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 Dec. 26. Instr. 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, Rm. 407, 8-10:30. Nov. 8 & 22, Dec. 6 &: 13 (a party). Always live music. $6–$10 donation/MIT & Wellesley students free. MIT Folk Dance Club. Info: sit-ins, volunteer callers, 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 (Nov. 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. Party! Nov. 23. Basic instruction at 7:10. $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. NO DANCE Nov. 23 or Dec. 28. 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. NO DANCE Nov. 23, Dec. 21 or Dec. 28. 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. NO DANCE Nov. 23. $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. NO DANCE Nov. 24. The All-Girl Band Dec. 8. Instruction & requests. $8/FAC memb $6/student $5. 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. NO DANCE Nov. 24. 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 Nov. 11, Dec. 23 or Dec. 30. Instruction & requests, beginners always welcome! Frequent special events/guest teachers/live music—check flyers or more details for more info. $8/FAC members $6/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. 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.

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. *RENAISSANCE DANCE – New England Conservatory of Music, 241 St. Botolph St. (Boston), room G14, 7 pm. All dances taught. Instructor Ken Pierce, music by Renaissonics. Soft-soled shoes pls! $8. Info: 617/661-3353.

2^nd & 4^th Fr	*HARVARD SQ. ENGLISH SERIES – Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church, 1555 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 7:30-9:30pm. NO DANCE Nov. 25 or Dec. 23. 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. 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. Nov. 4 (Friday), Nov. 19 (Saturday) &: Dec. 2 (Friday). $4. Info: 781/648-6887.

S A T	*GREEK FOLK DANCING – 2nd floor function hall, 288 Green St., Cambridge (Central Sq.), 12-2. NO DANCE Nov. 26, Dec 24 or Dec. 31. 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. 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. See Special Event Nov. 12! 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. NO DANCE in Dec.. Pre-25th Anniversary “Battle of the Bands” Nov. 12. $20/student w/ID $15. 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. Nov. 5, a “Special Event”; NO DANCE Nov. 12 or Dec. 24. Dec. 31, see Special Events. Check the website for more details and parties. All welcome, always live music. $10/students $6/under 12 Free. Info: 617/852-4042 or 781/982-8042.

4^th S A T U R D A Y	FAC INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE PARTY – Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont. 8-11. Nov. 26, music by the Pinewoods band. NO DANCE in December. All requests, no teaching, live music. Refreshment donations appreciated. More details. Info: Folk Arts Center, 781/438-4387. *CONTRAS & SQUARES – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. NO DANCE in December. 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. Nov. 13 (Sun), 2-5 pm; Dec. 3, a party (Sat), 8-11. 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 – Cambridge: Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 2nd Floor (Sala/Lobdell). Nov. 6: NO DANCE, but a suggested alternative; Nov. 20: Kresge Auditorium, main stage; Dec. 4 & 11: Rm. 491; NO DANCE Dec. 25. 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. Work on Boncidai cycle both Romanian & Magyar. Teacher Dénes Takácsy. $10. Info: Website, 617/484-4870. *SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE – Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St., Brookline, 6:30-8:30. NO DANCE Nov. 20, Dec. 11 or Dec. 25. Basic & experienced instruction. Bring soft-soled shoes please. $5. Info: 617/864-8945.

us. 3^rd S U N D A Y S	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. Nov. 13, a 2nd Sunday. $11 per session, $17 for both. More details. Info: 617/208-3862. *BIDA (Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates) CONTRA DANCE – Masonic Hall (Porter Sq.), 1950 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 7:30-10:30. See Special Event Nov. 26. Live music, various callers and bands. $5-$10 sliding scale. Info: BIDA website; 502/550-5981.

4^th S U N	*MOSTLY WALTZ for Boston – Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA, 2-5:30. Basic teaching until 3. Waltzes, plus other couple dances. Nov. 27: Mary Lea (fiddle) and Peter Barnes (piano, guitar). Today, the Cross-Step Waltz with Tom Roby and Diane Gonzales from 2-3pm, social dance from 3-5:30pm. NO DANCE in Dec. $12/students $5. Info: 781/646-7861.

Special Events

Saturday, Nov. 5
HIGHLAND TRADITIONS – 18th Annual Scottish Concert – RSCDS, Boston Branch. National Heritage Museum, Lexington. 3 and 7:30pm. Info & tix.

Sunday, Nov. 6
*NEFFA/FAC FAMILY DANCE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2-4pm. New England Barn Dances w/ Jacqueline & Dudley Laufman, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages (5 and up) welcome. $5/person, $25 family max. Bring clean shoes, pls! FAC: 781/438-4387, or NEFFA: 617/299-1590.

Saturday, Nov. 12
BULGARIAN DANCE PARTY with BULGARIKA and IVAN MILEV – Payson Park Church, 365 Common St., Belmont, 8�11. Concert, followed by dancing; ZDRAVETS will play in the break. $15/students $10. Flyer. Info: 617/964-2003.

Saturday, Nov. 26
CONTRAS, SQUARES, & ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING – Masonic Hall, 1950 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 7:30-10:30. Caller Brad Foster, music Dave Langford & Karen Axelrod. $5-$10 sliding scale. Info: BIDA 502/550-5981.

Sunday, Dec. 4
*NEFFA/FAC FAMILY DANCE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2-4pm. Traditional Dances from Around the World with Judith Stames-Hamilton & Regina Laskowski, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages (5 and up) welcome. $5/person, $25 family max. Bring clean shoes, pls! FAC: 781/438-4387, or NEFFA: 617/299-1590.

Saturday, Dec. 10
SALSA WORKSHOP & DANCE PARTY w/ Greg Coles – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts. Workshop 4-6 pm, Potluck dinner 6:30-8:30; Dance Party 8:30-11. Workshop & Party each @$17/$15 FAC and BDA members/$12 students; Potluck dinner $5. All day package, including the potluck $34/$30, FAC and BDA members/$20. Info: FAC 781/438-4387.

Sunday, Dec. 11
CHRISTMAS COTILLION – Scout House, 74 Walden St, Concord, 6:15pm. Tony Parkes w/Spare Parts and Friends. Period, formal or festive attire requested. $15 advance/ $17 at door/$10 students. Info: 781/272-0396.

Saturday, Dec. 17
MANDALA HOLIDAY PARTY – Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont, 8-11:30. Music by the Mandala orchestra. Refreshments provided, ethnic costumes encouraged. (Cancelled if snow emergency in Belmont.) $20/$15 students & seniors. Info: 781/729-7257.

Saturday, Dec. 24
ISRAELI DANCE MARATHON – Congregation Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard Street Brookline, 6pm-4am. Admission $10; seniors, kids under 18 & college students with ID $5. MIT Folk Dance Club. Check for updates., more details or email <mitisraeli_AT_gmail_DOT_com>.

Saturday, Dec. 31 New Year's Eve Celebrations

FAC’s INTERNATIONAL DANCE PARTY – Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont, 9 pm�1 am. Live music with Barbara Pixton & Friends. $20/FAC members $18/other discounts available. More details. Info: 781/438-4387.

*New Year’s Eve SQUARES, CONTRAS & COUPLE DANCES – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8pm�1am. Lisa Greenleaf, Walter Lenk, & the usual suspects. $15. Info: 617/547-7781.

*GENDER-FREE CONTRA DANCE – 1st Church of Jamaica Plain UU, Centre & Eliot Sts., JP, 7:30pm�1am. $10/students $6/ 12 Free. Info: 617/852-4042 or 781/982-8042.