This page tries to keep track of all contra dances, traditional square dances (but not Modern Western Square Dances), traditional waltz sessions and Scandinavian dances in Idaho which include contra dancing and these other forms. Because most of the information is gathered from web sites and the listings are not updated as frequently as the web sites, dancers should visit the web sites for up-to-date information. If you are aware of any dances, dance series or other events that should be included on this list, please e-mail me.
Schedule note:
As of January 1, 2021, the dance listings should be fairly up to date including whether dances are canceled although I am behind in keeping up to date with festivals, weekends, etc.. At this point, my assumption is that all dances and events are canceled unless they are virtual/on-line. Since we've entered the 2020-2021 "season" for many series and they never posted dates, information about evening/afternoon dances is getting "thin". Also note that some dance weekends, etc. are already postponing events from winter/spring of 2021 to similar dates in 2022.
Conversations and cancelations are happening every day in connection with dances as part of regular series and also weekends, festivals, etc. I'll try to keep current as much as possible, but please check the individual web sites, Facebook groups/pages, e-mail lists, etc. for the most up-to-date information about a dance or other event that you may want to attend.
Boise: Dances on 2nd Saturdays, September to May, from 8 pm - 11 pm. New dancer orientation 7:30 pm. Dances are held at the Broadway Dance Center, 893 East Boise Avenue. Near Apple, across from First Security Bank. Admission is now $10 for nonmembers, $8 for members; youth under 18 admitted for half price. Partners not required, beginners welcome. Dress comfortably, with non-marking shoes. Smoke and alcohol free. Web site: http://david0.tedcrane.com/ID/BCDS/.
Boise - Scandinavian: We will be dancing at the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church @ 3100 S Five Mile Rd Boise (208) 362-1112. Evenings start at 7pm. Admission: $5. With lessons & live Band. Always the Third Fridays and same location. Observers will be free. Children are welcome, but smaller ones will not be on the floor totally with the adults, perhaps a little. They will have their own group. No cost for children who are too small to be dancing with the adults. Lessons will be from 7 pm to 8 pm and open dancing from 8 -10pm. The Scandi Band will usually be performing. We sometimes have more women than men interested so encourage your menfolk or friends. If we have more women, some will be designated as men for that evening and be wearing ties. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/133563806666660/.
Boise - Scandinavian - Fall Festival: Event at Municipal Park, 500 S Walnut St, Boise, Idaho 83712, beginning at 12:30pm. Activities will begin at 12:30. Get a head start on Quoits or Rope Toss and win the Trophy! The Potluck Smorgasbord Picnic will begin at 1:30. Bring your favorite Scandinavian dish and a salad or dessert, and table service. Club furnishes coffee and lemonade. Family and Friends are Welcome to Join Us. Festivities include singing and dancing with music by our ScandiBand. Play our Trivia game, mug in the life size cut-outs, laugh at jokes, play games and more. Refresh friendships and make new ones. Wear Scandinavian inspired clothing if you can. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/133563806666660/.
Boise - Squares: Dances at the Mardi Gras Ballroom, 615 S. Ninth St., Boise, ID 83702, 208-342-5553. No experience needed, no partners needed, all dances will be taught. Fun for all ages. $7 at the door. Doors open at 7pm; music at 7:30pm. Web site: None.
Boise - Squares - Supportive Housing and Innovative Partnerships - Benefit: Event at the Powerhouse Event Center, 621 S 17th St, Boise, Idaho 83702 starting at 6pm. A project of Supportive Housing and Innovative Partnerships, Inc. All proceeds support their Recovery Wellness Program. Complimentary light appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. Costume contest. Recycled art show. Square dancing with the Hokum Hi-Flyers (no experience necessary to dance). $10 at the door or at Boise and Nampa Second Chance stores. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/events/1043900822327220/.
