About us
FSGW supports folk music, including Concerts, Contra dance, English Country dance, Square dance, International folk dance, Storytelling, Jams and Singing events throughout the Washington DC Metro area. Our membership comes from across the DC Metro area, events are held all over. Come and join us for an event, or better yet become a member of FSGW and come to all of them!
We have returned to in-person events - come join us!
Upcoming events
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Glen Echo Balkan Fest
Bumper Car Pavilion, Bumper Car Pavilion, Bethesda, MD 20816, USA, Bethesda, MD, USSaturday, October 17, noon - 5pm in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park.
Register at https://www.fsgw.org/event-6852518
Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band - founded in 1983, based in New York, is the foremost presenter of traditional Balkan brass music in the US. They have performed for concerts, weddings, and festivals across the US and in the Balkans, from the halls of the Kennedy Center in Washington to the illustrious Guča Brass Festival in Serbia, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. They were the first musicians from abroad to perform Serbian music at Guča, and they have been invited guests five times. Their 2010 visit was featured in the documentary Brasslands. They have released four albums of music for listening and dancing. In 1986, they created New York’s Golden Festival and have joyously sponsored it ever since.
Karpouzi plays music on traditional instruments from the Greek mainland and islands, and Asia Minor. In Greece, karpouzi means watermelon – sweet and tasting of summer. Led by Dr. Spyros Koliavasilis, the Karpouzi ensemble is dedicated to preserving and sharing the beautiful and deeply-rooted repertoire of the many and varied regions of Greece. The group has played events sponsored by the Library of Congress, The Revels at Lisner Auditorium, Hill Center, Greek Embassy, Cypriot Embassy, Delegation of the European Union, and numerous restaurants, parties, camps and folk festivals, including many FSGW events. In 2025, Spyros was a winner of a prestigious Maryland "Heritage Award." Spyros Koliavasilis (vocals, oud, kemane, laouto), Margaret Loomis (santouri), Len Newman (laouto), and Niko Mitrione (oud, laouto, bouzouki).
Woven throughout the day is A Journey Through Ex-Yugoslavia - A living celebration of shared Balkan heritage. Authentic folk costumes from Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, and Slovenia from the collection of Biljana Regan and her take on new life as presented by Balkan Roots, LLC.
…and more!
Bring a picnic or purchase one at Praline Bakery at Glen Echo Park!
1 attendee
All Folks Waltz
Lyon Village Community House, 1920 N Highland St, Arlington, VA 22201, USA, Arlington, VA, USFSGW is excited to announce a brand new monthly dance in Northern Virginia!
Would you like to dance in an inclusive, supportive atmosphere? Would you like to lead, follow, or both, no matter your gender? Would you like to have fun, be more active, and meet cool people? Then come join us for our inaugural All Folks Waltz: Gender-Inclusive Folk Waltz! We’ll begin with a folk waltz lesson at 7:00 (free with admission) where you can learn the basics of this dynamic, improvisational, folk dance form, followed by a freeform social dance with live music at 7:45. Come learn, move, and share the joy of dance with us!
Music by Donna Moore Boylan (keyboard and accordion) and Joe Klausner (fiddle, mandolin, and banjo)
Register or learn more: https://www.fsgw.org/event-6833617
Tickets are $15 for non-members, $12 for FSGW members, and $5 for limited income or students. Dancers 17 and under are free.
Katherine Anderson is an avid social dancer and dance teacher in the DMV. She teaches multiple dance styles, including Lindy Hop, contra, Balboa, fusion, and folk waltz, which she has been teaching since 2022. She loves a fun tune, an opportunity to improvise, and helping to bring skills, safety, and fun to her dance communities. You can reach her at TwirlingTutor@gmail.com.
The 7:00 pm intro lesson by Katherine Anderson (free with admission) will start with folk waltz basic steps and partnering appropriate for beginners, allowing them to get out on the dance floor when the band starts to play. It will end with repertoire-building skills aimed at expanding the waltz vocabulary of more experienced dancers and interested beginners alike.
2 attendees
FSGW English Country Dance
Glen Echo Town Hall, 6106 Harvard Ave, Glen Echo, md, USJoin us on Wednesday, October 21, 8:00-10:30 PM.
Wendy Clarke leads the dancing to the music of Carrie Rose (flute), Becky Ross (fiddle), and Liz Donaldson (piano)
Register: https://www.fsgw.org/event-6834513
(Please note, you are not registered by responding on meetup, you must register through the FSGW website, or at the door if tickets are available)
The FSGW weekly English Country Dance offers delightful dancing, led by talented callers, accompanied by top-notch musicians playing a wide variety of instruments. The crowd is friendly and enthusiastic; new dancers are always welcome and can get an informal lesson if they arrive around 7:30. You don't need to bring a partner, or dress up.
- If you have not previously attended a Wednesday night English country dance at Glen Echo, you may select "first time free" when registering. New dancers are welcome. If you have no previous English country dance experience or would like a refresher, please arrive at around 7:30 for a lesson.
Covid Protocol: masks and vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Some dancers are sensitive to fragrances, and they are grateful when you skip the perfume and scented after-shave.
Additional information about this weekly event is available on the English Country Dance (in-person) web page.
https://www.fsgw.org/ecdPay at the door: Admission - $15 FSGW Members, $8 Students and those with limited income, $17 Others.
Questions? Email English Country Dance
- We look forward to dancing with you!
4 attendees
Past events
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