This page tries to keep track of all contra dances in Maryland including dance camps and weekends along with other events in Maryland which include contra dancing. 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.
Adelphi - FSGW New Year's Eve Contra Ball: The Folklore Society of Greater Washington's New Year's Eve Ball is at the the Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church. Dust off the tiara and get the tux outta mothballs cause it's gonna be one swell affair. Dance contras, squares, and waltzesCome ring in the New Year with a lovely evening of dancing and revelry, complete with a toast at midnight. Pre-registration only, no tickets available at the door. Hurry, act now! Registration deadline is December 15th. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
Annapolis: The Annapolis Traditional Dance Society sponsors dances at the Annapolis Friends Meeting House, 351 DuBois Rd, in Annapolis. Dances now run at the family-friendly time of 7 to 10 pm! In order to protect the floor, we are asking people to bring soft-soled shoes with a non-marking heel. We also request that you bring the shoes to the hall and change shoes inside. No high heels, please (they can damage the floor, and they're terrible for contra dancing anyway). Dances are on the third Saturday of the month. ATDS dances feature mainly contras. However, we encourage callers to mix in some square dances, circles, etc. at all of our contra dance events. Admission: Members, $8.00, Nonmembers, $10.00. (students & seniors, $6.00, members; $8.00 non-members;). Maximum family rates: $25 members, $30 non-members. Children, aged 6-12, $5. Little kids, under 6, free. Workshops start at 6:30pm with a half hour of contra basics. Newcomers are urged to arrive early even if you can't make the workshop. The program starts off with easier dances and more instruction. Web site: http://www.contradancers.com/atds/index.html.
Baltimore: The Baltimore Folk Music Society presents American Square and Contra Dancing at 8:00 p.m. every Wednesday at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, 2200 St. Paul Street. Admission is $9 for members, $13 for nonmembers. Under 21 and full-time students with IDs: $4 members, $6 non-members. All dances are taught and walked through beforehand. Music and dance styles include New England, Southern Appalachian, and Celtic styles. Nationally-known musicians and callers appear regularly. These dances are sponsored in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council. New Dancers' workshops: Free workshops introducing basic contra dance figures take place on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30p.m. Beginners are encouraged to attend. For more information call the BFMS hotline at 410-366-0808 or email amdance at bfms.org. Web site: http://www.bfms.org.
Baltimore - Urban Agriculture Harvest Festival: Dance is part of a one-day event held in mid-October at 4500 Harford Road Market Connection (site of Hamilton/Lauraville Farmer's Market) from 2pm to 5pm with locally grown food, information booths, kid's activities, storytelling. Free but donations of $5-$10 accepted. Web site: http://www.baltimoreurbanag.org/.
Bendict: Dance at Serenity Farm to benefit St. Jude's Hospital from 1pm to 5pm. Musicians get in free, all others $5 at the door. For more info call: Allison (443) 532-0032. Web site: http://www.smtmd.org/.
Bethesda - FSGW New Year's Eve Contra Ball: The Folklore Society of Greater Washington's New Year's Eve Ball is at the the Woman's Club of Bethesda, 5500 Sonoma Rd. Dust off the tiara and get the tux outta mothballs cause it's gonna be one swell affair. Dance contras, squares, and waltzesCome ring in the New Year with a lovely evening of dancing and revelry, complete with a toast at midnight. Pre-registration only, no tickets available at the door. Hurry, act now! Registration deadline is December 15th. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
California: Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance sponsors dances with live music is provided by the Southern Maryland Open Band. This band is comprised of talented, local musicians. The band's repertoire for Contra Dances includes Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes and 18th century waltzes. As it is an "Open" band, musicians interested in playing this type of music are welcome to join in. Dances are the 2nd Saturday of each month at the St. Andrews Parish Hall in California.. Any changes to the schedule or location will be posted on the web site. Admission: $7 non-members; $5 members; 12 and under free. Web site: http://www.smtmd.org/.
Cambridge: Dances are at Cambridge's Whatley Hall past Christ Church on Maryland Avenue. Cost is $10.00 for adults. $8.00 students. There is no membership fee. Dances run from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Wear comfortable clothing, tennies, short sleeves if you're new, you'll probably get warm! Snacks are allowed at the Church too, so bring some food or drinks (and cups!)There is no membership fee. Wear comfortable clothing, tennies, short sleeves if you're new, you'll probably get warm! Snacks are allowed at the Church too, so bring some food or drinks (and cups!) For directions: 410-603-7754. For more information, call: 410-673-9825 (Renee). Web site: http://www.dancetrad.org/dancep1.html.
