What we’re about
Anyone who loves to dance or wants to learn to dance should be Contra dancing at Glen Echo. There's always a live band with excellent music, free dance lessons, and a very friendly dance crowd. Contra dancing is a cross between square dancing, English country dancing and line dancing. It's easy to learn and amazing fun.
The lesson starts at 7:30 and the dances are from 8:00–11:00. Dances may be either be in the Bumper Car Pavilion, a covered, open-air venue, or the Spanish Ballroom, a huge space with great ventilation. There's a ride board for folks who need a ride to Metro after the dance.
You do not need to bring a partner. Contra dancers change partners with every new song, so you'll meet lots of people and learn lots of moves. The dance is gender-free and folks dance with partners dancing any role. Wear comfortable clothes and flowing skirts that fan out when you turn, and comfortable shoes that do not fall off your feet while dancing. Most dancers prefer shoes with leather soles or something that is a bit slippery vs a gripping sole. Bring a water bottle and a towel if it's warm weather.
Cost is $15 and preregistration is recommended (see the website). COVID-19 vaccinations are encouraged, but not required. There will be a mixture of mask-wearers and individuals with no masks at each dance. Respecting each other's choice is a required attitude.
Plan to have fun! Dancing and listening to Contra music will make you happy!
Visit http://www.fridaynightdance.org/ or Folklore Society of Greater Washington for more info and the schedule.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- CONTRA DANCE ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2024!!! CAROLINE BARNES CALLS TO WOMBAT CROSSING!Glen Echo Park - Spanish Ballroom , Glen Echo , MD$15.00
One of our favorite contra bands, Wombat Crossing, will bring their dancing tunes to the Spanish Ballroom on September 6th. The outstanding musicians included in the band are: Carl Friedman (fiddle), Jim Besser (concertina), and Charlie Pilzer (keyboard). All three players are experienced dance musicians, and will bring you to your feet just a soon as you hear their first glorious notes.
The delightful and talented Caroline Barnes will be our caller for the evening.
All dances called gender-free.
Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD 20812.
Tickets are $15. Purchase tickets at fridaynightdance.com/tickets or pay at the door.
The admission price includes the lesson at 7:30 p.m.
Dance from 8 to 11 p.m.
You can register and pay online in advance, which is faster. You may also pay at the door with cash and credit cards. You have the ability to cancel registrations prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
The Friday Night Dancers are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organization, welcoming all of our neighbors to join us in this energetic and delightful evening of fun each week. Be sure to invite your friends, family and colleagues to join us each Friday evening at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park!!
All Friday Night Dances are hosted in a mask-optional ballroom. While masks are not required, we continue to encourage them. We ask that you please be sensitive to those who have made the decision to continue to wear masks.
Though COVID-19 vaccinations are not required, we encourage individuals to obtain them.
Beginning July 1, 2024, the Friday night contra dance at Glen Echo is being hosted solely by Friday Night Dancers, Inc. Friday Night Dancers are grateful to the Folklore Society of Greater Washington for their support following the COVID shutdown. We will continue to work with the Folklore Society of Greater Washington in support of contra dancing and music, just like we’ve been doing for 50 years!
UPCOMING FND DANCES
September 13 - The Fabulous Glen Echo Open Band (Bobby LaRose (keys, mandolin, bones, and directing the band) with Mary Wesley calling - in the SBRSeptember 20 - Some Assembly (Mary Flora (woodwinds), Donna Boylan (keyboards), Adam Lee (guitar), Joe Klausner (fiddle/mandolin), and Iain Sturrock (cajon)) with Kappy Laning calling - in the SBR
September 27 - Joy Factor (Gianna Marzilli Ericson (fiddle) Rebecca Rose Weiss (fiddle), Henry Yoshimura (guitar)) with Liz Nelson calling - in the SBR
October 4 - Sycamore ( Cedar Stanistreet (fiddle), Michael Sokolovsky (guitar and feet), and Samuel Foucher (accordion)) with Angela DeCarlis calling - in the SBR
- COME CONTRA DANCE! MARY WESLEY CALLS TO THE FABULOUS GLEN ECHO OPEN BAND!Glen Echo Park - Spanish Ballroom , Glen Echo , MD$15.00
JOIN US FOR THE CONTRA DANCE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024!!
