Folk Dancing ’Round Boston

* marks a dance recommended for beginners (may include a “Newcomers” session).

marks special events, or significant changes for regular events.

This calendar includes most participatory dances in the Greater Boston area (mostly inside Rte. 128). We try for accuracy, but Life Happens.
For confirmation or more info, call the info number, visit the dance's website, or call the Folk Fone, 781/438-4389.

You may make use of this material as you wish, but if you publish it in any way, please credit the Folk Arts Center of New England. Thanks!

Regularly Scheduled Events

M O N D A Y	*BULGARIAN/BALKAN DANCING – Green St. Dance Studios, 185 Green St., Cambridge (Central Sq), 7:30-9 pm, beginners’ session 6:30-7:30. $15, or $50/4 classes. Info: 617/840‑2362. *ISRAELI FOLK DANCING – Temple Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard Ave., Brookline, 7:30-12. Partner dances 7:30-8:30, circle/easier dances (some instruction) 8:30-10. More advanced 10-12. $5/students $3. Info: 617/308‑8850 *MONDAY CONTRAS – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 7:30-10:30. Various callers and musicians. $8/full-time students 22 & under, $5. Bring clean shoes, please! Info: website link, 781/272‑0396, or 978/369‑1232. *SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE – Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford, 7:45-10:15. NO DANCE May 28. Instruction till 9, social dancing 9:15 on. Live music. $8/students $4. Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Info: <CambridgeClass_AT_rscdsboston_DOT_org> or 978/368‑0725.

var. T U E S	*CONTRA DANCE FOR ALL: at MIT – Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, Room 407, 8-10:30. May 15 Lobdell Dining Room, May 29 Kresge Rehearsal Room A, June 12 & 26 Lobdell. Always live music. $6–$10 donation/MIT & Wellesley students free. MIT Folk Dance Club. Info, sit-ins, new/training callers, call 617/354‑0864. *Gender-Free ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING – 1st Church of Jamaica Plain, Centre & Eliot Sts., Jamaica Plain, 7:30-10. Fifth Tuesdays (May 29), experienced. Beginners welcome, all dances taught. $7. Info: website, 617/522‑2216 or 617/512‑5554

W E D N E S D A Y	*ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts., 7:30-10:30. Basic instruction at 7:10. LAST DANCE June 20 (Party!). Summer series starts July 6 at the First Unitarian Society of Newton. $9/CDS members $7/students and first timers $4. For parties, etc., Country Dance Society, info: 617/721‑0600. *FRAMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE – Parish Hall of Edwards UCC Church, 39 Edwards St., Framingham, 7:30-10. LAST DANCE June 13 (Party!). Instruction & requests. Soft-soled shoes please! $6/FFD members $5/student or senior $1 discount/1st time FREE. Info: 978/897‑7549. *GREEK FOLK DANCING – 2nd floor function hall, 288 Green St., Cambridge (Central Sq.), 7-9. Instruction; donation $2. Boston Lykeion Ellinidon. Info: 508/393‑3563. *ISRAELI DANCE at MIT – MIT Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 2nd or 4th fl., 8-11:30. May 30 & June 6, check the website for locations. $1 donation suggested/MIT students free.. MIT Folk Dance Club: 617/253‑FOLK.

T H U R S D A Y	EXPERIENCED INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE – 1st Parish of Watertown Church, 35 Church St., Watertown Sq., 8-10:45. Instruction & requests. NO DANCE June 21. $9/FAC members $7/students $6. More details. Folk Arts Center: 781/438‑4387. NEFFA CONTRAS at the SCOUT HOUSE – Concord Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord MA, 7:30-10:30. Various local & touring performers; live music. $8 ($5 for people 22 and under). Thursday Contra Calendar & more details. Info: 617/299‑1590, 781/272‑0396, or 508/229‑2854.

F R I D A Y	*INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts., 8-11. NO DANCE June 22, LAST DANCE June 29. Instruction & requests, beginners always welcome! Frequent special events/guest teachers/live music—check flyers or more details for more info. $10/FAC members $7/students $5. Info: Folk Arts Center, 781/438‑4387.