Boise - Scandinavian - Midsummer Festival: Location: Municipal Park Shelter, 500 Walnut Street, Boise (look for Scandinavian flags). Activities will begin at 12:30 with decorating the midsummer pole and socializing. Please bring your greenery and flowers at this time and help us decorate. The Potluck Smörgåsbord Picnic will begin at 1:30. Bring your favorite Scandinavian dish and a salad or dessert, and table service. Club furnishes coffee and lemonade. Family and Friends are Welcome to Join Us. Festivities include singing and dancing with music by our ScandiBand. Play our Trivia game, mug in the life-size cut-outs, laugh at jokes, play games and more. Refresh friendships and make new ones. Wear Scandinavian-inspired clothing if you can. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/133563806666660/.
Bonners Ferry: Dance from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the Memorial Hall, Boundary County Fairgrounds. Donation: $8. For Information call Karen 509-267-2520. Web site: http://spokanefolklore.org.
Bonners Ferry - Pearl Theater: Dance at the Pearl Theater, 7160 Ash Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Doors open at 6pm; Dance starts at 7pm. $10/16 and older; $5/15 and younger. Web site: http://spokanefolklore.org.
Bonners Ferry - Karen's Christmas Contra: Dance from 7:00pm to 10:30pm at the Memorial Hall, Boundary County Fairgrounds. Donation: $5. Contact Weezil at 208-597-1753. Web site: http://spokanefolklore.org.
Cocolalla - Southside Community Harvest Festival: Join us at the Southside Community Harvest Festival Contra Dance from 7-10 pm. Free admission, all are welcome. Live Music. No experience or partner needed, all dance moves taught and called. At the Barn Again Barn, 54 Cocolalla Loop Road, Cocolalla, ID 83813. For more info message @@cocolallaHarvest or email southsideharvestfestival@gmail.com - Web site: https://www.facebook.com/CocolallaHarvest.
Coeur d'Alene - Lady of the Lake Music and Dance Week: Sponsored by the Spokane Folklore Society in late June on the shores of Coeur d'Alene Lake. Register in advance. Web site: http://www.ladyofthelake.org.
Coeur d'Alene - Lady of the Lake Family Week: Sponsored by the Spokane Folklore Society in the second half of August on the shores of Coeur d'Alene Lake. Register in advance. Web site: http://www.ladyofthelake.org.
Coeur d'Alene - Lady of the Lake Fall Weekend: Sponsored by the Spokane Folklore Society in early October. Register in advance. Web site: http://www.ladyofthelake.org.
Coeur d'Alene - Meadowbrook: Dances sponsored by the Meadowbrook Community Association at 7178 West Meadowbrook Loop Road. Live Music, Lively Caller and Potluck Desserts. Fun For Everyone! 6pm to 9pm. Cake walk plus bring your favorite dessert to share. Web site: None.
Coeur d'Alene - Inland Northwest Food Network Benefit: Event is at the Meadowbrook Community Hall, 7178 West Meadowbrook Loop from 7pm to 10:30pm. There will be a cake walk and raffle as well. Tickets are $8 for INWFN members and $10 for non-members; children under 12 free. Bring a potluck treat to share, drinks will be provided. Web site: http://www.inwfoodnetwork.org.
Coeur d'Alene - Animal Charities Benefit: Dance at the Sam Rodius Memorial Hall, W Meadowbrook Loop from 6pm to 9pm. All dances taught, no experience necessary. Information: 208-416-1534 or cjsbeach@gmail.com - Tickets are $8; children under 12 free. Raffle and cake walk. Please bring a potluck dessert or snack to share. Web site: None.
Coeur d'Alene - Community Action Partnership: Barn Dance Fundraiser for Community Action Partnership Food Bank from 6pm to 9pm at the Meadowbrook Community Hall 8088 W Meadowbrook Loop, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Dancing, a Cake walk and raffle. Bring food items to us as cake walk tickets. Info: cjsbeach@gmail.com - Web site: http://spokanefolklore.org.
