Chicago Contra Dance
2027-01-11 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.

Knoxville Monday Night Contra
2027-01-11 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
2027-01-11 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
2027-01-11 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!

Symmetry ECD Tuesdays
2027-01-12 14:00 - 15:00 (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! In addition to weekly Sunday dances with caller Sharon Spangler, Symmetry’s Tuesday dances feature a variety of callers, a mix of faces from the U.K. and the U.S. The dances are slightly adapted for online presentation. Symmetry enjoys live music at least twice a month from the versatile U.K. duo Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer. More info and the link to join the dances are available on the Symmetry ECD website.

Saint Louis Queer Contra
2027-01-12 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Focal Point, Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood, MO, 63143, United States
Come on out to Saint Louis Queer Contra
Second Tuesdays 7-9 pm (Lesson 6:45) at Focal Point – 2720 Sutton, Maplewood, MO
One of the most wholesome, friendly, and affirming things to do in St. Louis!
All dances taught, non-gendered calling, live music – no partner or experience needed.

Park Avenue Contra (Swarthmore PA)
2027-01-12 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).

Asheville English Country Dance for All
2027-01-13 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Stephen-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave, Asheville, NC, United States
English Country Dance. All levels welcome, newcomers through advanced dancers. Skills session at 6:15 pm. Occasional live music. Please bring clean, soft-soled shoes and a sunny disposition.

Wednesday English Country Dance at Guiding Star Grange
2027-01-13 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
Join us in Greenfield for an evening of English Country Dancing. Lively, elegant, and fun: English country dances from 1650 to today, with a rotating cast of stellar musicians and callers.
Cost: $10-$20, sliding scale.
See venue website for this month’s details and Covid policy.

Weekly Austin Contra Dance
2027-01-13 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
2027-01-13 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.

Contra Callers’ Corner
2027-01-13 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | ONLINE
Contra Callers’ Corner is a series of free monthly Zoom calls for contra callers of all levels. It’s a place to ask questions, network, and address hot topics from your local dance community in a safe space. Hosted by Seth Tepfer and a different featured guest each month, the sessions are free and open to everyone (registration required).

Chattanooga Contra Dance
2027-01-14 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church, 1607 W 43rd St, Chattanooga, TN, 37409, United States
Come on out to the dance floor! Bring your soft-soled shoes and water bottle! We host callers and bands from across the East Coast! The beginner lesson is at 7 pm, and the dance goes from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

English Country Dancing
2027-01-15 18:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Luray United Methodist Church, 1 West Main St., Luray, VA, 22835, United States
We invite you to dance with us on the third Friday of every month at Luray United Methodist Church. Parking behind the adjacent bank building. It’s free and open to the public; most appropriate for people 10 years old and up; no experience needed; no partner needed. Wear casual clothes and comfortable shoes.
Tom Mack is the caller and we dance to recorded music enjoying dances from the 1700’s and 1800’s: lines, circles and squares.
Health issues: If you feel sick, stay home.

Rivanna Contra Dance
2027-01-15 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
2027-01-15 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.

Portland Country Dance Community Friday Night English Dance
2027-01-15 19:30 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Burlingame Water Tower Dance Hall, 8936 SW 17th Ave, Portland, OR, 97219, United States
For details about venue, callers, or musicians, please go to our website, or email ecd-chair@portlandcountrydance.org
Sliding scale: $7 – $20.

International Folkdance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2027-01-15 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
2027-01-15 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.

Scissortail English Country Dance in Norman, OK
2027-01-16 13:30 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Norman Adult Wellness and Education Center, 602 N. Findlay Ave, Norman, OK, 73071, United States
Scissortail English Country Dance in Norman, third Saturday of the month. Check our Facebook or our website for more details!

Tucson Contra Dance
2027-01-16 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
2027-01-16 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 Contra Dances
2027-01-16 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton, 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.

Syracuse Country Dancers Contra Dance
2027-01-16 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
2027-01-16 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.

Lancaster, PA Monthly Contra Dance
2027-01-16 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.

Swingin' Tern Contra Dance
2027-01-16 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

Contra Dance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2027-01-16 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

Louisville Third-Saturday Contra Dance
2027-01-16 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Highlands Community Campus, 1228 E. Breckinridge Street, Louisville, KY, 40204, United States
Louisville, Kentucky’s monthly third-Saturday contra dance. Check our website for details on bands and callers. Don’t miss the free lesson at 7:30pm. First-time attendees dance free! Waltzing and snacks at the break.

Junction Song Circle
2027-01-17 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Community Room, Greater Hartford UCC, 1721 Maple St., White River Junction, VT, 05001, United States
Come sing: Bring a ballad or traditional song to share!
On the third Sunday of every month, we meet up in the community room of the Greater Hartford UCC in White River Junction to share ballads and other unaccompanied songs. Traditional British and North American ballads are our specialties: stark, spellbinding story-songs handed down orally as homespun entertainment among regular people. But traditional songs from any tradition, in any language, are welcome!
Bring your favorite ballad or folk song, memorized or not, and share it with our friendly circle—all unaccompanied voices: no instruments. Or just come to listen and immerse yourself in the world of these tales and their tunes. If a song has a chorus to join in on, we’ll learn it together by ear, and solo songs are welcome, too. It’s a participatory event, and everyone is welcome, regardless of ability, expertise, or confidence.
