Country Dance & Song Society

International Folkdance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-01-02 19:30 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55406, United States
Every Friday

Ed Stern Large Studio
7:30 – 8:30 pm Lesson
8:30-10:30 pm Request Dance – recorded music
​Cost: $12 General Admission | $9 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)

Discover heritage and dance roots! International features dances from many regions of the world including Europe, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Brittany, the Middle East, South and North America. All International Fridays are a mix of international styles and dances unless noted otherwise. No partner is needed, and most dances are done by the group in a semi-circular line formation following a leader.
Dance instruction takes place for the first hour, with teachers covering 4-6 dances of varying degrees of difficulty, and typically from different regions. Instruction on the first Friday of the month is geared toward newcomers. After the hour of instruction, it’s time for request dancing from our large collection of recorded music. Everyone is welcome to stay. The programmer (DJ) creates a set from a list of requests generated by attendees. The programmer chooses a range of dances, from basic patterns to tricky sequences.
​​What is International Request Dance?
Dancers can request dances taught recently or old favorites – so what gets programmed is a mix of old and new. There are dances from every continent, and the most-requested dances are from eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece. We also do Israeli dances, and couple dances from (western) Europe and the Americas – but you don’t need to bring a partner.

Friday Contra Dance, Nashville TN
2026-01-02 19:30 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | Second Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 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.

Lambertville Country Dancers (English Country Dance in Newtown, PA)
2026-01-02 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Chandler Hall, 98 Barclay Street, Newtown, NJ, 18940, United States
English Country Dance with caller Imogen Mills. Musicians: Janet Mills, Robert Mills, Crystal Peebles

First Friday Mostly Waltz at Guiding Star Grange
2026-01-02 20:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
Series hosted by Richard Wyatt. Live music of mostly waltzes with a variety of other couples dances mixed in.
See venue website for this month’s details and Covid policy.

Friday Night Contra at Glen Echo, Maryland
2026-01-02 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.

Scissortail English Country Dance in Oklahoma City
2026-01-03 13:30 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Oklahoma City Swing Dance Club, Northwest 50th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73112, United States
Scissortail English Country Dance in Oklahoma City, first Saturday of the month. Check our Facebook or our website for more details!

York Region English Country Dancers
2026-01-03 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Trinity United Church Newmarket, 461 Park Avenue, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 1V9, Canada
English Country Dance in central York Region (Ontario, Canada)! Beginners welcome; all dances taught; you don’t need to bring a partner. Admission by donation; your first class is free. Join us on the first, third, and (when there is one) fifth Saturday of the month from 2:00 to 4:00. (Please check the website for possible last-minute changes.)

Tucson Contra Dance
2026-01-03 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.

Buena Vista Community Contra Dance
2026-01-03 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Buena Vista Congregational United Church of Christ, 217 Crossman Ave, Buena Vista, 81211, United States
Come contra dance with us! First Saturdays, September thru May.
We will have live music to dance to, starting at 7 PM.
And for our September, December and May dances, we start at 6 PM with Potluck Dinner.
Each dance will be taught before it is danced.
Partners are not required, nor is previous dance experience.
Donations will be accepted at the door.
Are you a musician? Join our Band Jam each First Saturday starting at 5:30pm!
If you have questions, feel free to call Lee Dodge at 210-275-3355.
or
Email us at: ArkValleyMusicAndDance@Gmail.com
Sponsored by Arkansas Valley Music and Dance.

Asheville Community Square Dance
2026-01-03 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd, Asheville, NC, 28805, United States
Grab your friends or your partner! Live music, dancing, and community fun—no experience needed and everyone’s welcome! Start the night with a flatfoot lesson, and dance your heart out to driving fiddle tunes and a caller who knows how to bring the fun. Our dances are on the first Saturday of every month, September through May.
Plenty of free parking is available at Haw Creek Elementary School (10 Bethesda Rd), just a short walk from the hall. Accessible spots are also available next to the dance hall at Haw Creek Commons.
Admission: $10 per person, $5 for kids 12 and under. Pay at the door via cash, Venmo, or Zelle.
Callers and musicians are announced monthly via our email list.

Wooster Contra Dance
2026-01-03 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Valley College Grange, 2411 Shreve Road, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
A lively and friendly contra dance with dancers of all ages. Longways sets called by Susan English plus circle mixers and an old-time square. Beautiful Celtic music by Pocketful o’ Gimmick. Starts at 7 pm prompt with beginner instruction downstairs and advanced contras upstairs. Then all come together upstairs and dance until 9:30 pm.

Circle Left
2026-01-03 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Lake Merritt Dance Center, 200 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94610, United States
Circle Left is a gender-neutral contra dance in Oakland on the first Saturday of the month.

Scissortail Contra Dance in Tulsa, OK
2026-01-03 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
2026-01-03 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.

Hudson Valley Country Dancers - Port Ewen English Country Dance
2026-01-03 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Reformed Church of Port Ewen, 160 Salem St, Port Ewen, NY, 12466, United States
English Country Dance with visiting callers. Live local band. Air conditioned hall, so we dance all summer!
7 PM skills class for beginners
Dance is 7:30 to 10:30. Entry is $15.

Swingin' Tern Contra Dance
2026-01-03 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 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

Monthly American Folk Dance and Contra Series at Children's Museum of Oak Ridge
2026-01-03 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, United States
Join us the first Saturday of every month (except February) for our monthly dance in the gymnasium of the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge as we dance mostly contras. Neither partner or experience is required. All dances are taught. We usually have live music from a local band, and always live calling from a local caller. A donation is requested, but no one turned away.