Coeur d'Alene - Snowball Barn Dance: Dance from 6-9PM at Meadowbrook Hall, 8088 West Meadowbrook Loop, Coeur d'Alene. Admission $8 Adults, $5 Teens, Under 12 Free. Please bring a snack, Raffle tickets available for Cake Walk, a fundraiser for the Meadowbrook Hall. No experience necessary. All dances taught. Web site: http://spokanefolklore.org.
Donnelly - Squares: Dance at the Roseberry Barn in Donnelly, ID at 7 PM. No experience necessary; all dances will be explained by a dance caller. All ages, good family fun! $7. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/HokumHiFlyers/.
Donnelly - Squares - Fundraiser: Dance at the Roseberry Barn, East Roseberry Road at the intersection with Farm to Market Road about a mile from Donnelly, ID at 7 PM. No experience necessary. Tickets are $20 per person. This dance is a fundraiser supporting the McCall Arts and Humanities Council, the Long Valley Preservation Society, and the McCall Folklore Society. Food and beverages will be available for sale on-site as well, provided by Amy's Whole Food Creations and Mountain Vino (Mtn Java). Tickets can be purchased online (will call only - no paper tickets issued) or at McCall Drug. Web site: http://mccallarts.org.
Hailey: Dance at the Grange Hall, 609 South 3rd Avenue, Hailey ID, 83333. We will have a variety of dances: squares, big circle dances (as in contra), waltzes, and swing. Potluck dinner at 5:30pm, dancing from 7pm to 9pm. $15 per person - buy your ticket in advance at the Sustainability Center, 308 South River Street. Bring wholesome food to share and bring your own plate, fork and water bottle. For information, contact Manon: manon8@cox.net or 788-3876. Web site: http://www.grange.org/upperbigwoodriverid192/events/.
Hailey - Draper Preserve Riverfest: A 45-minute contra dance is one of the activities during this one-day festival at the Draper Wood River Preserve / Lions Park, Hailey. Web site: http://www.woodriverlandtrust.org.
Hailey - Street Dance: Community Dance and Street Party from 5:00 to 9:30 pm on Second Avenue in Hailey, between Bullion and Croy with a potluck buffet dinner and street dance on 2nd Avenue, between Bullion and Croy, behind Hailey Atkinsons. Bring a substantial dish to share to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, corner of 2nd Ave and Bullion. BYOB, water and lawn chairs. Lemonade and tea will be provided. $10 per person, or $15 per couple, household or family. This is the first of an annual event open to the public and sponsored by the Episcopal Church. For more Info call (208)788.3547. Web site: http://emmanuel.episcopalidaho.org/.
Hailey - Summer Community Dances: Dances at the UBWR Grange Dance, 609 S. Third Avenue. Line and square dance lessons at 7 pm. The one hour dance lesson will be followed by guided open dancing until 9:30. The dances are family friendly, no alcohol and children under 14 dance free if accompanied by an adult. Beginners & singles are welcome. Payment at the door will be $10 per person. Help us spread the word. Invite friends and family to join in for a fun social time. Please wear clean comfortable shoes that will not mark the floor. And bring your water bottle along. Web site: http://www.grange.org/upperbigwoodriverid192/events/.
Hollister: The Hollister Hoedown happens at the Hollister Elementary School, 2463 Contact Avenue, Hollister, ID. For information, call 208-655-4215. Many times there is a potluck before the dance. The dance is from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Web site: http://magicvalleysquaredance.com/contra-dancing-in-the-magic-valley/.
Idaho Falls: Dance from 2pm to 4pm at the Freeman Park Shelter #1. Contact Steve Parks at 208-316-1123 or steveorcaparks@gmail.com - Web site: None.
Kuna - Squares - Hermit Music Festival: A square dance is included in this mostly music weekend festival. Web site: http://hermitmusicfestival.com.
Lava Hot Springs - Lava Meltdown: Dance weekend held in early March in the Lava Hot Springs Senior Center and Community Building. It has a nice wooden dance floor, an adjoining room for conversing, jamming or relaxing and a fully equipped kitchen. Register in advance. Web site: http://lavameltdown.dance.
