2026-07-28 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Park Avenue Community Center, 1229 Park Ave, Swarthmore, PA, United States
Joyful community contra dancing on 2nd & 4th Tuesdays. Sit-in musicians welcome on 2nd Tuesdays for our By-Ear Open Band (tunes + other details on our website).

Bloomington Contra Dance
2026-07-29 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
2026-07-29 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+

Berkeley Contra or English Dance
2026-07-29 19:30 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Christ Church Berkeley, 2138 Cedar St., Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
BACDS presents a dance every Wednesday (contra on 1st/3rd/5th Wed 8pm-10:30pm; English on 2nd/4th Wed 7:45pm-10pm) at Christ Church East Bay, 2138 Cedar St. (near Oxford), Berkeley. Both series include an introductory lesson about 15-20 minutes before the dance start time.

Baltimore Folk Music Society Wednesday Contra Dance
2026-07-29 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
2026-07-29 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.

Tally Contra Dance
2026-07-31 19:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Tallahassee Senior Center Ballroom, 1400 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL, 32308, United States
Tallahassee community contra dances are in full swing the 2nd and 4th Fridays of most months! Refer to our website for details, as bands and callers vary each dance. Those new to contra dancing are strongly encouraged to come by 7:15, when a beginner lesson will be taught. Consider bringing a snack to share during the break!
Admission cost: $10 for adults, $9 seniors over 50, $6 for students, free for kids under 12. Admission is payable by cash, check, or card at the door. Newcomers get in to their 2nd dance free!
See a video of a recent contra dance here.

Friday Contra Dance, Nashville TN
2026-07-31 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
2026-07-31 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.

St. Alban's Contra Dance in Baton Rouge
2026-08-01 15:00 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | St. Alban’s Chapel, 3825 Dalrymple Dr., Baton Rouge, LA, 70802, United States
Monthly Contra Dance.
New Time: 3:00pm-5:30pm with Basics for New Folks at 2:45pm
At St. Alban’s Chapel in Baton Rouge
We’ll dance to the live music of Kendall Rogers and Pete Dawson
Charlene Heaton will call the dance.
Suggested donation for the callers and the band:
Adults $7 (contribute $10 to include a tip for the band…or put a tip in the basket, as you wish);
Students $5,
Children free.
If you’d like, bring cookies or veggies or fruit to share. It’s good to bring your own water bottle.

Tucson Contra Dance
2026-08-01 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.

Scissortail Contra Dance in Tulsa, OK
2026-08-01 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Strictly Ballroom Dance Studio and Event Center, 6926 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK, 74136, United States
Scissortail Contra Dance in Tulsa, first Saturdays. Check our Facebook or our website for more details!

Syracuse Country Dancers Contra Dance
2026-08-01 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.

Santa Fe Contra Dance
2026-08-01 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.

Swingin' Tern Contra Dance
2026-08-01 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chatham, NJ, 200 Main St., Chatham, NJ, 07928, United States
Our contra dances are held every first and third Saturday evening year-round from 7:30pm–10:30pm with a beginners’ workshop at 7pm. We have occasional double dances along with a New Year’s Eve dance.
Our full calendar
Useful Information:

Newcomers are welcome to come at 7pm for an introductory lesson on the basics of contra dancing. No partner is necessary. All dances are taught with a “walk-through” by the caller.
We no longer require vaccination. Masks are optional.
All dances at Swingin’ Tern are called to the gender-neutral terms Larks & Robins. Dance whatever role you’re comfortable in.
We are air-conditioned. We have windows on three sides when we want to let the breeze come in.
Our dance is two blocks from the Chatham station on the Morris/Essex line out of Penn Station, NYC.
We welcome contributions of home-baked [or not] goodies to share at the break.
Please bring your own water bottle. Water bottles may be filled at the kitchen sink.
Wear comfortable clothing. Contra dancing is aerobic. We prefer you carry in your shoes.
We are a friendly, inclusive group. Pack plenty of smiles!

$15 adults/$5 students

Carrboro First Saturday Contra Dance
2026-08-01 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Carrboro Century Center, 100 N Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Every first Saturday at the Carrboro Century Center. Gender-neutral calling.
Check our website for details—it’s occasionally a Rushfest!
