DanceFlurry Organization

Albany 1st Friday Swing Dance
2026-04-03 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
Danny Lipsitz & the Brass Tacks

* 7-8pm – Swing Dance Lesson. No partner needed. Beginners welcome!!

* 8-10:30 pm – Dance

Cost: $20 General, $15 Student, 65+ Senior, DFO Member

Albany Elks, 25 S Allen St, Albany, NY 12208 (1 block south of Rt. 20 Madison/Western)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1495231255025355

Spacious, attractive A/C hall (plus new large fans) with large wooden dance floor.

Covid/Flu: Stay home if you feel sick, or were in close contact with someone who is contagious. Thank you for taking precautions to keep our wonderful dance community safe. Proof of vaccine is no longer required.

Volunteers needed! Please contact us if you’d be interested in being on the Albany 1st Friday Swing Dance committee and helping with the dance, especially with take down.

Ambassador Program: The DFO has established this program to welcome all people, especially beginners, to our dances. For more information, please ask at the front desk. All of you, men AND women, can help by asking everyone to dance, especially newcomers and those sitting down. <<<<<

very 1st Friday except July and August

= = = = =

Tri-City Folk Dancers
2026-04-03 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-04-17 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-04-24 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-05-08 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-05-15 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-05-22 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-05-29 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-06-05 19:30 - 22:00 | Scotia Methodist Church, 201 North Ten Broeck, Scotia, 12302, New York, United States
Most Fridays 7:30-10:00Occasional “Daylight Dances” on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Check calendar or FB.

Scotia United Methodist Church, 201 N Ten Broeck St, Scotia, NY 12302

International Folk Dancing includes the traditional dances of many countries and cultures done to authentic music in a variety of formations (long and short lines, circles, broken circles, and a few duos, trios, and individual). Our group is particularly fond of dances from the Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and Serbia), Romania, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Israel, Brittany, French Canada and other countries. We mostly dance to recorded music but have live music events a few times a year.

We welcome all ages and genders, and no partner is necessary, as most dances do not involve couples. We welcome beginners and children who are interested in dancing. We encourage those to come early in the evening when instruction is emphasized and tailored to newer dancers. Typically, the level of difficulty increases as the evening progresses, and we move on to dances requested by the group.

Comfortable clothing and clean, soft-soled shoes are recommended.

Parking is free, and we enter the building from the door nearest the parking lot. We ask a donation of $8, as you are able.

Questions? Want to be added to (or deleted from) our email list? Contact Barb or Bob at (518) 452-1154, or email Barb at macleanbarb@aol.com.

Capital English Country Dancers
2026-04-05 14:00 - 17:00 | St. John’s Episcopal Church, 146 1st Street, Troy, 12180, United States
Martha Griffin, callerMusic by Spare Parts

Celebrating over 35 years of dancing

Dancing with friends in sync with beautiful music is a joyful, magical experience!

First Sundays from September through MayIntroductory Workshop at 1:30 pm | Dance 2-5 pmGeneral Admission $15 (Discount with DFO/CEDC membership)St. John’s Episcopal Church, 146 First St., Troy, NY

Watch some of our dances here

Season 2025-2026 (Download flyer)

List of Callers and Musicians 2025-26

Capital English Country Dancers membership form

November 2 – Helen White, music by Spare PartsDecember 7 – Imogen Mills, music by Vonnie Estes, Charles Fischer, Nancy BakemeierJanuary 4 – Orly Krasner, music by Jean Monroe, Eleanor LincolnFebruary 1 – Elizabeth Freedman, music by Dominik Landowne, Sue PolanskyMarch 1 – Don Bell, music by Alan Thompson, Micah WalterApril 5 – Martha Griffin, music by Spare PartsMay 3 – Melanie Axel-Lute, music by Flying Romanos

Our COVID Policy: Proof of vaccination and wearing of a mask will not be required at CECD events. Please stay home if you feel sick or have symptoms of Covid or flu. CECD will notify all attendees if someone reports a Covid diagnosis within a week after a dance.

