FOLK DANCING 'ROUND BOSTON
* marks a dance recommended for beginners (may include a "Newcomers" session).
NOTE! marks special events, or significant changes for regular events.

We attempt to keep this calendar up to date, but you should call for confirmation before going to an event or a series new to you.

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!
Mon     Tue     Wed     Thur     Fri     Sat     Sun    Special Events

Regularly Scheduled Events

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*BULGARIAN/BALKAN DANCING – Green Street Dance Studios, 185 Green St., Cambridge MA (Central Sq), 7:30-9 pm. NOTE! NO DANCE on June 23 or 30. $15, or $50 for four classes. Info: (617) 840-2362.

*ISRAELI FOLK DANCING – Temple Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard Ave., Brookline, 8-12, easier dances & instruction 8-9. $5/students $3. Info: 617/576-5554

*NEW ENGLAND SQUARES AND CONTRAS – Scout House, 74 Walden Street, Concord, MA, 7:30-10:30. Various callers, music by Yankee Ingenuity & guests. $8/teens & students $5. Bring clean shoes, please! Info: 781/272-0396 or 978/369-1232.

*SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE – Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA. 7:45-10:15. End-of-Season party June 30. Instruction till 9, social dancing 9:15 on. Live music. $7/students with ID $4. Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Info: 617/661-5899, or 781/862-1950.


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*GREEK FOLK DANCING – Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, 7-9. Dances taught at all levels of skill. Donation $10. Info: 617/491-5463.


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*FOLK DANCING BY THE FOUNTAIN – Outdoors at Copley Square, by Clarendon and Boylston Sts., Boston, 7:30 pm. NOTE! Starts June 3.! Weather permitting—cancellations decided by 5:00; decision recorded on the FolkFone, 781/662-7476. FREE. More details. Info: Folk Arts Center, 781/662-7475.

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*Gender-Free ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING(2nd & 4th Tues. “for All”; 5th Tues. “Experienced.” 1st Church of Jamaica Plain, Centre & Eliot Sts., Jamaica Plain, 7:30-10. Beginners welcome, all dances taught. Brown bag supper, 6:30. $7. Info: 617/522-2216 or 617/512-5554

*CONTRA DANCE FOR ALL at MIT 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge: Student Center, 4th floor or Lobdell, 8-10:30. NOTE! NO DANCE May 27. Great live music every week, many visiting callers (to call or play, call 617/354-0864.) $6 donation/MIT & Wellesley students free. MIT Folk Dance Club & Music-for-Robin, info. 617/354-0864.


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*ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts., 7:30-10:30. NOTE! LAST DANCE in this series on June 18, a party. Basics before 7:30 & during break. $9/CDS members $7/students and first timers $4. Country Dance Society, info: 781/662-6710.

*FRAMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCEParish Hall of Edwards UCC Church, 39 Edwards St., Framingham, 7:30-10. NOTE! LAST DANCE of the series (and a party!) on June 11. Instruction & requests. Soft-soled shoes please! $6/FFD members $5/student or senior $1 discount/1st time FREE. Info: 978/897-7549.

*ISRAELI DANCE at MIT – 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge: Student Center room 407 or 491. 8-11:30 pm. NOTE! Check the website for location of dance on May 28. Dance on June 4 to be in Lobdell. $1 donation suggested/MIT students free. MIT Folk Dance Club: 617/253-FOLK.


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WEDNESDAY MUSIC JAM SESSIONS Beebe Estate, 235 West Foster St., Melrose, 7:30-9:30. Open jams in Celtic and international dance music. Free. More details. Info: FAC, 781/662-7475.

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EXPERIENCED INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE – 1st Parish of Watertown Church, 35 Church St., Watertown Sq., 8-10:45. NOTE! NO DANCE June 19. Instruction & requests. $8/FAC memb $6/students $5. More details. Folk Arts Center: 781/662-7475.

NEW ENGLAND CONTRAS & SQUARES – Concord Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord MA, 7:30-10:30. Various local & touring performers; live music. $8 ($5 full-time students 21 and under). Thursday Contra Calendar. Info: 781/272-0396, 508/229-2854.

*SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE Universalist Church, 211 Bridge St., Salem. Beginners’ class 7:30, social dancing 8:15-10:30. $4. Info: 781/593-5949.


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*INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts., 8-11. NOTE! NO DANCE June 20. Instruction & requests, beginners always welcome! Frequent special events/guest teachers/live music—check flyers or here for more info. $8/FAC members $6/students $5. More details. Info: Folk Arts Center, 781/662-7475.

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CHALLENGING CONTRASScout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. NOTE! LAST DANCE of season May 2. 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. 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 or 781/662-6710.


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*WESTON SCOTTISH DANCE1st Unitarian Church in Weston, School & Church Sts., 8-10:45. NOTE!NO DANCE May 2, LAST DANCE of season May 30. Soft-soled shoes please. $7. Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Info: 781/894-7754.

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*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. Info: 617/661-1865 or 617/965-0542.

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*HARVARD SQ. ENGLISH SERIES – Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church, 1555 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 7:30-9:30pm. Beginner-friendly English dancing, all dances taught. Live music. $6/$5 CDS members/$3 students. Country Dance Society. Info: 617/744-5331.

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*CONTRAS & SQUARES with ROARING JELLY – 1st Parish Church, 7 Harrington Rd., Lexington. 8-11, beginners session 7:45. Caller Susan Elberger, music director Debbie Knight. $6, under 12: free; family max $20. Info: 781/944-3544

NORWEGIAN COUPLE DANCEChurch of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington, 8-11. NOTE! June 13, a 2nd Friday. Halling antics (“free dance” play time!) 7:30-8. Basic instruction early in the evening. Live music. $7. Info: 413/253-0525.

*RENAISSANCE DANCE – 1st Church Congregational, 11 Garden St., Cambridge, 7:30 pm. NOTE! May 9, a 2nd Friday. English, French & Italian dances of the 15th-17th centuries. Instruction Ken Pierce, music by Renaissonics. Soft-soled shoes please! $8. Info: 617/661-3353.


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“TUESDAY NIGHT REVIVAL” (experienced Balkan) DANCEChurch of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington. 8-11. May 3, June 7 (Saturdays). $4. Info: 781/648-6887.

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*SATURDAY NIGHT DANCES at the SCOUT HOUSE, – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 7:30-11. Bring clean shoes, please! Swing Dance with The Love Dogs (May), Beantown Swing (June). (Concord/San Marcos Sister City Benefit). Instruction 7:30. $15/students $10. Info: 617/272-57301.

*SALEM CONTRA DANCE – Tabernacle Congregational Church, 50 Washington St., Salem, 7:30-10:30 pm. NOTE! LAST DANCE May 3. Guest caller Nils Fredland; music director Bill Smith with the Salem Country Orchestra. Clean shoes, please. $8/$6 seniors & students; $20 family max. Info: 978/745-9391.


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SCANDINAVIAN DANCING – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts., 8-10:30. Always live music, some teaching 8-9. $7. Please bring clean shoes. Speledans, info 781/891-3207.

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*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: 617/964-2003.

*NEW ENGLAND CONTRA DANCE at the SCOUT HOUSEScout House, 74 Walden St., Concord. 8-11. June, see Special Events. $9/CDS-Boston members $7/young people $5. Bring clean shoes, please! Info: CDS, 857/499-8907 or 781/662-6710.

*SWING DANCE – St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown. Instruction 8-9, dancing 9-midnight. $15/student w/ID $10. Info: 617/924-6603.


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*BOSTON GAY & LESBIAN CONTRA DANCE1st church of Jamaica Plain, Unitarian-Universalist, Centre & Eliot Sts., Jamaica Plain, 7:30-11. All welcome, always live music. $10. Info: 617/852-4042 or 617/982-8042.

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*NEW ENGLAND CONTRAS & SQUARES at the SCOUT HOUSE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. Caller Beth Parkes. Music Jim Guinness, Carol Bittenson, & Debby Knight. Bring clean shoes, please! $8. Flyer. Info: 978/667-7459.

*MELROSE CONTRA DANCE – Unitarian Universalist Church, 70 W. Emerson St., Melrose, 7-10 pm. Caller Cammy Kaynor, ;ive music. Sit-ins & newcomers welcome. Donation $6. Info: 781/665-3835.


