Country Dance & Song Society

Valley Contra Dance
2026-01-24 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

Toronto Contra Dance
2026-01-24 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!

Contra Dancing in Houston, TX
2026-01-24 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' Combination Contra and English Country Dance
2026-01-24 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
2026-01-24 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
2026-01-24 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
2026-01-25 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.

Contra Dance in St Louis
2026-01-25 19:00 - 21:30 (America/Chicago) | The Monday Club of Webster Groves, 37 S. Maple Ave., Webster Groves, MO, 63119, United States
Weekly contra dance in St Louis area (actually Webster Groves MO). Always great live music. First dance each month features open calling.

Chicago Contra Dance
2026-01-26 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
2026-01-26 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
2026-01-26 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
2026-01-26 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.

Monday Contra Dance in Nelson, NH
2026-01-26 19:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Nelson Town Hall, 5 Nelson Common Rd, Nelson, NH, 03457, United States
What better way to start the week? Only $5! It’s Monday, and we (almost) always dance on Monday.

Louisville Contra Dance
2026-01-26 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!

Techno Contra Dance at Tapestry Folkdance Center
2026-01-26 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55406, United States
Last Monday of the Month 8-10:30pm
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).

Park Avenue Contra (Swarthmore PA)
2026-01-27 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
2026-01-28 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
2026-01-28 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+

San Francisco Contra Dance
2026-01-28 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Polish Club of San Francisco, 3040 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
2nd & 4th Wednesday in San Francisco!
Role names: The role names usually used at this series are “Larks” and “Robins.”
Beginner lesson at 7:30, dance 8:00-10:30
Check our website for details.
$25 supporters; $20 non-members; $15 members; $6 students or low-income; or pay what you can.

Princeton Country Dancers’ Contra Dance
2026-01-28 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.

Lake City Contra Dance
2026-01-29 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Latvian Community Center, 11710 3rd Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98125, United States
Thursday nights; doors open at 7 pm
Dances: intro/refresher workshop 7:15 pm, dancing 7:30 till 10:00 pm
Admission on a sliding scale $10 – 20 – pay what you can
The hall is well-ventilated and air-conditioned!
For more information call 206-525-0932, or send us email.

Thursday Contra Dance in Philadelphia
2026-01-29 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Commodore Barry Center, 6815 Emlen St, Philadelphia, PA, 19119, United States
Weekly Contra Dance – See our website for this week’s band and caller(s).
Mostly contras with occasional squares, mixers, four facing fours, and more.

7:30pm New Dancer Lesson; 8:00pm to 10:30pm dancing
Masks are no longer required but are welcomed.
Our sliding scale is $10-$15-$20.
Our role terms are Larks and Robins.

Tally Contra Dance
2026-01-30 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.

ContraATL Weekly Dance
2026-01-30 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St, Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
Atlanta’s weekly contra dance features a variety of local and regional talent. We dance every Friday night except rare blackout dates, generally last two Fridays in December and the first Friday in January.

Friday Contra Dance, Nashville TN
2026-01-30 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 Techno Contra Dance, Nashville TN
2026-01-30 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.

Fifth Friday Contra at Guiding Star Grange
2026-01-30 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
Caller and featured musicians vary each time; please check the Guiding Star Grange website for details.
Schedule: 7:30 beginner lesson, 8:00-11:00 contras
Cost: $12-$20 sliding scale
Note: Each dance series now has its own COVID protocol. We hope every dancer will feel comfortable at one or more dances.

Friday Night Contra at Glen Echo, Maryland
2026-01-30 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.

Pittsburgh Contra Dance
2026-01-30 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Wightman School Community Building, 5604 Solway St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, United States
Come dance to the music of Aubergine with Rick Szumski calling. Complete beginners are welcome! Our free beginner lesson begins at 7:30pm. As always, we will offer a couple waltzes during breaks.
$15 suggested donation.

Fifth Saturday Contra at Guiding Star Grange
2026-01-31 | Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
Caller and featured musicians vary each time; please check the Guiding Star Grange website for details.
Note: Each dance series now has its own COVID protocol. We hope every dancer will feel comfortable at one or more dances.