For more information contact: dianehbell@gmail.com | 518-416-6771Capital English Country Dancers (CECD) is an affiliate of the DanceFlurry Organization and a member of the Country Dance and Song Society

Albany Contra Dance
2026-04-10 19:45 - 23:00 | Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
Qwill Duvall calling

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

Tri-City Folk Dancers - Daylight Dance
2026-04-11 14:00 - 16:30 | Scotia Methodist Church, 201 North Ten Broeck, Scotia, 12302, New York, United States
Therefore, no dance on Friday night, April 10
Saturday from 2 to 4:30 pm
Scotia United Methodist Church, 201 N Ten Broeck St, Scotia, NY 12302
International Folk Dancing includes the traditional dances of many countries and cultures done to authentic music in a variety of formations (long and short lines, circles, broken circles, and a few duos, trios, and individual). Our group is particularly fond of dances from the Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and Serbia), Romania, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Israel, Brittany, French Canada and other countries. We mostly dance to recorded music but have live music events a few times a year.We welcome all ages and genders, and no partner is necessary, as most dances do not involve couples.
We welcome beginners and children who are interested in dancing. We encourage those to come early in the evening when instruction is emphasized and tailored to newer dancers. Typically, the level of difficulty increases as the dance progresses, and we move on to dances requested by the group.
Comfortable clothing and clean, soft-soled shoes are recommended.
Parking is free, and we enter the building from the rear. We ask a donation of $8, as you are able.
Questions? Want to be added to (or deleted from) our email list? Contact Barb or Bob at (518) 452-1154, or email Barb at macleanbarb@aol.com.
Tri-City FolkDancers is an Affiliate of the DanceFlurry Organization and a member of Country Dance and Song Society.

North Berkshire Community Dance
2026-04-11 19:15 - 22:30 | First Congregational Church, Williamstown MA, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, Massachusetts, 01267, United States
* At the Williamstown location *

Music by The Vintons (George Wilson, Andy Davis, Marko Packard). Hannah Johlas will call, using gender neutral role terms.

Admission is pay-as-you-can: $5 – $15, or barter equivalent, suggested.

As a community dance in a small college town, we welcome people of all ages and backgrounds into the ever-changing tradition of New England contra dance. Contra dancing is the contemporary face of a living tradition; some of the dances are hundreds of years old, some are recently composed. Some of the dances are hundreds of years old, some are recently composed; all are good fun and a pleasurable occasion for meeting and interacting with people both new and familiar.

Everyone is welcome. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive at 7:15 for an introductory lesson. Come with or without a partner; most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening.

Covid Policy: Masks are optional, and we are no longer checking vaccination status.

For more information, Visit www.northberkshiredance.org or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/northberkshiredance/.

UPCOMING DANCES

We send a quick email reminder once a month before each dance. If you would like to be included, you can subscribe here.

May 9th: Williamstown. Fern Bradley will call; plus music by a very fine band.

June 13th: North Adams. Open band led by George Wilson and Becking Hollingsworth, homegrown callers.

July 11th: North Adams

August 8th: North Adams

September 26th (fourth Saturday): Williamstown. Jeff Walker will call using Gents and Ladies role terms, music by Jeff and Kathy Walker.

October 10th: Williamstown. Luke Donforth will call to music by “Trois Amies” (Andy Davis, Laurie Indenbaum, Mary Cay Brass)

November 12th: Williamstown. Quena Crain will call.

December 9th: Williamstown.

For more information, visit www.northberkshiredance.org, see the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/northberkshiredance/, or contact doonemackay@gmail.com.

Albany Family Barn Dance
2026-04-12 15:00 - 16:15 | Albany Love Center, 20 Ten Eyck Avenue, Albany, 12209, United States
American and International Folk Dances & Singing Games!Storytelling & Sing-Alongs!Enjoy traditions passed down from generation to generation.

Circle dances, squares, line dances and play-party singing games from around the world. Instruction and calling by Paul Rosenberg. Music by Tame Rutabaga.

Sit-in musicians of any age and degree of experience are welcome to join in.

Come join us for an intergenerational fun afternoon! Bring your children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters! Bring your friends and neighbors! All join hands and circle left!

Dances 3:00 p.m. — 4:15 p.m.

Suggested donation: Adults / $5-$10, Children 6-12 / $1

For more information, contact Paul at 518-482-9255 or paul@homespun.biz.

Events are held at the Love Albany Center, Albany, 20 Ten Eyck Avenue, Albany 12209. Park in the lot and enter the building from the parking lot. On street parking available or parking lot at 8 Kate Street.

Download the flyer here. 2026 Season events:January 18 February 8 March 8 April 12

Cajun / Zydeco Dances
2026-04-25 19:00 - 22:30 | Albany Unitarian Universalist Church, 405 Washington Ave., Albany, NY, 12206
Great live music from Planet Zydeco!

Great fun–and no partner needed!

Lesson at 7:00 – Dance from 7:30-10:30

The lesson at the beginning of the dance covers the traditional Cajun dances: the Cajun Waltz, One-Step, and Two-Step. All of these are traveling “Carousel” dances. The dancers create the “Carousel” by all the couples working together traveling around the floor in a counter clockwise direction. See these guidelines for Cajun dancing.

There are no Covid restrictions, but we ask that folks stay home if they are not feeling well or have been exposed recently.