Join us for the wonderful sounds of our very own Fabulous Glen Echo Open Band who will bring their dancing tunes to the Spanish Ballroom for the Friday Night Dance.
Mary Wesley will be our caller for the evening of energetic fun. A native of Vermont, she travels throughout New England and beyond to follow and share her love of dance. Mary’s friendly enthusiasm is sure to please everyone in the crowd.
ALL dances called gender-free.
Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD 20812.
Tickets are $15. Purchase tickets at fridaynightdance.com/tickets or pay at the door.
The admission price includes the lesson at 7:30 p.m.
Dance from 8 to 11 p.m.
You can register and pay online in advance, which is faster. You may also pay at the door with cash and credit cards. You have the ability to cancel registrations prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
The Friday Night Dancers are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organization, welcoming all of our neighbors to join us in this energetic and delightful evening of fun each week. Be sure to invite your friends, family and colleagues to join us each Friday evening at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park!!
All Friday Night Dances are hosted in a mask-optional ballroom. While masks are not required, we continue to encourage them. We ask that you please be sensitive to those who have made the decision to continue to wear masks.
Though COVID-19 vaccinations are not required, we encourage individuals to obtain them.Beginning July 1, 2024, the Friday night contra dance at Glen Echo is being hosted solely by Friday Night Dancers, Inc. Friday Night Dancers are grateful to the Folklore Society of Greater Washington for their support following the COVID shutdown. We will continue to work with the Folklore Society of Greater Washington in support of contra dancing and music, just like we’ve been doing for 50 years!
UPCOMING FND DANCES
September 20 - Some Assembly (Mary Flora (woodwinds), Donna Boylan (keyboards), Adam Lee (guitar), Joe Klausner (fiddle/mandolin), and Iain Sturrock (cajon)) with Kappy Laning calling - in the SBR
September 27 - Joy Factor (Gianna Marzilli Ericson (fiddle) Rebecca Rose Weiss (fiddle), Henry Yoshimura (guitar)) with Liz Nelson calling - in the SBR
October 4 - Sycamore ( Cedar Stanistreet (fiddle), Michael Sokolovsky (guitar and feet), and Samuel Foucher (accordion)) with Angela DeCarlis calling - in the SBR
October 11 - NOVA ( Kathleen Fownes (fiddle), Everest Witman (guitar and mandolin), and Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin (accordion and piano)) with Penelope Weinberger calling - in the SBR
- CONTRA DANCE ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2024!!! KAPPY LANING CALLS TO SOME ASSEMBLY!Glen Echo Park - Spanish Ballroom , Glen Echo , MD$15.00
JOIN US FOR THE CONTRA DANCE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024!!
Join us for the wonderful sounds of Some Assembly (Mary Flora (woodwinds), Donna Boylan (keyboards), Adam Lee (guitar), Joe Klausner (fiddle/mandolin), Iain Sturrock (cajon)) who will bring their special dancing tunes to the Spanish Ballroom for the Friday Night Dance.
Kappy Laning will be our caller for an evening of delightful dancing fun. She is a much loved caller who always brings an exciting program of dances with her.
All dances called gender-free.
Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD 20812.
Tickets are $15. Purchase tickets at fridaynightdance.com/tickets or pay at the door.
The admission price includes the lesson at 7:30 p.m.
Dance from 8 to 11 p.m.
You can register and pay online in advance, which is faster. You may also pay at the door with cash and credit cards. You have the ability to cancel registrations prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
The Friday Night Dancers are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organization, welcoming all of our neighbors to join us in this energetic and delightful evening of fun each week. Be sure to invite your friends, family and colleagues to join us each Friday evening at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park!!
