Country Dance & Song Society

Mostly Waltz at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-07-19 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55406, United States
3rd Sunday of the Month

Large Studio
2:30 – 5:00 pm
Cost: Recorded Music: $12 General Admission | $9 Tapestry Member | $8 Young Adult (Ages 18-30) | $4 Youth (Ages 10-17) | Under 10 – Free
Instructor: Gerhardt Quast

Want to have fun on the dance floor? Mostly Waltz invites and encourages anyone and everyone to learn and enjoy the waltz as a group of social ballroom dancers! This dance is for anyone who loves waltzing, is curious about waltzing, or just likes listening to music in 3/4 time. ​
The program offers 30-45 minutes of basic waltz instruction at the start of every session, then recorded music and a DJ to practice waltzing. The instruction will include Turning Waltz, Linear Waltz, and Cross-step Waltz (not all during one session). These are some of the waltz variations not taught by Ballroom Dance instructors.
The waltz is one of the world’s most popular couple dance. It is both easily accessible for beginners and endlessly challenging for experienced dancers and it can serve as a gateway to other dance forms. The extensive canon of waltz music is both extraordinarily beautiful and wildly varied. ​

LITMA Contradance
2026-07-19 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Brush Barn, 211 E Main St, Smithtown, NY, 11787, United States
LITMA Contradances are usually held on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 2:00-5:00PM from September through June at the Brush Barn, 211 E Main St, Smithtown, Long Island.
Basic instruction at 1:45 PM
$15 General admission
$10 LITMA Members
Students Half Price
Children under 16 FREE with paid Adult

Junction Song Circle
2026-07-19 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.

New London Assembly at AEMF
2026-07-19 - 2026-07-26 | Muhlenberg College, 2400 W. Chew St, Allentown, PA, 18104, United States
Directed by Mark Weinstein, with Andrew Shaw and Victoria Yeomans
Musicians:
Karen Axelrod piano
Ben Schreiber violin
Molly Tucker violin
New London Assembly is a week-long series of dance classes, lectures, workshops, and evening dancing, all done to fabulous music. Although focused primarily on historical 17th- and 18th-century country dance, we will also include some of the modern dances they have inspired.
Over the years of our existence starting with Andrew Shaw’s first visit in 2013, we’ve developed a culture with strong attention to detail during the daytime workshops and spirited community recreational dancing in the evenings. Of special interest are the excellent Amherst Early Music Festival evening concerts and lectures.

Louisville Third-Saturday Contra Dance
2026-07-18 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.

Contra Dance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-07-18 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

Swingin' Tern Contra Dance
2026-07-18 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

Wasatch Contras Third Saturday Monthly Contra Dance
2026-07-18 19:00 - 22:30 (America/Denver) | E. W. Garbett Center for Choral Studies, Salt Lake City, UT, 84103, United States
We Dance every Third Saturday of the Month!
Beginner’s session starts at 7:00 pm
Dance starts at 7:30 pm
General admission $10
Sliding Scale (financial hardship) $8
Youth $5

Santa Fe Contra Dance
2026-07-18 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.

Lancaster, PA Monthly Contra Dance
2026-07-18 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.

3rd Saturday Contra Dance in Austin
2026-07-18 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!

3rd Saturdays Contra Dance, Grass Valley CA
2026-07-18 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.

Syracuse Country Dancers Contra Dance
2026-07-18 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.

South Florida Contra Dances
2026-07-18 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.

Monterey Contra Dance
2026-07-18 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

Tucson Contra Dance
2026-07-18 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.

Annapolis English Country Dance: delightful live music, excellent callers and friendly community
2026-07-18 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Annapolis Friends Meetinghouse, 351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join us for a lovely evening of ECD on the third Saturday of each month. Intro lesson at 6:30; dance at 7:00-9:30. No experience or partner required. Pre-registration is not required, but please email aefallon@verizon.net to let us know if you can help with pre-dance setup and/or post-dance hall restoration. Such help is much appreciated!
Face masks are optional. Venue is air conditioned, with filter fans for air circulation and ventilation. Plenty of parking. Please bring own water. Snacks to share are welcome if you bring napkins+appropriate paper goods+utensils and plan to clean up after snack time.
$15; students—$5; children through 5 years old—free.

Scissortail English Country Dance in Norman, OK
2026-07-18 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!

Lenox Contra Dance
2026-07-18 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.

Friday Night Contra at Glen Echo, Maryland
2026-07-17 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.

East Bay Square Dance (SF Bay Area)
2026-07-17 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Usually 3rd Fridays of the month, 8pm-10pm
Come on out for an Old-Time Square Dance in Berkeley with live music.
All ages welcome. No special clothing required. Beginners welcome. The caller teaches all of the dances right before we dance them. This is a queer-friendly event where you can dance any role you like.
Location is either Hillside Club or Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library. Please check our website for this month’s details.
$25 supporters; $20 non-members; $15 members; $6 students or low-income; or pay what you can.

Friday Contra Dance, Nashville TN
2026-07-17 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.

International Folkdance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-07-17 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.

3rd Friday Hot Springs NC Contradance
2026-07-17 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

Portland Country Dance Community Friday Night English Dance
2026-07-17 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.

Orlando Contra Dance
2026-07-17 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!

Contra Dance with Alice Raibourn & The Mystic Gorillas
2026-07-17 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.

Rivanna Contra Dance
2026-07-17 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

TECDA Friday Evening Dance
2026-07-17 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

English Country Dancing
2026-07-17 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.