Chaptico: Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance sponsors dances with live music is provided by the Southern Maryland Open Band. This band is comprised of talented, local musicians. The band's repertoire for Contra Dances includes Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes and 18th century waltzes. As it is an "Open" band, musicians interested in playing this type of music are welcome to join in. Dances are the 2nd Saturday of each month at Christ Church Parish Hall on Zach Fowler Road. Any changes to the schedule or location will be posted on the web site. Admission: $8 non-members; $6 members; 12 and under free. Web site: http://www.smtmd.org/.
College Park - Squares: Join us for an evening of rocking traditional American square dancing and general all around merrymaking to smoking hot LIVE music by some of the DC area's most talented musicians. Dances are held from 8:30 - 11:00 p.m, except as noted, $9.00 admission. Cherry Hill RV Park Conference Center, 9800 Cherry Hill Road. Please drive very slowly in the park. Please bring a snack to share. Web site: http://home.comcast.net/~hotsquares/.
Edgewater - Chesapeake Dance Weekend: The dance and music weekend takes place at at YMCA Camp Letts in Edgewater in early April. Register in advance. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
Frederick: The Mid-Maryland Folk Arts Council and the Frederick City Department of Recreation host contra and square dances on the 4th Saturday of each month. The dances are from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. A free beginners' workshop starts at 7 p.m. Beginners are welcome at the dances and it is not necessary to bring a partner. Location is Trinity Episcopal School (the former Adventist School) in Frederick. Admission is $9 general, $5 students, $4 age 12 and under. To ask questions in real time, talking to a real person, call Boe Walker at 301-694-6794 or dancefred at gmail dot com Web site: http://www.contradancers.com/mmfac/index.htm.
Glen Echo - Sunday: The Folklore Society of Greater Washington's Sunday Night Contra and Square Dance is held in The Spanish Ballroom, restored to all its 1933 splendor, or in the adjacent wonderful, covered, radiant-heated Bumper Car Pavilion. The Ballroom and the Bumper Car Pavilion are not thoroughly climate controlled, so please dress accordingly. Our dances welcome both experienced and new dancers and feature a variety of traditional American contras, squares, waltzes, and mixers performed to wonderful live music. You do not need to bring a partner. FREE Welcome/Orientation to Traditional American Dance session at 7:00 pm. Come early to get the inside scoop on all this stuff, personalized to suit your needs! Regular dances are $9.00 for members of FSGW and affiliated groups (BFMS, CDSS, ATDS) and $12.00 for all others. Children ages 7 to 17 $5.00. Special prices may apply, see event details. Our dancers who are sensitive to fragrances will be grateful if you use them gently. If Glen Echo Park is closed due to severe WEATHER or other circumstances, the dance is cancelled. Call the Park at (301) 634-2222 (and press option 9) or at (301) 320-2330 after 3pm the day of the dance for more information. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
Glen Echo - Family Dance: The Family Dance, welcoming all ages, takes place the second Sunday of each month beginning at 3:00pm. It offers a rare opportunity to experience the joy of dance with your children and with your community. Bring the entire family, neighbors, church or synagogue group, birthday party, girl or boy scout troop. No experience is necessary, just come on out and dance. An experienced family dance leader shows you everything you need to know right then and there, with a focus on HAVING FUN! The dance takes place at the Glen Echo Park Bumper Car Pavilion from May through October. It moves to Glen Echo Town Hall from November through April. The Family Dance is a unique opportunity for the very young and their parents, to experience the joyful community event of a contra and square dance. The target age children are 4-12, though many babies have started their dancing by bouncing along in a parent's baby backpack. Kids and adults learn together through movement and music, experiencing the best in live music and enjoying the spirit of this folk tradition. It provides an opportunity to encourage an appreciation of folk culture, further inspiring future generations to get involved and make their own fun. Admission is $5 for ages 4 and older. The Family Dance has been an ongoing event for the past 12 years. Please note that we may stray from the Second Sunday on rare occasions, due to availability of our dance spaces. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
Glen Echo - Inaugural Ball: To the inauguration of the 44th President, there will be a great dance celebration held at the Glen Echo Park Ballroom! 7:30 pm: contra/square dance; 8:30 pm: waltz and couple dances; 9:30-11 pm: swing dance. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
Glen Echo - Washington Folk Festival: The Washington Folk Festival is held in late May. The festival runs from noon to 7:00pm on Saturday and Sunday at Glen Echo Park. The festival is FREE to the public. The festival features music, dance, storytelling, and crafts from artists in the Washington, DC area. With performances representing cultures from around the world as well as around the country, it is your chance to find out what is going on in the folk communities of the area. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
Glen Echo - Friday: Dances in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park start promptly at 8:30 pm and end at 11:30 pm. Admission is $9. A contra dance lesson for beginners is given every Friday starting at 7:30 pm and is included in the price of admission. The Friday night dances are brought to you by the Friday Night Dancers, Inc (a nonprofit, community-based organization) in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, the National Park Service, and Montgomery County, MD. Dances are held every Friday evening from 8:30 to 11:30. You do not need to bring a partner. Dance all evening to top quality live music in a smoke- and alcohol-free environment. The Spanish Ballroom is neither heated nor air-conditioned, so be prepared. Fans relieve the heat in summer. Dress casually and in layers. Soft-soled, low-heeled shoes are recommended. We also recommend that you bring a bottle of water with you. Music may be traditional or modern inspired by folk tunes. Web site: http://www.fridaynightdance.org/index.html.
