Folk Dancing ’Round Boston

As a service to the recreational folk dance community, for many years the Folk Arts Center published Folk Dancing ’Round Boston, a printed two-month calendar that listed participatory folk dance events of all types by sponsors in the Greater Boston area. We are now posting the series listings online instead.

Help keep this page accurate – contact the FAC web editor to add or update listings.

Folk Dancing ’Round Boston listings

The listings below show the regularly scheduled social dance series of recreational folk dance groups in Greater Boston, mostly in the area within Route 495. See Folk dancing in Massachusetts for more listings. Check each group’s link or contact for updates, special events, and cancelations.

Balkan and International Folk Dance

Arlington, MA

  • Friday Night Folk Dancing (Folk Arts Center)
    email: Marcie Van Cleave
    for new and experienced dancers
    8:00 - 10:30pm, Fridays, twice a month, September–June
    Park Avenue Church, 50 Paul Revere Rd., Arlington, MA (updated 2024)
  • Thursday Night Folk Dancing (Folk Arts Center)
    email: Sue Rose
    for experienced dancers
    8 - 10:30pm Thursdays, twice a month, year-round
    Park Avenue Church, 50 Paul Revere Rd., Arlington, MA (updated 2024)

Belmont, MA

  • Monthly Dance Party (Folk Arts Center)
    email: Janet Yeracaris
    hybrid, with live music
    8:00 - 11:00pm, Saturdays, monthly, September to May
    Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont, MA (updated 2024)

Framingham, MA

Waltham, MA


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English Country Dance

Arlington, MA

  • Wednesday English Country Dancing (CDS Boston Centre)
    email CDS-BC
    Music by Bare Necessities and friends
    7:30-10:30 pm on Wednesdays, September-June,
    Park Avenue Congregational Church, 50 Paul Revere Road, Arlington Heights, MA (updated 2024)

Arlington, Brookline and Concord, MA

Cambridge, MA

  • Beginner-Friendly English Country Dancing (CDS Boston Centre)
    email CDS-BC
    7:30-9:30 pm on 2nd and 4th Fridays, September-June,
    Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church, 1555 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA (updated 2024)

Jamaica Plain, MA

  • Boston Gender Free English Country Dance (Lavender Country and Folk Dancers)
    contact: 617-512-5554 (John)
    Everybody welcome, beginners encouraged!
    7:30-10 pm on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays (5th Tuesday, Experienced),
    First Church in Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA (updated 2024)

West Newton, MA

  • Wednesday Summer English Country Dance & Ice Cream Socials (CDS Boston Centre)
    information: (781-324-5338)
    All dances are taught; no experience is necessary 7:30-10:30 pm on most Wednesdays in July and August,
    First Unitarian Society in Newton, 1326 Washington Street, West Newton, MA (updated 2024)

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Family Dance


Cambridge, MA:

  • BIDA Family Dance (Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates)
    email: BIDA Dance
    5:30–6:30 pm on third Sundays, September–June
    Cambridge Masonic Hall, 1950 Massachusetts Avenue, Porter Square, Cambridge, MA (updated 2024)

Westford, MA:

  • Family Barn Dances at the PCA, accompanied by the PCA's house band OH!CONTRAire!
    email: Dave
    Find your partner, do-si-do and kick step it to mark down these PCA dances
    once a month, alternates 2:00–4:00 pm (Sunday) or 7:00-9:30 pm (Saturday)
    Parish Center for the Arts, 10 Lincoln St Westford, MA (updated 2024)

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Greek Dance

Cambridge, MA:

  • Boston Lykeion Ellinidon
    email Mike Savas
    7:00-9:00pm on Wednesdays and 12 noon-2 pm on Saturdays,
    Greek American Political Center, 2nd floor, 288 Green St., Central Sq., Cambridge, MA (updated 2024)

Hungarian Dance

  • There are no regularly scheduled dances at this time.

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Israeli dance

Marblehead, MA:

  • Israeli Folk Dancing (JCC North Shore)
    email JCCNS
    Israeli Folk Dancing Thursdays and Sundays at the JCCNS
    Thursday, 7:30–9 pm and - Sunday, 8–9:50 am
    Temple Sinai, 4 Community Road, Marblehead, MA (updated 2024)

Newton, MA:

  • Rikud Revi’i (Boston Wednesday Night Israeli Dancing)
    7:30–11:00pm, Wednesdays
    The Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon St., Newton, MA (updated 2024)

North Andover, MA:

Peabody, MA:

Sharon, MA:

Watertown, MA:


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New England Contra and Square Dance

Arlington, MA

Cambridge, MA

  • BIDA Sunday Contras (Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates)
    7:30-10:30 pm, 1st and 3rd Sundays
    Masonic Hall, 1950 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Sq., Cambridge, MA (updated 2024)

Carlisle, MA

  • Carlisle Contra Dance
    information: 617-792-2500, facebook page
    Second Fridays October to June 6:30-8pm - potluck, 8-10:00 pm - dancing
    First Religious Society in Carlisle U.U. Church, 27 School St., Carlisle, MA (updated 2024)

Concord, MA

Gloucester, MA

Jamaica Plain, MA

  • Boston Gender Free Contra Dance
    contact info. available: website
    Usually 7:30-10:30 pm on 2nd and 4th Saturdays, September–July,
    First Church in Jamaica Plain U.U., 6 Eliot St., Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA (updated 2024)

Lexington, MA

  • Roaring Jelly Contras
    Contact: (781-235-0713)
    8:00-10:30 pm on most 3rd Fridays, September–May
    First Parish in Lexington, 7 Harrington Rd, Lexington, MA (updated 2024)

Westford, MA:

  • Family Barn Dances at the PCA, accompanied by the PCA's house band OH!CONTRAire!
    email: Dave
    Find your partner, do-si-do and kick step it to mark down these PCA dances
    once a month, alternates 2:00–4:00 pm (Sunday) or 7:00-9:30 pm (Saturday)
    Parish Center for the Arts, 10 Lincoln St Westford, MA (updated 2024)
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Scandinavian Dance


  • There are no regularly scheduled Scandinavian dances at this time.
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Scottish Country Dance

North Chelmsford, MA

Salem, MA

Stow, MA

Watertown, MA


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Swing Dance, Vintage Dance, Waltz

Swing - List

Vintage Dance

Waltz, Concord, MA

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