All Friday Night Dances are hosted in a mask-optional ballroom. While masks are not required, we continue to encourage them. We ask that you please be sensitive to those who have made the decision to continue to wear masks.
Though COVID-19 vaccinations are not required, we encourage individuals to obtain them.Beginning July 1, 2024, the Friday night contra dance at Glen Echo is being hosted solely by Friday Night Dancers, Inc. Friday Night Dancers are grateful to the Folklore Society of Greater Washington for their support following the COVID shutdown. We will continue to work with the Folklore Society of Greater Washington in support of contra dancing and music, just like we’ve been doing for 50 years!
UPCOMING FND DANCES
September 27 - Joy Factor (Gianna Marzilli Ericson (fiddle) Rebecca Rose Weiss (fiddle), Henry Yoshimura (guitar)) with Liz Nelson calling - in the SBR
October 4 - Sycamore ( Cedar Stanistreet (fiddle), Michael Sokolovsky (guitar and feet), and Samuel Foucher (accordion)) with Angela DeCarlis calling - in the SBR
October 11 - NOVA ( Kathleen Fownes (fiddle), Everest Witman (guitar and mandolin), and Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin (accordion and piano)) with Penelope Weinberger calling - in the SBR
October 18 - Engine Room ( Alex Sturbaum (guitar and accordion), Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, mandolin and feet), and Kelsey Wells (fiddle and banjo)) with Will Mentor calling - in the SBR
- CONTRA DANCE ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2024!!! LIZ NELSON CALLS TO JOY FACTOR!Glen Echo Park - Spanish Ballroom , Glen Echo , MD$15.00
CONTRA DANCE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024!!
Join us for the wonderful sounds of JOY FACTOR (Gianna Marzilli Ericson (fiddle) Rebecca Rose Weiss (fiddle), Henry Yoshimura (guitar)) who will bring their special dancing tunes to the Spanish Ballroom for the Friday Night Dance.
New England's own, LIZ NELSON, will be our caller for an evening of delightful dancing fun.
All dances called gender-free.
Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD 20812.
Tickets are $15. Purchase tickets at fridaynightdance.com/tickets or pay at the door.
The admission price includes the lesson at 7:30 p.m.
Dance from 8 to 11 p.m.
You can register and pay online in advance, which is faster. You may also pay at the door with cash and credit cards. You have the ability to cancel registrations prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
The Friday Night Dancers are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organization, welcoming all of our neighbors to join us in this energetic and delightful evening of fun each week. Be sure to invite your friends, family and colleagues to join us each Friday evening at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park!!
All Friday Night Dances are hosted in a mask-optional ballroom. While masks are not required, we continue to encourage them. We ask that you please be sensitive to those who have made the decision to continue to wear masks.
Though COVID-19 vaccinations are not required, we encourage individuals to obtain them.Beginning July 1, 2024, the Friday night contra dance at Glen Echo is being hosted solely by Friday Night Dancers, Inc. Friday Night Dancers are grateful to the Folklore Society of Greater Washington for their support following the COVID shutdown. We will continue to work with the Folklore Society of Greater Washington in support of contra dancing and music, just like we’ve been doing for 50 years!
UPCOMING FND DANCES
October 4 - Sycamore ( Cedar Stanistreet (fiddle), Michael Sokolovsky (guitar and feet), and Samuel Foucher (accordion)) with Angela DeCarlis calling - in the SBR
October 11 - NOVA ( Kathleen Fownes (fiddle), Everest Witman (guitar and mandolin), and Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin (accordion and piano)) with Penelope Weinberger calling - in the SBR
October 18 - Engine Room ( Alex Sturbaum (guitar and accordion), Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, mandolin and feet), and Kelsey Wells (fiddle and banjo)) with Will Mentor calling - in the SBR
October 25 - Spintuition (Silas Hamilton (Guitar, Piano, Fiddle, Vocals, Feet), Willy Clemetson (Fiddle, Vocals, Feet), and Samuel Foucher (Accordion, Piano, Vocals)) with Darlene Underwood calling - in the SBR
