Country Dance & Song Society

Folk Uncovered: Online Library Course—Exploring English Folk Dance
2026-03-12 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | ONLINE
With Mike Heaney and Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe

If the question “what actually is folk dance?” stokes your fire, sign up now for our new online folk dance library course, led by Mike Heaney and Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe.
It presents a unique opportunity to delve into the history and development of folk dance in an English context and to debate and discuss key issues.The seven evening sessions are led by two experts in the field of folk dance. Mike is the premier researcher of the morris dance, while Chloe completed her PhD on the development of barn dances and ceilidhs.
What will I learn?
Topics covered include the full spectrum of English ‘folk’ dance: morris, ceilidh, molly, rapper, barn-dance, maypole, longsword and more.
The sessions will be jam-packed with interesting historical snippets alongside consideration of current practices and perspectives.
Whether you have just tried on your first ceilidh trainers or your fifth morris top hat, this course will have something in it for you!
When and where is the course?
These online sessions take place Thursdays at 7.30pm (BST):
19 February
26 February
5 March
12 March
19 March
26 March
2 April
The sessions will take place on Zoom, and be recorded and available to watch for any bookers unable to attend a session live. Details and links to join the sessions will be sent to all those registered in due course.
*Concession price available for people in full-time education, in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance; in receipt of Income-Based Benefit (such as Income Support, Housing or Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Pension Credit)

Celebration!
2026-03-13 - 2026-03-14 | Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St, Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
Free All-Day Dance Saturday (add Friday night for $15)
Playing with Fyre & Ed, Tami and the Dust Clouds

TECDA Friday Evening Dance
2026-03-13 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Ralph Thornton Community Centre, 765 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4M 1H3, Canada
Come and join us every Friday for an evening of dance with our talented callers:
Dave Berman, Cathy Campbell, Alan Rosenthal, Walter Zagorski.
Masks are optional. Please bring your dancing shoes, water bottle and come and enjoy an evening of English Country Dancing.
email: info@tecda.ca

Contra Caller Workshop
2026-03-13 19:00 - 21:30 (America/Chicago) | St. John’s Lutheran Church, Nashville, 3259 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN, 37214, United States
Come try your hand at calling contra dances or support those who want to learn to call at this free workshop.

Lewiston Contra Dance
2026-03-13 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Trinity Commons, 247 Bates Street, Lewiston, ME, 04240, United States
We dance in the beautiful Trinity Commons at 247 Bates Street, Lewiston, ME. Sliding Scale $15-25, teens $5, kids under 12 free. Pay what you can! We’d love to dance with you! Beginners’ lesson at 7, dancing from 7:30-10. For more information, see our website or find us on Facebook!

Monrovia English Country Dance
2026-03-13 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 122 California Avenue, Monrovia, CA, 91016, United States
Please join us for English Country Dancing on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 7:30-10pm in the Guildhall of St Luke’s Episcopal Church. $5 admission (cash only). Beginners welcome! All dances are taught, walked through and called. No partner or costume required; just bring comfortable closed-toed shoes and a water bottle. We’re friendly, laid-back, and welcoming!

Tally Contra Dance
2026-03-13 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.

Portland Country Dance Community Friday Night English Dance
2026-03-13 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.

Cleveland Second Friday English Country Dance
2026-03-13 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | St. Patrick Catholic Church, 3602 Bridge Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44113, United States
Come join us at our monthly Second Friday English Country Dance.
Live music by Toad in the Hole. Callers: Carol Kopp, Steve Otlowski, & Elizabeth Estep
Wood Floor.
Suggested Donation $10 (Pay what you can)

International Folkdance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-03-13 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 Night Contra at Glen Echo, Maryland
2026-03-13 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.

San Luis Obispo Monthly Contra Dance
2026-03-14 18:30 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Odd Fellows Hall, San Luis Obispo, 520 Dana St, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401, United States
Live music and gender-neutral calling at the monthly contra dance in San Luis Obispo, CA. Dances are monthly on the 2nd Saturday. 6:30 lesson, dancing until 9:30.

Dover English Country Dancers - Monthly Dance
2026-03-14 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Ehinger Hall, 14 Kings Highway, Dover, DE, 19901, United States
Monthly English country dance with live music. Newcomers are always welcome, and each dance is taught with a walk-through before it is danced.
Dress is casual (“regular” clothes) except for special events (Spring and Holiday dances), when attendees may dress in formal/cocktail or 18th century attire.
Annual membership for the January – December season is $10. Membership admission for regular monthly dances is $7.
Regular monthly dance admission for non-members is $10.
Admission price may change for special dances.
Times and locations may be subject to change.
Location: Ehinger Hall, Dover DE
Ehinger Hall (#14 Kings Highway) is located directly at the intersection of Kent Avenue and Division Street / Route 8 For those using GPS, the intersection of Kent Avenue and Division Street works best. Best parking will likely be found on Kent Avenue.

Scissortail Contra Dance in Oklahoma City
2026-03-14 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!

Syracuse Country Dancers ECD
2026-03-14 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Manlius Village Auditorium, #1 Arkie Albanese Avenue, Manlius, NY, 13104, United States
English country dance every 2nd and 4th Saturday.

Second Saturday Contra
2026-03-14 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Phoenix) | St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church Community Center, 2716 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler, AZ, 85224, United States
Join us for our Second 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 changes in dance schedule or location.
Pay what you can afford: $10 to $25 per person.

Portland Country Dance Community 2nd Saturdays Contra Dance
2026-03-14 19:00 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Fulton Park (L’Etoile French Immersion School), 68 SW Miles St, Portland, OR, 97219, United States
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!
For more current information and last-minute changes, see the PCDC calendar.

