Albany Contra Dance

 

Upcoming Dance: November 13-14: Albany ContraFest

Friday November 13

8:00-11:00 – Contra Dance with Hannah Johlas calling! Oliver Scanlon & Aldo Lavaggi are fiddling with Casey Murray playing cello……& possibly a surprise musician too.

Saturday November 14 

2:00-5:00 – Contra Dance with Maggie McRae leading the afternoon dance.  Rohan Weeden, Rose Powell & Tory Horner will make some magical music for dancing!

6:30-7:30 Waltz Workshop with Katherine Anderson!

7:30-8:00 Waltzing

8-11 – Contra Dance with caller Hannah Johlas for the evening dance!  Rohan, Rose & Tory return to keep your ears smiling.

Festival Admission:
Friday Lesson and Contra Dance: $15-$25

Saturday Afternoon Contras: $15-$25

Saturday Night Waltz Workshop, Waltzing & Contra Dance Party: $15-$30

Full-Fest: $50-$60

 

The Albany Contra Dance is held every second and some fifth Fridays of the month, September – June, in the large ballroom of the Albany Elks Lodge, located at 25 S Allen St, Albany, NY. Dancing goes from 8PM-11PM.

Now is a great time to be a beginner!  Be sure to attend the 7:45 pre-dance Beginner Lesson at our regular Friday night dance where the dance caller will teach you some frequently used dance moves.  Contra dancing is rooted in English country dancing, and feels similar to line dancing & square dancing.

The Albany Contra Dance uses the calling terms of “Larks & Robins” to denote dancing roles.  Masking for health safety is welcome, but not required.  This is a chem. free, family friendly, all welcoming dance community.

The 2026-2027 Season (Updated Regularly) 
September 11: The Stepping Stones: Robin Osgood (fiddle), Norman Rodham (guitar, bodhran, bones) and guest Alan Thomson (keyboard, recorder), with caller Quena Crain
October 9:  Alex Cumming (accordion, piano), Audrey Jaber (fiddle), with caller Qwill Duvall
November 13-14: Albany ContraFest
December 11:
January 8, 2027:
January 29: 
February 12: No dance — See you at The Flurry
March 12:
April 9: 
April 30: 
May 14:
June 11:
Dance Admission Cost:
To afford our excellent live music, skilled caller & air conditioned hall, is on a sliding scale basis depending on what you can comfortably afford.  Please pay what you can in the range of about $8 to $25 & beyond.  Thank you.
Dance Community Respect:
In partnership with the Dance Flurry Organization, we would like to remind all dancers that respect is vital to a safe and inclusive dance experience. In the contra dance community after each dance, it is normal and encouraged for dancers to change partners by inviting someone else to dance.  Please understand that it is okay for anyone to respond with a “yes” or “no” when invited to dance.  If you are dancing with an unfamiliar partner, please ask them if they are comfortable with fancier dance flourishes like dips, lifts, or twirls before trying them.  If you feel uncomfortable with someone’s dance etiquitte & behavior towards you, please speak with a Dance Organizer or Dance Ambassador, who will be wearing a button. More information can be found at the DFO Principles of Community Respect page.

Contact us with any questions at albanycontras@danceflurry.org

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