Contra & Square Dancing in and around Boston
January/February 2012

(for an overview of contra dances in general, see NEFFA’s excellent Contras)

every Monday
*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.

Tuesdays
*CONTRA DANCE FOR ALL: at MIT – Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, Rm. 407, 8-10:30. Jan. 10 Kresge Rehearsal Room B, Jan. 24 Kresge Rehearsal Room A, Jan. 31 Student Center Rm. 491, Feb. 14 &. 21 Student Center Rm. 407, Feb. 28 Student Center Rm. 491 Always live music. $6–$10 donation/MIT & Wellesley students free. MIT Folk Dance Club. Info, sit-ins, new/training callers, call 617/354-0864.

every Thursday
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.

1st Fridays
CHALLENGING CONTRAS – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. For experienced dancers. Various callers & bands. $9/under 21; $7. Info: 978/779-6077.

usually 2nd Fridays
*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.

3rd Fridays
*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.

Saturdays
*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 & 4^th Saturdays
*BOSTON GENDER-FREE CONTRA DANCE –1st church of Jamaica Plain, Unitarian-Universalist, Centre & Eliot Sts., Jamaica Plain, 7:30-11. Jan. 7, a 1st Sat. Jan. 14 Boston Wassail, an all-day event. See Special Events. NO DANCE Jan. 28. 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.

3^rd Saturdays
*MELROSE MUSIC #amp; 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 Saturdays
*CONTRAS & SQUARES – New Location 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.

3^rd Sundays
*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.

4^th Sundays
*MOSTLY WALTZ for Boston – Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA, 2-5:30. Basic teaching until 3. Waltzes, plus other couple dances. Jan. 22, a workshop (Cross-Step, modern Rotary) & dance with Susan Guardiola.. NO DANCE in Feb. $12/students $5. Info: 781/646-7861.

Special Events

Sunday, Jan. 8
*NEFFA/FAC FAMILY DANCE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2-4pm. New England Barn Dances & World Dances with Dillon Bustin & Judith Stames-Hamilton, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages (5 and up) welcome. $5/person, $25 family max. Bring clean shoes, please! Info FAC: 781‑438‑4387, or NEFFA: 617‑299‑1590.

Saturday, January 14
*2nd Annual BOSTON WASSAIL! – Afternoon tour in Jamaica Plain; evening party at 1st Church of Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot St., 5:30pm. Traditional 12th Night party with real apple orchard wassailing, pot–luck dinner, mummers play, and molly & sword dancing. Plus singing and English, contra & couple dancing for all. All welcome. Wassail website. $10 Info: 570/690-6798, email: <bostonwassail_AT_hotmail_DOT_com>.

Sunday, January 22
*NEFFA/FAC FAMILY DANCE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2-4pm. New England Barn Dances & New England Barn Dances with Sarah Gregory Smith & Jacob Bloom, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages (5 and up) welcome. $5/person, $25 family max. Bring clean shoes, please! Info FAC: 781/438-4387, or NEFFA: 617/299-1590.

Wednesday, Jan. 25
A MIDWINTER CELEBRATION – First Unitarian Society of Newton, 1326 Washington St., W. Newton, 7:30–9:30. A wintery program of traditional song, dance, drama, and storytelling. FREE. Info: 781/665-3835.

Saturday, Feb. 4
FOLK FUSION 2012 – Next Generation Music and Dance! – Crosby Whistle Stop, 24 Roland Street, Charlestown MA. 7:30-11:30 pm. Live music with the Free Raisins, Blajini, and Bury Me Standing. Dan Friedman calling. $10/students $8. Details, and a flier. Info: 781‑438‑4387.

Sunday, Feb. 5
*NEFFA/FAC FAMILY DANCE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2-4pm. New England Barn Dances & New England Barn Dances & World Dances with Jacob Bloom & Dana Sussman, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages (5 and up) welcome. $5/person, $25 family max. Bring clean shoes, please! Info FAC: 781/438-4387, or NEFFA: 617/299-1590.

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

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