The line-up for the 2025-2026 Season (click on image to download flyer):October 25 – ZydegrooveNovember 22 – Red Aces Cajun BandDecember – No danceJanuary 24 -Zydeco RevelatorsFebruary 28 – Catahoula Cajun BandMarch 28 – Les Taiauts Cajun BandApril 25 – Planet Zydeco

What is the difference between Cajun and Zydeco??
Zydeco and Cajun dancing follow similar rhythms, born in the Bayou of Louisiana, and notably feature an accordion and often a fiddle (or two), generally with a rhythm guitar and a bass guitar (or stand-up bass). Stationary dances like Zydeco (or swing dancing) are generally done in the center of the dance floor to allow traveling dances, such as a Cajun two-step, to be done around the outside oval of the floor.

Zydeco Revelators

Zydeco music generally includes the distinctive sound of a rub board, or “frattoire” as it is called in French, and usually there is also a drummer keeping a lively beat. Zydeco dancing tends to be more energetic, with dancers tending to stay in one location while they dance. The gentle percussive beat of the triangle, or “p’tit fer” as it is known in French, or just the bass, often keeps the beat in Cajun music. Cajun music tends to tell a story, with gentler dancing that travels around the perimeter of the dance floor, such as waltzes and two-steps.

Albany 1st Friday Swing Dance
2026-05-01 19:00 - 22:30 | Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
The Hammerhead Horns

https://www.facebook.com/events/2367618267069333/

* 7-8pm – Swing Dance Lesson. No partner needed. Beginners welcome!!

* 8-10:30 pm – Dance

Cost: $20 General, $15 Student, 65+ Senior, DFO Member

Albany Elks, 25 S Allen St, Albany, NY 12208 (1 block south of Rt. 20 Madison/Western)

Spacious, attractive A/C hall (plus new large fans) with large wooden dance floor.

Covid/Flu: Stay home if you feel sick, or were in close contact with someone who is contagious. Thank you for taking precautions to keep our wonderful dance community safe. Proof of vaccine is no longer required.

Volunteers needed! Please contact us if you’d be interested in being on the Albany 1st Friday Swing Dance committee and helping with the dance, especially with take down.

Ambassador Program: The DFO has established this program to welcome all people, especially beginners, to our dances. For more information, please ask at the front desk. All of you, men AND women, can help by asking everyone to dance, especially newcomers and those sitting down. <<<<<

very 1st Friday except July and August

= = = =

Tri-City Folk Dancers - Daylight Dance
2026-05-02 15:00 - 17:30 | Scotia Methodist Church, 201 North Ten Broeck, Scotia, 12302, New York, United States
Therefore, no dance on Friday night, May 1

Saturday May 2, Live Music with Tom Pixton!

3-5:30 NOTE the time change!!

Scotia United Methodist Church, 201 N Ten Broeck St, Scotia, NY 12302

International Folk Dancing includes the traditional dances of many countries and cultures done to authentic music in a variety of formations (long and short lines, circles, broken circles, and a few duos, trios, and individual). Our group is particularly fond of dances from the Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and Serbia), Romania, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Israel, Brittany, French Canada and other countries. We mostly dance to recorded music but have live music events a few times a year.We welcome all ages and genders, and no partner is necessary, as most dances do not involve couples.

We welcome beginners and children who are interested in dancing. We encourage those to come early in the evening when instruction is emphasized and tailored to newer dancers. Typically, the level of difficulty increases as the dance progresses, and we move on to dances requested by the group.

Comfortable clothing and clean, soft-soled shoes are recommended.

Parking is free, and we enter the building from the rear. We ask a donation of $8, as you are able.

Questions? Want to be added to (or deleted from) our email list? Contact Barb or Bob at (518) 452-1154, or email Barb at macleanbarb@aol.com.

Tri-City FolkDancers is an Affiliate of the DanceFlurry Organization and a member of Country Dance and Song Society.

Octagon Barn Dance Social
2026-05-02 19:30 - 22:00 | Knox Octagon Barn, 588 Middle Road, Delanson, NY, 12053, United States
Join us in the uniquely beautiful setting of the Knox Octagonal Barn for a delightful evening of community and dancing to live music by Tamarac!!

Fun, simple dances from the U.S. and around the World. For every age and ability.

All dances will be taught by caller Paul Rosenberg. Circles, contras, squares. Partner and non-partner dances.

All ages welcome, no partner or experience needed.

Suggested donations: Adults – $5 – $10; Children $2Download the flyer here. Masks are optional

For more information, contact Paul at 518-482-9255 or paul@homespun.biz. This is an affiliate event of the DanceFlurry Organization.