1^st F R I D A Y	CHALLENGING CONTRAS – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. LAST DANCE May 4. For experienced dancers. Various callers & bands. $9/under 21; $7. Info: 978/779‑6077. ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE for EXPERIENCED DANCERS – Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St., Brookline, 8-11. LAST DANCE May 4. For dancers thoroughly familiar with basic English figures. Various leaders and musicians, all dances taught. $10/CDS members $8. Country Dance Society. Info: 617/721‑0600.

2^nd F R I D A Y	*CARLISLE DANCE (Contra dancing with live music) – Unitarian Church, 27 School St., Carlisle, pot-luck at 6:30, dance 8:00-10:30. Caller Sue Rosen, music Debby Knight, David Titus, Bruce Rosen & Walter Lenk. $5. Flyer. Info: 617/661‑1865 or 617/965‑0542.

2^nd & 4^th Fr	*HARVARD SQ. ENGLISH SERIES – Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church, 1555 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 7:30-9:30pm. LAST DANCE June 8. Beginner-friendly English dancing, all dances taught. Live music. $7/$6 CDS members/$4 students. Country Dance Society. Info: 781/591‑2372 or 617/744‑5331.

3^rd F R I	*CONTRAS & SQUARES with ROARING JELLY – 1st Parish Church, 7 Harrington Rd., Lexington. 8-11, beginners’ session 7:45. June 15 dance at Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam St., Lexington. Caller Susan Elberger, music director Debbie Knight. Adults $7; teens $5; under 12: free; family max $20. Info: 781/259‑0753.

1/3 Fr or Sa	“TUESDAY NIGHT REVIVAL” (experienced Balkan) DANCE – Church of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington. 8-11. May 5 (Saturday), May 18 (Friday), June 2 (Saturday). $4. Info: 781/648‑6887.

S A T	*GREEK FOLK DANCING – 2nd floor function hall, 288 Green St., Cambridge (Central Sq.), 12-2. Instruction; donation $2. Boston Lykeion Ellinidon. Info: 508/393‑3563.

1^st Sa	*FIRST SATURDAY SQUARES – Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont, 8-11. June 2, a potluck supper at 6 followed by a Special Celebration dance at 8. Caller Tony Parkes, music Amy Cann & friends. Bring clean shoes, please! $5-$10. Info: website, or 978/667‑7459.

2^nd S A T U R D A Y	*BALKAN DANCE PARTY & CONCERT with ZDRAVETS – Church of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington, 8-11 pm. Dancing & music from Bulgaria and her neighbors. Protect our floor–bring clean shoes, please! $7. Info: <zdravets.music_AT_gmail_DOT_com> or 617/964‑2003. *SWING DANCE – St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown. Instruction 8-9, dancing 9-midnight. May 12: 25th Anniversary Dance with Dom V & the Swingout Big Band. Special admission price $20, no discounts. $15/student w/ID $10. Info: bands & details, or 617/901‑9787.

2^nd & 4^th Sa	*BOSTON GENDER-FREE CONTRA DANCE –1st church of Jamaica Plain, Unitarian-Universalist, Centre & Eliot Sts., Jamaica Plain, 7:30-11. More details. All welcome, always live music. $10/students $6/under 12 Free. Info: 617/852‑4042 or 781/982‑8042.

3^rd S A T	*MELROSE MUSIC & DANCE PARTY – Unitarian Universalist Church, 70 W. Emerson St., Melrose, 4-7 pm. Different focus each time (contra, couple, Irish, etc.) Bring an instrument and/or dancing shoes. Donation, $6 suggested. Info: 781/665‑3835.

4^th S A T U R D A Y	FAC INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE PARTY – Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont. 8-11. May 19, music by Goat and Tie Required. NO PARTY in June. All requests, no teaching, live music. Refreshment donations appreciated. More details & a flier.. Info: Folk Arts Center, 781/438‑4387. *CONTRAS & SQUARES – Cambridge Friends School, 5 Cadbury Rd., Cambridge. Guest Callers and musicians with Debby Knight & Walter Lenk. Bring clean shoes, please! Flyer. $8/students $6. Info: 617/547‑7781.

one Sa or Su /mo	SCANDINAVIAN DANCING for ALL – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts. May 19 (Saturday), 8-10:30. Always live music, brief demos on request. $7. Please bring clean shoes. Speledans, info 781/862‑6096.