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*CONTRAS & SQUARES – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. Caller Walter Lenk, music Debby Knight & friends.. Bring clean shoes, please! Flyer. $8. Info: 617/547-7781.

FAC INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE PARTY – Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont. 8-11. NOTE! May 31 (5th Sat.) Special Birthday Dance Party, music by Zdravets, Shining Moon, & Pinewoods Band. FREE (May only). June 28, Pinewoods Band. All requests, no teaching, live music. Refreshment donations appreciated. $10/FAC memb. $8/other discounts. More details. Info: Folk Arts Center, 781/662-7475.


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*INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCING at MIT – 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge: Student Center, 2nd floor (Sala/Lobdell). Instruction & requests 8-9; requests 9-11. $1 donation requested. MIT Folk Dance Club: 617/253-FOLK.

HUNGARIAN DANCE CYCLESChurch of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington. 6:30 to 8:30. NOTE! Call to confirm June. Each cycle will be taught for 6 to 8 weeks by Dénes Takácsy. $10. Website. Info: 617/253-7708 (daytime).

*SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St., Brookline, 6:30-8:30. NOTE! LAST DANCE of season May 18, a party with live music. Basic & experienced instruction. Bring soft-soled shoes please. $5. Info: 617/661-5899 or 781/321-7452.

*ISRAELI DANCING – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton Ctr., Beg. 7:30-8, 8-10:30 all levels. NOTE! NO DANCE on May 18 or 25, June 8. Incomplete info, call to confirm. Instructor: Pamela Kessler. $5. Info: 617/254-HORA.


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*GAMMALDANS – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts., 2-5 pm. NOTE! May 11, June 15 (a 3rd Sun.). Easy Scandinavian dances. Live music by John Chambers & friends. Please bring clean shoes. $7. Speledans, 781/891-3207.

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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. $10 per session, $15 for both. More details. Info: 617/734-5215.

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MOSTLY WALTZ for BostonSpringstep, 98 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA, 2:15-5:30. NOTE! May 18 (a 3rd Sun.), LAST DANCE of the season. Live music, various musicians. Basic teaching until 3. Waltzes plus other couple dances. $10/students $8. Info: 781/395-1066 or 781/395-0402.


Special Events
Friday, May 30
IN FINE FETTLE – An English Country Dance Social – Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford, 7:30-10:30. Music by Jim Ialeggio, Susie Petrov, Eric MacDonald, and Liz Maxfield. $12/CDS members $10/students $5. Info: 781/662-6710.

Friday, June 6
NOT YOUR AVERAGE GREEK DANCESpringstep (Hawkins Hall), 98 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford, 7-10 pm. Live Dance Music from the Greek Mainland, Islands, and Asia Minor, with Skordalia and the Poludaktulos Orchestra. $15/Springstep members $12/under 12, $10. Info: 617/364-2599.

Saturday, 14 June
CONTRA DANCE & Silent AuctionScout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11 pm. Benefit for Scout House maintenance & preservation. Caller Lisa Greenleaf, recorded music. Info: 978/369-3455.

Saturday, 14 June
TRANSYLVANIAN WORKSHOP, CONCERT & TÁNCHÁZ with MetróFolk – MIT Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 2nd floor (Lobdell). Workshop 3-5 (Tom Roby & Clare Stanley), concert & táncház 8-11. Hungarian, Romanian and Romani (Gypsy) music from the Carpathians. Sugg. donations: wkshp. $10, evening $15-$20, $25 for all (MIT & Wellesley students free). Info: 617/253-7708 (weekdays 9-5 only).

Thursday-Monday June 19-23; Monday-Thursday, June 23-26
Folk Arts Center's PINEWOODS WEEKEND and FOLK DAYS – Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth MA. Cristian Florescu & Sonia Dion (Romanian Dance), and Alix Cordray (Norwegian Dance), and the Pinewoods Band. $395 (weekend), $295 (Folk Days, or full week $620. Ask about FAC member discounts & children’s fees. Info: 781/662-7475.

Contents © Copyright 2008 by the Folk Arts Center of New England.