This page is an historical archive, and therefore is out of date and will not be updated.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 our dances.

Most dances are in the Student Center (84 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA).
Click here for directions and parking information.

No partner or experience is necessary. All dances are taught.

Free snacks at the break!

Want to play in the band or learn to call?
Students and others are welcome to sit in with the band or call dances.
To find out more, and for booking inquiries, email contra-request [at] mit.edu

Check out our Photo Gallery.
COOL -- we have air conditioning!

Schedule

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

September 13, 2016

Fall Welcome Beginner Dance
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Audrey Budington (fiddle) & McKinley James (cello)
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor)

September 20, 2016

Equinox Gala
Caller: Tod Whittemore
Music: Chimney Swift with Zoë Madonna, Daniel Ley, & Cecile Leroy, plus Eric Boodman
NOTE: 6:45 - 9 pm, at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, outdoors in downtown Boston

September 27, 2016

Harvest Festival
Caller: Paul Wilde
Music: JUMP START with Paul Lizotte & Victor Troll
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

October 4, 2016

Autumn Leaves Party
Caller: Yaron Shragai
Music: Floor Play with Debby Knight, Carol Bittenson, & Paul Lizotte
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

October 18, 2016

Klezmer Style
Caller: Jacob Bloom
Music: ContraKlez with John Chambers & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

October 25, 2016

Halloween Party. Festive costumes encouraged!
Caller: Ann Cowan
Music: Ms. Witchy Fine with Cecile Leeringghost (cello), Zombië Madonna (accordion), Doomed Daniel Ley (cittern), & Rainy Gas Hora (doumbek, whistles)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

November 15, 2016

Peace Day Gala
Caller: Alison Stevens
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler, Deborah Gerstein, & Michal Truelsen
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

November 29, 2016

Thanksgiving Party
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Eric Boodman & Max Newman
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

December 13, 2016

Gala Holiday Festival
Caller: Ron Blechner
Music: REELATION with Carol Bittenson (fiddle), Alex Cumming (accordion), Steve Bittenson (guitar), & Rick Kaufman (bass)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

January 10, 2017

New Year's Party
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: Eric Boodman (fiddle) & Ben Leddy (banjo)
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor)

January 24, 2017

Semester Anticipation
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Alex Cumming (accordion, from Somerset, England) & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

February 7, 2017

Ground Hog Day Fiesta
Caller: Paul Wilde
Music: Audrey Budington & McKinley James
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

February 14, 2017

Welcome, Beginner, & Valentine's Day Gala
Caller: Tod Whittemore
Music: Cammy Kaynor & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

February 21, 2017

President's Day Celebration
Caller: Yaron Shragai
Music: Debby Knight, Paul Lizotte, & Eric Boodman
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor)

February 28, 2017

Mardi Gras Party
Caller: Yaron Shragai
Music: Gumbo Vibration with Cecile Leroy (cello), Yaron Shragai (winds, percussion), Chris Snyder (fiddle), Ben Ryan (accordion), & Daniel Raine (cittern)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

March 7, 2017

Klezmer Style Party
Caller: Jacob Bloom
Music: ContraKlez with John Chambers & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

March 14, 2017: Cancelled due to snow.

St. Pat's Day Party
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: Eric Boodman (fiddle), Casey Murray (cello), Julie Vallimont (piano), & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

March 21, 2017

Pre-Break Gala
Caller: Darrow Hand
Music: Jumpstart with Victor Troll (piano) & Paul Lizotte (fiddle)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

April 4, 2017

Spring Fling
Caller: Tod Whittemore
Music: Cammy Kaynor & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

April 18, 2017

Earth Day & Pre-NEFFA Party
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Cathy Mason (fiddle) & Henry Yoshimura (guitar)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

May 2, 2017

May Day Gala
Caller: Cammy Kaynor
Music: Cammy Kaynor & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

May 16, 2017

End of Semester Fiesta
Caller: Ron Blechner
Music: Jeff Kaufman (fiddle, trumpet), Ruthie Byers (fiddle), & Rick Kaufman (bass)
In the Sala de Puerto Rico (Student Center 2nd floor)

May 30, 2017

Memorial Day Festival
Caller: Tavi Merrill
Music: Cecile Leroy (cello), Chris Snyder (fiddle), & Rachel Kurchin (fiddle)
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

June 13, 2017

Juneteenth Party
Caller: Don Veino
Music: Carol Bittenson, Jean Monroe, Steve Bittenson, & Len Bittenson
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

June 27, 2017

Solstice Gala
Caller: Paul Wilde
Music: Eric Boodman (fiddle) & Benjamin Foss (guitar)
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

July 11, 2017

Bastille Day
Caller: Tod Whittemore
Music: Cammy Kaynor, John Hicks, Adrienne & Rose Sheehan
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

July 25, 2017

Mid-Summer Fiesta
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler, Michal Truelsen (concertina), & Jean Monroe (piano)
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

August 1, 2017

Cool-Off Gala
Caller: Paul Wilde
Music: Jesse Ball (accordion, piano, mandolin), Eileen O'Grady (fiddle), & Gus Cantieni (tenor banjo, mandolin, guitar)
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

August 8, 2017

Fall Anticipation Festival
Caller: Alex Deis-Lauby
Music: Audrey Knuth & Friends
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

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

Optional suggested donation

Free for MIT and Wellesley Students!
Optional suggested donation: $5 from other students; $8-$10 from the general public.

For More Information

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

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

To subscribe to our email list, send a blank email to fdc-contra-dance-subscribe[at]mit[dot]edu , or fill out this form:

Updated 24-August-2016.

Back to MIT Folk Dance Club Home Page

Your email address:
Your name (optional):