Albany Contra Dance
Albany Contra Dance
January 9, 2026 @ 7:45 pm – 11:00 pm EST
Kingfisher playing: Cecilia Vacanti (fiddle), Jeff Kaufman (piano, mandolin, drums, synths)
Albany Contradances are held every second and some fifth Fridays of the month, September through June, in the large ballroom of the Albany Elks Lodge, located at 25 S Allen St, Albany, NY.
Dancing starts at 8pm, with a beginner lesson at 7:45pm. Now is a great time to be a beginner! Please share this event with anybody who may be interested, regardless of experience level!
Contra dancing has its roots in English country dancing, and may feel familiar to square dancing. Albany Contra uses the gender-free calling terms Larks and Robins.
As we’re living in a world with Covid-19:
– Masks are optional
– We request that if you have symptoms or have recently been exposed to Covid, please stay home.
In partnership with the DFO, we would like to remind all attendees that consent is vital to a safe and inclusive dance experience. Be polite when asking for dances, gracious if rejected, and always ask before trying to dip, lift, or twirl your partner. If someone at the dance causes you to feel uncomfortable, please speak with an organizer or Dance Ambassador, who will be wearing a button. More information can be found at https://www.danceflurry.org/about-us/culture-of-consent/
In our ever-continuing work to welcome more people to the dance floor, we are implementing a sliding pay scale. Please plan to pay what you comfortably can, from $8 for those that need extra communal support to $25 for those who are able to give our newly reborn dance a financial boost.
Contact us with any questions or to volunteer at albanycontras@danceflurry.org
Events this season
September 12th: Melanie Axel-Lute calling for Here on the Hill: Tory Horner (fiddle), Annie McDougall (fiddle), Rose Powell (guitar)
October 10th: Isaac Banner calling for the Star Charters: Cecilia Vacanti (fiddle), Jess Newman (fiddle), Mark Price (guitar). NOTE: No 5th Friday dance on Halloween
November 14-15 – Albany ContraFest [performers TBA but will include the Gaslight Tinkers]
December 12: Mo Brachfeld and Rinde Glick calling for TBA
January 9, 2026: TBA calling for Kingfisher: Cecilia Vacanti (fiddle), Jeff Kaufman (piano, mandolin, drums, synths)
January 30, 2026: TBA calling for TBA [*unofficiallythere are tentative plans for Stove Dragon: Oliver Scanlon (fiddle, mandolin, feet, vocals), Rose Jackson (fiddle, vocals), Sam Zakon-Anderson (piano), Max Newman (guitar)]
February 2026: No dance — see you at the Flurry!
March 13, 2026: TBA calling for TBA led by Oliver Scanlon
April 10, 2026: Qwill Duvall calling for TBA
May 8, 2026: TBA calling for TBA
May 29, 2026: TBA calling for TBAJune 12, 2026 TBA calling for TBA
