Contra & Square Dancing in and around Boston
January/February 2010

(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/teens & students $5. Bring clean shoes, please! Info: 781/272-0396 or 978/369-1232.

usually 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
* CONTRA DANCE FOR ALL at MIT – Student Center, 84 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, usually Room 491, 8-10:30. Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 2 & Feb. 9. Feb 16 & 23 in Lobdell dining room. 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.

every Thursday
NEW ENGLAND CONTRAS & SQUARES – Concord Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord MA, 7:30-10:30. Feb. 18 at West Cambridge Youth Center, 680 Huron Ave., Cambridge. Various local & touring performers; live music. $8 ($5 for people 22 and under). Thursday Contra Calendar & more details. Info: 781/272-0396, 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.

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. 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: 781/944-3544

4th Fridays
*RIP SNORTIN’ SQUARES – Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont, 8-11. Caller Tony Parkes, music Amy Cann & friends. Bring clean shoes, please! $5-$10. Info: 978/667-7459.

1st Saturdays
*SALEM CONTRA DANCE – Tabernacle Congregational Church, 50 Washington St., Salem, 7:30-10:30 pm. Caller, Sarah Gregory Smith; music director Bill Smith with the Salem Country Orchestra. Clean shoes, please. $8/$6 seniors & students; $20 family max. Info: 978/745-9391.

2^nd Saturdays
*NEW ENGLAND SQUARES, CONTRAS & COUPLE DANCES at the Scout House – 74 Walden St., Concord. 8-11. CDS Contra, various callers & musicians, $10/CDS members $8, $6 under 21. Info: 2nd Saturday Dance website, 857/499-8907.

2^nd & 4^th Saturdays
*BOSTON GAY & LESBIAN CONTRA DANCE –1st church of Jamaica Plain, Unitarian-Universalist, Centre & Eliot Sts., Jamaica Plain, 7:30-11. Special Advanced Contra Dance Jan. 23: check the website for details. All welcome, always live music. $10/students $6/under 12 Free. Info: 617/852-4042 or 781/982-8042.

3^rd Saturdays
*NEW ENGLAND CONTRAS & SQUARES at the SCOUT HOUSE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. Caller Beth Parkes. Music: Full Tilt (C. Bittenson, J. Guinness, D. 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. Call to verify. Caller Cammy Kaynor, live music. Sit-ins & newcomers welcome. Donation $6. Info: 781/665-3835.

4^th Saturdays
*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.

4^th Sundays
*MOSTLY WALTZ for Boston – Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA, 2:15-5:30. Live music, various musicians. Basic teaching until 3. Waltzes plus other couple dances. $12/students $8. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2-4:30 One-Step workshop, $10/$6. Info: 781/395-1066.

Special Events

Sunday, Nov. 8
*NEFFA/FAC FAMILY DANCE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2-4 pm. New England Barn Dances with Jacqueline & Dudley Laufman, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages welcome. $5/person, $25 family max. Bring clean shoes, please! Info FAC: 781/662-7475, or NEFFA: 781/662-6710.

Sunday, Jan. 3
*NEFFA/FAC FAMILY DANCE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2-4 pm. New England Barn Dances and World Dances with Dillon Bustin and Judith Stames-Hamilton, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages welcome. $5/person, $25 family max. Bring clean shoes, please! Info FAC: 781/662-7475, or NEFFA: 781/662-6710.

Sunday, Jan. 17
*NEFFA/FAC FAMILY DANCES – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 2-4 pm. New England Barn Dances with Sarah Gregory Smith and Jacob Bloom, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages welcome. $5/person, $25 family max. Bring clean shoes, please! Info FAC: 781/662-7475, or NEFFA: 781/662-6710.

Sunday, Feb. 21
*NEFFA/FAC Family Dance – Corinthian Lodge,58 Monument Square, Concord, 2-4 pm. New England Barn Dances and World Dances with Jacob Bloom and Judith Stames-Hamilton, music by Cal Howard & Friends. All dances taught, all ages welcome. $5/person, $20 family max. Bring clean shoes, please! Info FAC: 781/662-7475, or NEFFA: 781/662-6710.

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

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