Leonardtown - St. Mary's Hoedown Fundraiser: Dance is a fundraiser for St. Mary's County Community Mediation Center, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at St. Mary's County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 42455 Fairgrounds Road. Square dancing, line dancing, two-step, waltz, any-old-step - we'll show you how if you don't already know OR just sit back, listen to the music and enjoy a beer or glass of wine, sodas or fruit punch, and lite snacks. A family event - ALL AGES. Tickets: $7 in advance or $10 at the door. [Children under 12 free]. Recommend that you purchase tickets on-line as attendance is limited to 200. Web site: http://www.hoedownatfairgrounds.com/.
Lexington Park - Chesapeake Public Charter School: Plan to join us in this special event to be held at the Chesapeake Public Charter School, 20945 Great Mills Road. The dance begins at 6:00 pm. which is a special starting time for our dances. The dance will go until 8:00, or later. The purpose for the event is to support "Relay for Life" a cancer awareness / support org. Two people at the charter school were recently diagnosed with the disease, and we would like to support a team from the school to attend "Relay for Life" events. The cost is $5 for individuals, $15 for a family of 4 - what a great deal. call the Charter School at (301) 863-9585 for more information. Web site: http://www.smtmd.org/.
Pikesville - Thanksgiving: The Baltimore Folk Music Society hosts a Thanksgiving Day/Burn-Off-the-Calories Dance at St. Mark's-on-the-Hill Parish Hall, 2620 Reisterstown Road from 8:00pm-10:30pm. There will be easier, kid- and beginner-friendly dances from 8:00pm-8:30pm. Bring your leftover desserts to share (they lose calories in transit). Bring your dinner guests or hosts and come on over. This is an all-volunteer evening featuring an open band and open mic for callers (English, contras, squares). Web site: http://www.bfms.org/.
Pikesville - 2nd Saturday: The Baltimore Folk Music Society presents American Square and Contra Dancing on the 2nd Saturday of the month running from 8:00 'till 11:00 pm, with a short break in the middle. Admission is: $8 BFMS Members and Affiliates, $12 non-members. Under 21 and full-time students with ID: $5 members, $6 non-members. Beginners, singles, couples, and families are welcome. No Experience necessary; you don't need to bring a partner. For more information call the BFMS hotline at 888-646-BFMS or call Becca at 301-606-7115 or email Becca at nutritionexpeditions at yahoo.com. The dance is held at St. Marks on the Hill, 1620 Reisterstown Road. Introduction to Contra Dance: 7:30-8 pm; Contra Dance: 8-11 pm. Web site: http://www.bfms.org/.
Pikesville - Family: The Baltimore Folk Music Society presents a Family on the 2nd Saturday of the month running from 5:00 'till 6:30 pm, often followed by a potluck. Admission is: $5 members; $20 member family; $7 non-members; $28 non-member family. No Experience necessary; you don't need to bring a partner. For more information call the BFMS hotline at 888-646-BFMS or 410-321-8419. The dance is held at St. Marks on the Hill, 1620 Reisterstown Road. BFMS is supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts. Web site: http://www.bfms.org/.
