This page is an historical archive, and therefore is out of date and will not be updated.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

Schedule

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

September 12, 2017

Welcome & Beginner Special
Caller: Tod Whittemore
Music: Cammy Kaynor, John Hicks, & Friends
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor)

September 19, 2017

Equinox Gala
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Audrey Budington (fiddle) & McKinley James (cello)
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

September 26, 2017

Harvest Festival
Caller: Don Veino
Music: Eric Boodman (fiddle), Ben Foss (guitar), & Julie Vallimont (accordion) [video]
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

October 3, 2017

Autumn Leaves Party
Caller: Ron Blechner
Music: Alex Cumming (accordion) & Michael Friedman (piano & fiddle)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

October 17, 2017

Klezmer Style
Caller: Jacob Bloom
Music: ContraKlez with Barry Shapiro (piano), Ben Pasamanick (clarinet, flute), & Dan Salomon (violin), filling in for John Chambers
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

October 24, 2017

Early Halloween Party
Caller: Chris Lahey
Music: Cecile Leroy (cello), Chris Snyder (fiddle), Rachel Kurchin (fiddle), Joey Hsu (fiddle), & Ben Ryan (accordion)
In Kresge Auditorium Rehearsal Room A (basement)

October 31, 2017: No dance. Happy Halloween!

November 14, 2017

Thanksgiving Party
Caller: Susan Elberger
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler, Michael Friedman (piano), & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

December 12, 2017

Holiday Party
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Eric Boodman (fiddle), Casey Murray (cello), & Friends
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

January 9, 2018

Gala New Year Celebration
Caller: Alex Cumming
Music: Alex Cumming (accordion, piano) & Carol Bittenson (fiddle)
In the Sala de Puerto Rico (Student Center 2nd floor)

January 23, 2018

Spring Anticipation Contra
Caller: Bob Peterson
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler, Jean Monroe (keyboard, percussion), & Leslie Kurtzberg (flute)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

February 6, 2018

Welcome & Beginner Special
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Accentricity with Debby Knight (piano), Paul Lizotte (fiddle), & Carol Bittenson (fiddle)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

February 20, 2018

Mardi Gras Dance
Caller: Susan Elberger
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler & Barbara Pixton (piano)
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor)

February 27, 2018

Klezmer-Style Contra
Caller: Jacob Bloom
Music: ContraKlez with John Chambers (fiddle, accordion), Barry Shapiro (accordion), & Ben Pasamanick (clarinet). Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor)

March 6, 2018

March Winds
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler & Bruce Randall (trombone).
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor)

March 20, 2018

St. Pat's Day
Caller: Cammy Kaynor
Music: Jeff Kaufman & Rick Kaufman.
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

April 3, 2018

Spring Fling
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Paul Lizotte (fiddle) & Debby Knight (piano)
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

April 17, 2018

Pre-NEFFA Gala
Caller: Jeannine Ameduri
Music: Cammy Kaynor (fiddle, recorder) & Jesse Gordon (guitar, mandolin, banjo). Sit-in musicians welcome!
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

April 24, 2018

Earth Day--Post NEFFA
Caller: Daniel Friedman
Music: Peter Buchak, Eric Boodman, Cecile Leroy, & Daniel Raine
In Student Center 491 (4th floor)

May 1, 2018

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

May 8, 2018

Cinco de Mayo
Caller: Richard Barnes
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler & Bruce Randall
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

May 15, 2018

End of Semester Fiesta
Caller: Susan Elberger
Music: Paul Lizotte (fiddle) & Debby Knight (piano)
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

June 12, 2018

Juneteenth Festival
Caller: Bob Peterson
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler & Jean Monroe (piano)
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

June 26, 2018

Solstice Party
Caller: Bob Peterson
Music: Jeff Kaufman, Cecilia Vacanti (fiddle) & Friends
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

July 10, 2018

Klezmer Style
Caller: Paul Wilde
Music: Yaron Shragai, Marnen Laibow-Koser, and Colin Ferguson. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

July 24, 2018

Mid-Summer Celtic Gala
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Alex Cumming (accordion) & Carol Bittenson (fiddle)
In Lobdell Dining Hall (Student Center 2nd floor)

August 7, 2018

Cool-Off Dance
Caller: Paul Wilde
Music: Ishmael the Fiddler & John Chambers. Sit-in musicians welcome.
In Student Center 407 (4th floor)

August 14, 2018

Semester Anticipation
Caller: Laura Johannes
Music: Jeff Kaufman (piano, feet) & Cecilia Vacanti (fiddle)
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 16-August-2017.

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