Lewiston: Dance at Clearwater Hall 400 Main Street, Lewiston, ID 83501. Doors open at 4:30pm, dance at 5:00pm. Light snacks and live music! Bring your dancing shoes! (Slick soles encouraged!) FREE and open to the public! Web site: http://www.lcsc.edu/cah.
Moscow: The Palouse Folklore Society sponsors dances from September to early May at the 1912 Center at 412 East Third Street. All dances are taught. Singles, families & beginners are always welcome. Admission is $6 for members, $8 for non-members & $5 for first time beginners. Lessons at 7:30 p.m. Dancing begins at 8 p.m. Our dances are fragrance-free events! Please help our members stay as healthy as possible by not wearing fragranced products! Web site: http://www.palousefolk.org.
Moscow - Summer: The Palouse Folklore Society sponsors dances from mid-May to August at the Old Blaine Schoolhouse, located south of Moscow on the NE corner of Eid and Blaine Roads. All dances are taught. Singles, families & beginners are always welcome. Admission is $6 for members, $8 for non-members & $5 for first time beginners. Potluck at 6:30pm. Lessons at 7:30 p.m. Dancing begins at 8 p.m. Our dances are fragrance-free events! Please help our members stay as healthy as possible by not wearing fragranced products! Web site: Web site: http://www.palousefolk.org.
Moscow - New Year's Eve: The Palouse Folklore Society sponsors a special New Year's Eve dance at the 1912 Center (Corner of 3rd St and Van Buren in Moscow). Plan to join us on New Years Eve for an evening of fun, socializing and contra dancing. We'll start by sharing a potluck dinner together in the 1912 Center around 7 pm. The food and the community in previous years has been wonderful, and this year promises to follow in kind. Feel free to bring your favorite holiday recipes to share. Then around 8 pm we'll clear the tables away, a quick sweep of the floor and prepare to dance in the new year. There will be the usual brief period of dance instruction for newer dancers around 8:30. Then we'll dance from 9 to midnight! As ever, we could use some help with setting up tables and chairs and perhaps some decorations etc beforehand, lets say starting around 6:15. We’d welcome your presence and your assistance. We hope you'll all join us for this delightful evening of pleasure and community. Dance in the new year! Dance Admission: $6 for members, $8 for non-members and $5 for first time beginners. Web site: http://www.palousefolk.org.
Moscow - Community Arts: A day of folk arts workshops including a short contra dance at the Russell School 119 N Adams from 10am to 5pm. Sponsored by the Palouse Folklore Society. Web site: http://palousefolk.org/.
Moscow - Hobbit Party Contra: The Moscow Public Library summer reading program is having a hobbit party in the 1912 Center. There will be crafts and games for children starting at 6 pm in the great room and outside on the plaza. Then after the costume contest at 7, there's going to be some contra dancing. You can dress up as your favorite hobbit or elf or other personage, and come on out and dance. The event is free and open to the public. Costumes are fun but not required. And we would surely welcome some of our regular dancers of all ages to come and help fill out the lines. We'll be dancing between 7 and 8 or maybe till 8:30. So do join for the fun! Web site: http://www.latahlibrary.org/branches/moscow.asp.
Moscow - Calling Class: Here's your chance to learn how to call contra dances, and help out the folklore society at the same time! We'll meet from 4 to 5:30PM, probably in our attic studio at 314 East 2nd St near the public library, to practice calling. Anyone who desires can call a dance or assist at calling a dance in that evening's dance. No experience necessary. It's tons of fun!! In June we're planning a dance with a tag team of local callers. We'll have a couple more workshops between now and then so you'll have a chance to call your favorite dance. Please Email (palouse-folklore-society+managers@googlegroups.com) or call us to let us know how many people to expect, as there will be written materials to help you out. If you reply to this message it will reach us, or call Tim or Roberta at 208-882-0273. Feel free to contact us with any questions. Web site: http://www.palousefolk.org.
