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

© Copyright 2010 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
March/April 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, Room 491, 8-10:30. March 2, 9 & 16, April 6 & 20. 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, 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 for people 22 and under). Thursday Contra Calendar & more details. Info: 781/272-0396, 508/229-2854.

1st Fridays
CHALLENGING CONTRASScout 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’ SQUARESPayson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont, 8-11. NOTE! NO DANCE in April. 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 and guests; 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 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.

2nd & 4th Saturdays
*BOSTON GAY & LESBIAN CONTRA DANCE1st church of Jamaica Plain, Unitarian-Universalist, Centre & Eliot Sts., Jamaica Plain, 7:30-11. See website for all-day event on March 13. NOTE! April 3 & 10, NOT April 24. All welcome, always live music. $10/students $6/under 12 Free. Info: 617/852-4042 or 781/982-8042.

3rd 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.

4th Saturdays
*CONTRAS & SQUARES – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. NOTE! NO DANCE in April. 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. Live music, various musicians. Basic teaching until 3. Waltzes plus other couple dances. $12/students $8. Info: 781/395-1066.

Special Events

Sunday, March 21
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.

Friday-Sunday, April 23-25
*NEW ENGLAND FOLK FESTIVAL – Mansfield High and Middle Schools, Mansfield, MA. All-weekend festival including dancing, music, crafts, workshops, exhibits, family events. Bring clean shoes to change into for dancing! Info: NEFFA, 781/662-6710.

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

Contents © Copyright 2010 by the Folk Arts Center of New England.