S U N D A Y	*INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCING at MIT – Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 2nd Floor (Sala/Lobdell). May 6 Student Center Coffeehouse (3rd fl). DANCE TBA June 3. Instruction & requests 8-9; requests 9-11. $1 donation requested. MIT Folk Dance Club: 617/253‑FOLK. IMPROVISATIONAL HUNGARIAN DANCE – Church of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington. 6:30 to 8:30. May through August, irregular schedule. Check the website or call for information. $10. Info: Website, 617/484‑4870. *SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE – Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St., Brookline, 6:30-8:30. LAST DANCE May 20, a Party. Basic & experienced instruction. Bring soft-soled shoes please. $5. Info: 617/864‑8945.

1^st & 3^rd S U N	*BIDA (Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates) CONTRA DANCE – Masonic Hall (Porter Sq.), 1950 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 7:30-10:30. Live music, various callers and bands. $5-$10 sliding scale. Info: BIDA website; 502/550‑5981.

us. 3^rd S U N	INTERNATIONAL MUSIC CLUB – Goddard House, 165 Chestnut St., Brookline. Learn International dance repertoire! Instrumental session (Barbara Pixton) 1-3 pm; singing session (Ray Rosenstock) 3:30-5:50 pm. $11 per session, $17 for both. LAST MEETING May 20. More details and a flier. Info: 617/208‑3862.

4^th S U N	*MOSTLY WALTZ for Boston – Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA, 2-5:30. LAST DANCE May 20. Basic teaching until 3. Waltzes, plus other couple dances. $12/students $5. Details & a flier Info: 781/646‑7861.

Special Events
Sunday, May 13 8th BULGARIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL in NEW ENGLAND – ACAS Center, 29 Montvale Ave., Woburn, 5pm. Featuring dance ensemble “Horo” from Chicago, and Boston’s “Divi Zheni” and “Zornitsa”. Info and tix: 617/283‑4543. Sunday, June 3 FAC Benefit CELTIC CRUISE, Gloucester Harbor on the schooner Lannon, 3-5 pm. Pre-registration required, limited space, $50 ($25 is tax-deductible). Boarding begins at 2:45 at the Seven Seas Wharf at the Gloucester House Restaurant, 63 rear Rogers St. (Rte. 127), Gloucester MA. More details. To register: Folk Arts Center, 781/438‑4387. Thursday-Monday, June 21-25; Monday-Thursday June 25-June 28 Folk Arts Center’s PINEWOODS INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND and FOLK DAYS – Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MA. Miroslav “Bata” Marcetic (Serbian dances) and Bruce Hamilton (English Country dance), and the Pinewoods Band. $415 (weekend), $315 (Folk Days) or full week $645. Ask about FAC member discounts, and children's fees. More details. Info: FAC 781/438‑4387. Contents © Copyright 2012 by the Folk Arts Center of New England.

Special Events

Sunday, May 13
8th BULGARIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL in NEW ENGLAND – ACAS Center, 29 Montvale Ave., Woburn, 5pm. Featuring dance ensemble “Horo” from Chicago, and Boston’s “Divi Zheni” and “Zornitsa”. Info and tix: 617/283‑4543.

Sunday, June 3
FAC Benefit CELTIC CRUISE, Gloucester Harbor on the schooner Lannon, 3-5 pm. Pre-registration required, limited space, $50 ($25 is tax-deductible). Boarding begins at 2:45 at the Seven Seas Wharf at the Gloucester House Restaurant, 63 rear Rogers St. (Rte. 127), Gloucester MA. More details. To register: Folk Arts Center, 781/438‑4387.

Thursday-Monday, June 21-25;
Monday-Thursday June 25-June 28
Folk Arts Center’s PINEWOODS INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND and FOLK DAYS – Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MA. Miroslav “Bata” Marcetic (Serbian dances) and Bruce Hamilton (English Country dance), and the Pinewoods Band. $415 (weekend), $315 (Folk Days) or full week $645. Ask about FAC member discounts, and children's fees. More details. Info: FAC 781/438‑4387.