CDK Contra & Square Dance
2026-03-14 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

Valley Contra Dance
2026-03-14 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | West Side Moravian Church, 402 Third Ave, Bethlehem, PA, 18018, United States
We dance twice a month, 2nd and 4th Saturdays.
Dance instruction at 7:00 PM
No partner or experience needed!
The moves in the dances are called by a caller, and the music is always live.
Parking is available right next to the church or on the street. Please enter on Prospect St.
Please carry in clean soft-soled shoes for dancing, to protect the floor (and our reputation). Sneakers are usually fine. FREE large socks with treads are provided to cover your street shoes if necessary.
Sliding scale—pay what you wish. Suggested: $8 (student), $15 (friend of VCDS), $20+ (supporter). Children 12 and under accompanied by a paying adult FREE.
Special Pricing for Double Dances

Floyd Contra Dance
2026-03-14 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Floyd Center for the Arts, 220 Parkway Ln S, Floyd, VA, 24091, United States
Come join us with Jim Harrington and Rya Martin playing with Brian Hamshar calling. No experience needed. Lessons at 7, Dance at 7:30. $10 ($5 for students).

Toronto Contra Dance
2026-03-14 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | St. Barnabas Hall, 175 Hampton Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M4K 2Z3, Canada
Shake off the week and hit the floor for an unforgettable night of music, movement, and community joy.
Caller and band change with every dance.
Dances are either mask optional or mask mandatory. Full details and schedule are at the Toronto Contra Dance website.
New to Contra? No problem!
No partner needed, and beginners are always welcome—we’ll teach you everything you need to know.
Schedule:
7:00 PM – Beginner Lesson
7:30 PM – Dance the night away!
Bring a refillable water bottle – hydration stations available
Full details at the Toronto Contra Dance website
Tag your dance crew, grab your shoes, and get ready for a night of pure Contra joy on the Danforth!

2nd Saturday English Country Dance in Dallas
2026-03-14 19:30 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | Apex Dance and Performing Arts, 5706 Mockingbird Lane, Ste. 240, Dallas, TX, 75206, United States
English Country Dance with live music every 2nd Saturday.

Contra Dancing in Houston, TX
2026-03-14 19:30 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | Dauntless Dance Studio, 3300 Jensen Dr, Suite B, Houston, TX, 77026, United States
HATDS hosts contra dances on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of most months. We dance to live music. All skill levels are welcome and all dances are called. Bring water and clean shoes!
The admission price for contra dances is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Cash, checks, credit cards, and digital wallets are currently accepted at the door. If paying cash, please bring correct change. No large bills accepted.

Princeton Country Dancers' English Country Dance
2026-03-14 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Dr, Princeton, NJ, 08502, United States
English Country Dance every 2nd Saturday (except November and December), 7:30-10:30.

Williamstown, MA Contra Dance
2026-03-14 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | First Congregational Church of Williamstown, MA, 906 Main St, Williamstown, MA, 01267, United States
Community contra dance, all welcome.

Filkin's Drift
2026-03-14 20:00 - 22:30 (Europe/London) | ONLINE
We’re delighted to welcome Filkin’s Drift to the Live to your Living Room stage, as part of our 2026 calendar of events.
This duo have captivated audiences across the UK over the past few years, and we’re looking forward to their fresh and magical approach to music.
What to expect: Filkin´s Drift play beautiful Anglo-Welsh songs inspired by love, friendship, and nature, particularly the stunning Welsh coastline.
Enjoy gorgeous harmonies, skilled and intricate musicianship, and lots of improvisation!
About the artists
Filkin’s Drift consists of musicians Seth Bye and Chris Avery, a guitar and fiddle duo who draw from a wide range of musical influences both traditional and contemporary.
Seth and Chris hit the headlines in 2023 when they promoted sustainable touring by walking 870 miles on tour around Wales, with their instruments on their backs.
Committed and fascinating – Cerys Matthews
All of our events are available to watch back for 72 hours. A link will be sent automatically to all ticket holders after the event has taken place and the recording has been uploaded.
About the gig
This event will be held live on Zoom, with a remote sound engineer for high-quality sound. Our gigs allow interaction between artists and audiences, so the artist can hear you applaud and you can even have the chance to ask them any burning questions.
Tickets are £18, with the option to pay a bit less (£12) or a bit more (£30) depending on what is affordable for you. You only need one ticket per household.

Contra Dance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-03-14 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

The Caledonians Quadrille Class part 3, 4 & 5
2026-03-15 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Decatur School of Ballet, 141 Sams St., Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
We will be learning The Caledonians, a dance reconstructed by Susan Guardiola. The dance has five parts and we will be teaching part 3, 4, and 5 on Sunday March 15th from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
Class link for part 1 and 2
If you have already purchased tickets to the past Regency Dance Workshop or the Regency Masquerade Ball, this class is included.
If you haven’t purchased one of those tickets, the cost is $14.00 adult/$11.00 student prepaid per class. The cost per class at the door is $20.00. Prepayment can be made with PayPal (kathrynnagar@gmail.com), Cashapp ($katpengnagar), or Venmo. After making a payment, please send me an email with your name, and phone number. Please also check the Facebook page before heading to class. In the event of an emergency cancelation, I will do my best to get the word out to everyone.
No partner needed. Please wear comfortable clothing and flat-soled shoes. Costumes are welcome. Please arrive a few minutes before class so that we can begin on time.
For any additional questions, email kathrynnagar@gmail.com. Please check Facebook before heading to class in case there are any last-minute updates.

Symmetry ECD Sundays
2026-03-15 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.

Junction Song Circle
2026-03-15 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.