St. Michaels: Dances (circles, squares, lines and contras) on 4th Saturdays at Christ Church Parish Hall, 103 Willow Street, starting at 7:00pm. Presented by Carpe Diem Arts, in partnership with St. Michaels Community Center and St. Michaels Studio. Contact Busy Graham at 410-745-5654 or busygraham@gmail.com for more information. All ages are welcome. Admission: $7 adults, $3 students (includes refreshments). Please pay what you can - less or more. No need to bring a partner. Arrive anytime and stay as long as you like. No experience necessary. A professional dance caller will lead the way. Those who want to watch from the sidelines and enjoy the music are also welcome. The last part of the evening (8:30-9:15) will feature more advanced dances for the pleasure of our more experienced dancers. For local musicians (teens and adults) - there will be an open band session 7-7:30 pm (and again at the end of the dance) -- for anyone who plays an instrument and would enjoy the opportunity to play some tunes in an ensemble setting. (Arrive 6:30 for warm-up before dancing starts at 7pm). Visit http://www.CarpeDiemArts.org to download tunes and practice in advance. Please encourage your musician friends to give it a try. The tunes are great fun to learn and sound even better with a band! Web site: http://www.carpediemarts.org.Takoma Park - Mid-Winter Festival: The Folklore Society of Greater Washington's Midwinter Festival is a family-friendly extravaganza of music, dance, stories, workshops, and crafts. Held around the first weekend in February. The Mini-Fest provides all comers with a wonderful opportunity to beat the winter blues, visit with friends and neighbors, and be part of some of the finest music that the Washington area has to offer! It is held at the Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Want to get in free? Scroll down for information on volunteer opportunities. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
Takoma Park - Folk Festival: in mid-September, 11 am to 6:30 pm at the Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Rd. (near Rt. 410). Music, crafts, food and a variety of dancing. Web site: http://www.tpff.org/.
Thurmont - Catoctin Spring Weekend: The Baltimore Folk Music Society sponsors the Catoctin Mountain Music and Dance Spring Weekend featuring traditional music, dancing, and crafts with programs run by volunteers. The spring weekend is held in mid-June. The camp runs from about 6 p.m. on Friday to about noon on Sunday. The camp is held at Camp Misty Mount in Catoctin Mountain National Park. Web site: http://www.bfms.org/.
Thurmont - Catoctin Fall Weekend: The Baltimore Folk Music Society sponsors the Catoctin Mountain Music and Dance Spring Weekend featuring traditional music, dancing, and crafts with programs run by volunteers. The fall weekend is held in mid-late October. The camp runs from about 6 p.m. on Friday to about noon on Sunday. The camp is held at Camp Misty Mount in Catoctin Mountain National Park. Web site: http://www.bfms.org/.
Towson - Mid-Winter Ball: The Baltimore Folk Music Society presents a Mid-Winter Ball Co-Sponsored by the Towson University Dance Department in the Chesapeake Room of the University Union Cross Campus Drive, Towson University, Towson. Reception at 6:45 p.m; Grand March at 7:15 p.m. At the door $35.00 Members* $15 TU Students $40 All others; *BFMS, FSGW, CDSS, ATDS. Contributions of finger foods for the reception encouraged. For Information E-mail: midwinterball at bfms.org or call (410) 433-4419 The Baltimore Folk Music Society is supported in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council. Web site: http://www.bfms.org/.
Upper Marlboro - Fairhaven School: Fundraising dance at the Fairhaven School, 17900 Queen Anne Road. Telephone: 301 249-8060. There will be a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, and refreshments. 7 PM. Open to all (admission by donation). Proceeds benefit Fairhaven's tuition assistance fund. Web site: http://www.contradancers.com/atds/index.html.
West River - FSGW Fall Getaway: Get away from it all, at the height of the autumn color season, and make music together with your neighbors and musicians from all over the world at the West River Conference Center. It has heated facilities and flat terrain, and is on the shores of an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay. West River is a lovely spot with lots of inviting places to jam or sing, from first light to the wee hours. Web site: http://fsgw.org/index.php.
Westminster - Common Ground Traditions Week 1: A July week of workshops, classes, events and a limited amount of contra dancing. Web site: http://www.commongroundonthehill.org
Westminster - Common Ground Traditions Week 2: A July week of workshops, classes, events and a limited amount of contra dancing. Web site: http://www.commongroundonthehill.org
Westminster - Common Ground Traditions Festival: Two-day festival in July of music, dance and other folk arts, sometimes including contras, squares and other participatory dancing. Web site: http://www.commongroundonthehill.org
Westminster - Common Ground Evenings: Evening programs during the Common Ground weeks (in July) are open to the public by paid admission and may or may not include dancing (and may or may not include contras, squares, etc.). Web site: http://www.commongroundonthehill.org
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