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.

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
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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. NOTE! NO DANCE May 27. Instruction till 9, social dancing 9:15 on. Live music. $8/students $4. Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. Info: or 617/923‑2778.

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S		 *CONTRA DANCE FOR ALL: at MIT – Student Center, rm 491 (4th floor), 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 8-10:30. May 7 & 14., June 11 & 25. Always live music. $6–$10 donation/MIT & Wellesley students free. MIT Folk Dance Club. Info, sit-ins, new/training callers, call 617/354‑0864.

*2nd, 4th & 5th(experienced) Tuesday Gender-Free ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING – 1st Church of Jamaica Plain, Centre & Eliot Sts., Jamaica Plain, 7:30-10. Beginners welcome, all dances taught. $7. Experienced dance on 5th Tuesdays. Info: website, 617/522‑2216 or 617/512‑5554.

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Y		 *ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts., 7:30-10:30. Basic instruction upon request at 7:10. NOTE! LAST DANCE June 19 (End of Season Party!). Summer series starts July 10 at the First Unitarian Society, West Newton. $9/CDS members $7/students and first timers $4. For more details, Country Dance Society. Info: 617/721‑0600

*FRAMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE – Parish Hall of Edwards UCC Church, 39 Edwards St., Framingham, 7:30-10. NOTE! LAST DANCE of the season, June 12. 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. NOTE! NO DANCE May 1. Instruction; donation $2. Boston Lykeion Ellinidon. Info: 508/393‑3563.

*ISRAELI DANCE at MIT – MIT Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 2nd floor (Sala or Lobdell), 8-11:30. May 8, Rm. 491. May 22, 29 & June 5 subject to cancellation—check the web page. $1 donation suggested/MIT students free. MIT Folk Dance Club, , 617/253‑FOLK.

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Y		 EXPERIENCED INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE – 1st Parish of Watertown Church, 35 Church St., Watertown Sq., 8:15-10:45. NOTE! NO DANCE June 20 (come to Pinewoods, see “Special Events”). Live music by the All-Girl Band May 16. Instruction & requests. $9/FAC members $7/students $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. 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.

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Y		 *INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE – Park Ave Congregational Church, Park Ave. at Paul Revere Rd., Arlington Hts., 8-11. NOTE! LAST DANCE of the season June 14. 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.
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Y		 CHALLENGING CONTRAS – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11, NOTE! LAST DANCE of the season May 3. For experienced dancers. Various callers & bands. $10/21 & under; $8. Info: 978/779‑6077.

ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE for EXPERIENCED DANCERS – Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St., Brookline, 8-11. NOTE! LAST DANCE of the season May 3. 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.

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I		 *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.
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 *HARVARD SQ. ENGLISH SERIES – Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church, 1555 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 7:30-9:30pm. NOTE! LAST DANCE of the season June 14. 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.
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Y		 *CONTRAS & SQUARES with ROARING JELLY – 1st Parish Church, 7 Harrington Rd., Lexington. 8-11, beginners’ session 7:45. NOTE! LAST DANCE of the season June 21. Caller Susan Elberger, music director Debbie Knight. Adults $7; teens $5; under 12: free; family max $20. Info: 781/259‑0753.

*RENAISSANCE DANCE for EVERYONE – First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St (Harvard Sq), 7:30 pm. NOTE! LAST DANCE of the season May 17. Beginners welcome, all dances taught by Ken Pierce. Live music, vegan refreshments. Suggested donation $10. Info: 617/661‑3353.

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Sa		 “TUESDAY NIGHT REVIVAL” (experienced Balkan) DANCE – Church of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington. 8-11. May 4 (Saturday), May 17 (Friday), June 1 (Saturday). $4. Info: 781/648‑6887.
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T		 *GREEK FOLK DANCING – 2nd floor function hall, 288 Green St., Cambridge (Central Sq.), 12-2. NOTE! NO DANCE May 4. Instruction; donation $2. Boston Lykeion Ellinidon. Info: 508/393‑3563.
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Y		 *BALKAN DANCE PARTY & CONCERT with ZDRAVETS – Church of Our Saviour, 21 Marathon St., Arlington, 8-11 pm. May 11, June 8. Dancing & music from Bulgaria and her neighbors. Protect our floor–bring clean shoes, please! $7. Info: or 617/964‑2003.

