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. 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 CONTRAS – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. 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. 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.

2^nd Saturdays
*NEW ENGLAND CONTRA DANCE at the SCOUT HOUSE – Scout 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.

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. All welcome, always live music. $10. Info: 617/852-4042 or 617/982-8042.

3^rd Saturdays
*NEW ENGLAND CONTRAS & SQUARES at the SCOUT HOUSE – Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, 8-11. Caller Beth Parkes. Music 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.

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. May 18 (a 3^rd 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 Auction – Scout 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.