This page is an historical archive, and therefore is out of date and will not be updated. Please visit our updated homepage at http://mit.edu/fdc for current information about the MIT Folk Dance Club.

Contra Dance for All: @ MIT
Several Tuesdays per month.

Great Live Music Every Time!

MIT students and the general public are welcome at all of our dances.

Most dances are on the 2nd or 4th floor of the Student Center (84 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA).
Click here for directions and parking information.

All welcome, especially students! No partner or experience is necessary. All dances are taught.

Want to Play in the Band or Learn to Call?
Students and others are welcome to sit in with the band and/or call dances in this series! Feel free to bring an instrument and join the band at any dance whose listing below indicates that sit-ins are welcome.
To find out more, and for booking inquiries, call Ann Cowan at 617-354-0864, or email fdc-request [at] mit.edu

Schedule

All dances are from 8:00 to 10:30 PM.

September 8, 2009

Fall Anticipation Special
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
Caller: Tony Parkes
Music: Nor'easter with Max Newman, Julie Vallimont, and Cedar Stanistreet. Sit-in musicians welcome.
September 15, 2009

Gala Beginner Class & Welcome Dance
Caller: Linda Leslie
Music: Nor'easter with Julie Vallimont, Cedar Stanistreet, and Max Newman. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor).
September 22, 2009

Equinox Special
Caller: Dave Eisenstadter
Music: La Petite Banane Enchantée with Peter Buchak and Julie Vallimont. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor).
September 29, 2009

Harvest Moon Dance
Caller: Susan Elberger
Music: Jump Start with Gene Albert, Paul Lizotte, and Victor Troll. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor).
October 6, 2009

Autumn Leaves
Caller: Daniel Friedman
Music: Carol Bittenson, Debby Knight, & Friends. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
October 13, 2009

Columbus Day
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: Scoot with Max Newman, Fiona Schubeck, and Eric McDonald. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
October 20, 2009

Klezmer Style Contra
Caller: Jacob Bloom
Music: ContraKlez with John Chambers and Friends. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
October 27, 2009

Halloween Party
Festive costumes encouraged.
Certificates for those who completed 6 dances since 9/8!
Caller: Ann Cowan
Music: La Banane Enchantée with Julie Vallimonster and Peter Boochak. Sit-in morticians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
November 10, 2009

Peace Day Dance
Caller: Nell Wright
Music: Jump Start with Victor Troll, Gene Albert, and Paul Lizotte. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
November 17, 2009

Thanksgiving Party
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: Pandemonium with Pan Chan and Friends. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In the Student Center 3rd floor Coffeehouse. [room change!]
December 8, 2009

Holiday Party
Multi-caller Roundup: Daniel Friedman, Mark Schneider, Chris Lahey, & Ann Cowan
Music: Max Newman, Peter Buchak, and Audrey Knuth. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
January 12, 2010

New Year Dance
Caller: Daniel Friedman
Music: Nor'easter with Cedar Stanistreet, Julie Vallimont, and Max Newman. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
January 26, 2010

Mid-Winter Festival
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: La Banane Enchantée with Peter Buchak and Julie Vallimont. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
February 2, 2010

Groundhog's Day Dance
Caller: Ann Cowan
Music: Jump Start with Victor Troll, Gene Albert, and Paul Lizotte. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).

Spring contra dance class, February 9 - March 16
Earn a certificate for attending 6 dances.
Donate for 5 dances, attend 6.
February 9, 2010

Beginner Special -- first contra class of spring semester
Caller: Dave Eisenstadter
Music: La Banane Enchantée with Julie Vallimont and Peter Buchak. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
February 16, 2010

Valentine's Day Party
Caller: Jeff Petrovitch
Music: Perpetual E-motion with Ed Howe and John Coté.
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor).
February 23, 2010

Mardi Gras Party
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: Jeff Kaufman, Peter Buchak, Rick Kaufman, & Drew Stevens. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
March 2, 2010

March Winds
Caller: Susan Elberger
Music: Debby Knight and Carol Bittenson.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
March 9, 2010

Klezmer-Style Contra
Caller: Jacob Bloom
Music: Ezekiel's Wheels, plus Ishmael the Fiddler and Victor Troll. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
March 16, 2010

St. Patrick's Day
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Sometimes Dave with Corey Walters, Max Newman & Jonah Sidman. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).

Sound workshop from 6 - 7:30 pm before the dance.
Learn to set up and operate a sound system for live bands!
March 30, 2010

No dance.
April 6, 2010

Belated April Fool's Day
Caller: Daniel Friedman
Music: Nor'easter with Max Newman, Julie Vallimont, and Cedar Stanistreet. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
April 20, 2010
Pre-NEFFA Gala
Caller: Daniel Friedman
Music: The Dixie Butterhounds.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
May 4, 2010
May Day
Caller: Nell Wright
Music: Jeff Kaufman with Jon Cannon, Gary Schrager, and Rick Kaufman.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).
May 18, 2010
End of Semester Fiesta
Callers: Daniel Friedman, Mark Schneider, Chris Lahey, Jacob Bloom, and Ann Cowan.
Music: La Banane Enchantée with Peter Buchak and Julie Vallimont. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor).
June 8, 2010
Early Summer Party
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: Mariel Vandersteel, Max Newman & Friends. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Kresge Auditorium: Rehearsal Room A.
June 22, 2010
Solstice Special
Caller: Ann Cowan
Music: Victor Troll & Friends. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Kresge Auditorium: Rehearsal Room A.
July 13, 2010
Bastille Day Dance
Caller: Susan Elberger
Music: Sometimes Dave with Corey Walters, Julie Vallimont, & friends. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor).
July 27, 2010
Mid-Summer Gala
Caller: Daniel Friedman
Music: Third Reel with Peter Buchak, Janine Sirignano, & Sean Smith. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor).
August 10, 2010
End of Summer Party
Caller: Jeff Petrovitch
Music: Nor'easter. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor).

Trying to remember who that awesome band was a few months ago? Check out our web archive at http://mit.edu/fdc/www/old/ .

Suggested donation

Free for MIT and Wellesley Students!
Suggested donation: $3 from non-MIT students; $6 from others.

For More Information

Send an email to fdc-request [at] mit [dot] edu

Call Ann Cowan: 617-354-0864.

See the Folk Arts Center's website Folk Dancing 'Round Boston for a guide to other folk dances in this area, including contras.

E-mail List
Would you like an e-mail reminder about each dance, and announcements of any changes? Subscribe to our e-mail list! Send a blank email to fdc-contra-dance-subscribe[at]mit[dot]edu , or fill out this form:

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Last updated 5-August-2010 by Daniel Salomon.

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