excerpted from  Folk Dancing ’Round Boston
the Folk Dance Calendar published by the Folk Arts Center of New England

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

Contra & Square Dancing in and around Boston
May/June 2008

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

every Monday
*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.

2nd & 4th Tuesdays
*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.

every Thursday
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.

1st Fridays
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.

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. $6, under 12: free; family max $20. Info: 781/944-3544

1st Saturdays
*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.

2nd Saturdays
*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.

2nd & 4th Saturdays
*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.

3rd Saturdays
*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.

4th 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.

4th Sundays
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 Event

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.

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

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