First Saturday Contra at Guiding Star Grange
2026-01-03 19:30 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
Wild Asparagus with George Marshall, David Cantieni, Becky Tracy, Ann Percival and guests. Please check the Guiding Star Grange website for details.
Schedule: 7:30-8:00 beginners’ workshop, 8:00-11:00 contra dance
Cost: $12 – $20 sliding scale
See venue website for this month’s details and Covid policy.

Montpelier Contra Dance
2026-01-03 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Capital City Grange Hall, 6612 Vermont Rt. 12, Berlin, VT, 05602, United States
Montpelier Contra Dance with callers and bands that perform regionally and nationally—see website or Facebook events
Beginners, singles, and all ages are welcome; all dances are taught.
Gender-neutral role terms (Larks and Robins)
Newcomers lesson 7:40 pm. Dancing 8-11pm.
Please bring clean soft-soled shoes.
Masks optional / Excellent ventilation with open windows and ceiling exhaust fan (bring a sweater in cooler months)
More info at our website.
$12 adults, $5 kids/low-income, $20 dance supporters.
Questions? 802-225-8921 or cdu.tim@gmail.com
Dancing 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays year round

Contra Dance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-01-03 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

Big Scioty - Hot Coffee Breakdown with caller Gaye Fifer
2026-01-04 07:00 (America/New_York) | First Congregational Church of Columbus Ohio, 444 East Broad St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Be sure to come for the beginner’s lesson from 7:30–8:00, followed by dancing 8:00–10:30. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner.
Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot.
Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

Contra Dance
2026-01-04 13:30 - 16:30 (America/Denver) | International Dance Club, 2422 Busch Ave., Colorado Springs, CO, 80904, United States
Contra Dance in Colorado Springs, CO with live music.
Beginner’s lesson at start of session.
$10 adults; $5 students; children under 13 free with a paying adult.

Capital English Country Dancers
2026-01-04 13:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | St. John’s Episcopal Church, Troy, NY, 146 1st Street, Troy, 12180, United States
Monthly English country dances, first Sunday of the month October–May. Live music, all dances taught; beginners, singles, and couples are welcome. Beginner workshop at 1:30 PM, dance at 2 PM.
Regular Dances: $15, $12 CECD Members (Membership: $15) Ice Cream Sunday: $17, $14 CECD Members (includes ice cream sundaes), Season Ticket: $88

Symmetry ECD Sundays
2026-01-04 14:00 (America/New_York) | ONLINE
Symmetry began with a group of friends offering online ECD during the pandemic, and we see no reason to stop now! Join caller Sharon Spangler each Sunday at 2pm Eastern for an hour-long program of dances. The dances are modified to fit the zoom format and work well for one or two dancers. A “pin for 4” screen with instructions for groups of 4 or more is provided.
We also offer ECD every Tuesday at 2pm Eastern, and every first Thursday at 7pm Eastern. These dances feature a variety of different callers from the U.K. and the U.S. There is also live music several times per month, played by the dynamic U.K. duo Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer.
More info and the link to join the dance are available on our website.

Just For Fun - Country Dance Kalamazoo
2026-01-04 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Oshtemo Grange, 3234 North 3rd St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49009, United States
It’s an afternoon dance party and a workshop in a relaxed atmosphere. We offer a variety of dances: contra, English, squares, waltzes, etc. New callers can work through a dance, dancers can learn a new form of dance. Or. We just … dance!
Suggested admission between $5-$20

Roseville CA First Sunday English Country Dance
2026-01-04 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Masonic Lodge, 235 Vernon St., Roseville, CA, 95678, United States
English Country Dance at the Masonic Lodge, 235 Vernon St., Roseville! Check our website for the most current information.
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for college students with ID; $5 for dancers under 18; $30 maximum for families (cash or check). If cost is the only thing preventing you being being there, please talk to the greeters at the door.

Concord NH 1st Sunday English Country Dance series
2026-01-04 14:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Howard Recreation Center, Hugh Gallen State Office Park, Kent Street, Concord, NH, 03301, United States
Monthly English Country dances by the NH English Country Dance Society
Introduction to English dance basics at 2:30
Dance to live music from 3 to 6

Houston Area Traditional Dance Society 1st Sunday English Country Dance
2026-01-04 14:45 - 17:20 (America/Chicago) | Dauntless Dance Studio, 3300 Jensen Dr, Suite B, Houston, TX, 77026, United States
HATDS ECD meets most 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays. All levels are welcomed at the 1st and 3rd Sundays. 5th Sunday dances are usually, but not always, for experienced dancers. The schedule sometimes changes, so check our event calendar before coming.

Monterey Contra Dance
2026-01-04 15:40 - 19:00 (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

Sebastopol 1st and 3rd Sunday English Dance
2026-01-04 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Wischemann Hall, 465 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
English country dancing runs the gamut from sublime to silly, from elegant to energetic, and the dance repertoire draws from over 350 years of material. Our series offers delectable live music and skilled callers from the Bay Area and beyond. You can come by yourself or with friends, since we change partners after each dance. If you’ve ever done contra or square dancing, much of our dance vocabulary will be familiar to you since both of those styles evolved from English country dancing.
The dance is held the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, 2-4:30 pm, to live music, all levels of experience welcome; and occasional 5th Sundays for Advanced dancers. Admission is $15 for members of NBCDS and its affiliates, $8 for young adults ages 19-30, and $3 for youth ages 6-18. Call 707-829-3478 for more information or contact kalia@nbcds.org
Note: We sometimes need to make a venue or time change to accommodate special events. Please check the NBCDS calendar to confirm.