Moscow - Stivers Contra Dancing: Dance at the Latah County Fairgrounds, 1021 Harold St, Moscow, ID 83843. There will be a concession table making refreshments available to the dancers. Cost: $5 per person, or $18 per family of 4 or more. Beginner's Dance Lessons @ 4:30 pm. Public Contra Dance @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. There will also be swing dancing and slow dancing on the schedule. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/Stivers-Contra-Dancing-105268260925396.
New Sweden - Skandinavian Midsommar Celebration: Day-long event at Sealander Park with participatory folk dance and music. More information: David Sealander 522-1022. Web site: None.
Pocatello: Dances held usually on the 2nd Saturday of the month from October to May 310 E. Clark (Discovery Dance Studio Mind Your Body Annex), Event is from 7:30pm to 10:00pm. Cost $6.00 per person. Contacts: Sandy Wilbanks at sandy_wilbanks@yahoo.com and Don Allen at alledone@gmail.com. Web site: http://www.utahcontra.org/ or http://www.uccpocatello.org.
Pocatello - USWest Square Dance Convention: While this is a MWSD Convention, there may be a contra dance track with live callers and music. Check web site for details. Web site: http://www.idaho.usawest.net/.
Post Falls: An evening in Post Falls, ID with Lady of the Lake Dance Camp warm-up contra dance hosted by the Spokane Folklore Society. The dance will be held in the social hall of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church located at 4718 E Horsehaven Ave Post Falls, ID 83854 from 7-10 pm. Potluck deserts at the break. Your favorite snack will be there if you bring it! Admission: $12 for students and Folklore Society members, $15 for non-members. Children under 18 are admitted for free. Web site: None.
Roseberry - Squares: Dance at Roseberry Barn just east of Donnelly at 7pm. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/HokumHiFlyers/.
Rupert - Try It: Dance from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Round-A-Square Dance Center, 215 W 100 S., Rupert. For info call (208) 312-7617. Web site: http://magicvalleysquaredance.com.
Sandpoint: Dances every 2nd Friday from 7pm to 10pm at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 South Second Avenue. $5 suggested donation. Live music. All dances are taught and called. Singles, couples and families are welcome. Beginners are warmly encouraged to attend and to arrive in time for the beginning. For additional information, please email sandpointcontra@gmail.com or call 208-263-6751. Sponsored by Lost Home Press and Sandpoint Parks and Recreation. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandpoint-Contra-Dance/221753617894539.
Star - City Light Benefit Barn Dance: Dress in your best and come support City Light home for women and children by joining us for our barn dance! Location: Star Barn, 439 N. Star Road, Star, ID, 83669 starting at 6pm. Admission: $10 per individual/ Couple, $25 per family. Please bring a desert or snack to share! (If you don’t know how to dance, don’t worry we’ll teach you). RSVP to stephen@alightwithin.org or to this event to let us know about how many people will be coming with you! Please Feel Free to Invite your Friends! Web site: https://www.facebook.com/events/236511416507035/.
Twin Falls - Methodist Church: Dance from 6pm to 9pm at the Twin Falls First United Methodist Church, 360 Shoshone St E, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/tffumc/.
Viola - APOD Productions Benefit: Dance at the Viola Community Center, 1007 Rothfork Road, Viola, ID. Instruction is provided for the dance, and no experience is necessary. A variety of baked goods and nonalcoholic drinks will be available for purchase. Cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. Dance is from 6pm to 10pm. Web site: https://apodproductions.org/.
This page is part of the Contrdancelinks.com web site. For more information about contra dancing, visit these other site pages:
*The Colorado link will bring you to Dancing on the Web. The Maine link will bring you to the Downeast Friends of the Folk Arts. The New Mexico link will bring you to the New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society. The Utah link will bring you to Utah Contradance Information. These fine organizations and individuals already have complete listings for these states and there is no reason for me to duplicate their efforts.
**As far as I know, there are no regular dances or events in Mississippi, South Dakota or Wyoming, but I have created pages if something changes in the future.