*SWING DANCE – Armenian Cultural & Education Center, 47 Nichols Ave., Watertown. Instruction 7:45-8:30, dancing 8:30-11:30. May 11 & June 1 (1st Saturday). $18/student with ID or over 70 $15. Info: bands & details, or 617/901‑9787.

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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.
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Y		 FAC INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE PARTY – Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont. 8-11. May 18 (3rd Sat): music by “Fifty Shades of Goat”, admission FREE. June 28 (4th FRIDAY: at air-conditioned First Unitarian Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St., West Newton—music by The Pinewoods Band. Special guests: Tineke and Maurits van Geel. All requests, no teaching. Refreshment donations appreciated. $12/FAC members $10/Students $7. More details & a flyer.. Info: Folk Arts Center, 781/438‑4387.

*CONTRAS & SQUARES – Cambridge Friends School, 5 Cadbury Rd., Cambridge. 8-11. Guest Callers and musicians with Debby Knight & Walter Lenk. Protect our floor, please bring clean shoes. Flyer with a map. $8/students $6. Info: 617/547‑7781.

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Y		 *INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCING at MIT – Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 2nd Floor (Sala/Lobdell). May 19 & 26, June 2 & 9, subject to cancellation—check the website. 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. Teacher Dénes Takácsy. $10. Info: Website, 781/891‑3918.

*SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE – Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St., Brookline, 6:30-8:30. NOTE! LAST DANCE of the season, May 19. Basic & experienced instruction. Bring soft-soled shoes please. $5. Info: 617/864‑8945.

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Su		 *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. Flyer. Info: BIDA website; 502/550‑5981.
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N		 *MOSTLY WALTZ for Boston – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2–5:30 pm. Teaching until 3. Waltzes, plus other couple dances. June 9: End-of-Season Bash, DJ Diane Gonzalez. $12/$10 FAC member/$6 young adult. Details & a flyer. Info: 781/646‑7861.
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N		 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC CLUB – Goddard House, 165 Chestnut St., Brookline. Learn International dance repertoire! Singing session (Julia Poirier) 1-3 pm; instrumental session (Patrick Yacono) 3:30-5:50 pm. May 19, June 9 (2nd Sun.). $12 per session, $20 for both. More details and a flyer. Info: 617/208‑3862.

Special Events

Friday, May 10
BOSTON HIGHLAND BALL WELCOME DANCE – 1st Parish Church in Weston, 349 Boston Post Rd., Weston, 8-11. Scottish Country Dancing. Music by Katie McNally, Emerald Rae, and Neil Pearlman. $13. Sponsored by the RSCDS Boston Branch. Info: Online description, 617/460‑0275.

Saturday, May 11
BOSTON HIGHLAND BALL – Moseley’s on the Charles, 50 Bridge St., Dedham, 6pm-midnight. Dinner followed by Scottish Country Dancing. Music by Thistle House: David Knight, Dave Wiesler, and Dan Emery. $75/$80/$50 RSCDS members, non-members, students and non-dancers. Advance ticket purchase required. Sponsored by the RSCDS Boston Branch. Online description. Info and tix: 617/460‑0275.

Saturday, May 25
SCANDINAVIAN DANCING for ALL – Park Ave Congregational Church, Paul Revere Rd & Park Ave, Arlington Heights, 8–11 pm. Dance review/requests led by Morty Isaacson. Music by John Chambers & friends. Singles, Couples, all welcome. $7. Info: Speledans, 781/891‑3207.

Saturday, June 15
Balkan Dancing OUTDOORS – Depot Square, Lexington Center, Lexington, 7–9 pm. Music by Zdravets, dance leaders from the band. Weather permitting—cancellations decided by 5:00, decision recorded on the FolkFone, 781/438‑4389. FREE. Info: FAC, 781/438‑4387.

Thursday-Monday June 20-24
Monday-Thursday June 24-27
FOLK ARTS CENTER’S PINEWOODS INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND and Folk Days – Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MA. Tineke van Geel (Armenian and Balkan dances), Maurits van Geel (dances from the Caucasus), and the Pinewoods Band. $430 (weekend), $320 (Folk Days), or full week $680. FAC member discounts, work exchange and children's fees available. Info: FAC 781/438‑4387. Contents © Copyright 2013 by the Folk Arts Center of New England.