Directions from Altamont: Take Rte 146 out Maple Ave. Turn left at stop sign and follow Rte. 1463+ miles. At Town Garage and Township Tavern (past Quay Rd), turn left into the wide intersection, then immediately right, onto Co. Rte. 262 (Middle Rd) . Follow Middle Rd through two stop signs (Knox Cave Rd, and Beebe Rd). Barn is the solo building on the left, just past Beebe Rd.For GPS: Knox Octagon Barn, 588 Middle Road, Delanson, NY 12053.

Capital English Country Dancers
2026-05-03 14:00 - 17:00 | St. John’s Episcopal Church, 146 1st Street, Troy, 12180, United States
Melanie Axel-Lute, callerMusic by Dragon Flies

(Vonnie Estes on piano, Britany Orlebeke on fiddle, & Charles Fisher on flute)

Celebrating over 35 years of dancing

Dancing with friends in sync with beautiful music is a joyful, magical experience!

First Sundays from September through MayIntroductory Workshop at 1:30 pm | Dance 2-5 pmGeneral Admission $15 (Discount with DFO/CEDC membership)St. John’s Episcopal Church, 146 First St., Troy, NY

Watch some of our dances here

Season 2025-2026 (Download flyer)

List of Callers and Musicians 2025-26

Capital English Country Dancers membership form

November 2 – Helen White, music by Spare PartsDecember 7 – Imogen Mills, music by Vonnie Estes, Charles Fischer, Nancy BakemeierJanuary 4 – Orly Krasner, music by Jean Monroe, Eleanor LincolnFebruary 1 – Elizabeth Freedman, music by Dominik Landowne, Sue PolanskyMarch 1 – Don Bell, music by Alan Thompson, Micah WalterApril 5 – Martha Griffin, music by Spare PartsMay 3 – Melanie Axel-Lute, music by Dragon Flies

Starting the summer with a special double header at the Buhrmaster Barn!June 14: Melanie Axel-Lute caller, music by Contravention (Alan Thomson, piano |Eric Buddington, fiddle |Malcolm Callagy, cello & fiddle)3-5 pm: English Country Dance sponsored by the DFO & Capital English Country Dancers – Separate admission fee of $155-6 pm: Potluck Dinner 6-9 pm: Contra dance

Our COVID Policy: Proof of vaccination and wearing of a mask will not be required at CECD events. Please stay home if you feel sick or have symptoms of Covid or flu. CECD will notify all attendees if someone reports a Covid diagnosis within a week after a dance.

For more information contact: dianehbell@gmail.com | 518-416-6771Capital English Country Dancers (CECD) is an affiliate of the DanceFlurry Organization and a member of the Country Dance and Song Society

Albany Contra Dance
2026-05-08 19:45 - 23:00 | Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
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

North Berkshire Community Dance
2026-05-09 19:15 - 22:30 | First Congregational Church, Williamstown MA, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, Massachusetts, 01267, United States
* At the Williamstown location *

Fern Bradley calling

Admission is pay-as-you-can: $5 – $15, or barter equivalent, suggested.

As a community dance in a small college town, we welcome people of all ages and backgrounds into the ever-changing tradition of New England contra dance. Contra dancing is the contemporary face of a living tradition; some of the dances are hundreds of years old, some are recently composed. Some of the dances are hundreds of years old, some are recently composed; all are good fun and a pleasurable occasion for meeting and interacting with people both new and familiar.

Everyone is welcome. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive at 7:15 for an introductory lesson. Come with or without a partner; most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening.

Covid Policy: Masks are optional, and we are no longer checking vaccination status.

For more information, Visit www.northberkshiredance.org or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/northberkshiredance/.

UPCOMING DANCES

We send a quick email reminder once a month before each dance. If you would like to be included, you can subscribe here.

May 9th: Williamstown. Fern Bradley will call; plus music by a very fine band.

June 13th: North Adams. Open band led by George Wilson and Becking Hollingsworth, homegrown callers.

July 11th: North Adams

August 8th: North Adams

September 26th (fourth Saturday): Williamstown. Jeff Walker will call using Gents and Ladies role terms, music by Jeff and Kathy Walker.

October 10th: Williamstown. Luke Donforth will call to music by “Trois Amies” (Andy Davis, Laurie Indenbaum, Mary Cay Brass)

November 14th: Williamstown. Quena Crain will call.

December 12th: Williamstown.

For more information, visit www.northberkshiredance.org, see the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/northberkshiredance/, or contact doonemackay@gmail.com.

DFO Grant-Funded Event - Beginners' Contra Dance at Averill Park High School - Public Invited!
2026-05-14 16:00 - 18:00 | Averill Park High School, NY 146 Gettle Rd, Averill Park, New York, 12018, United States
The Contra Corners Club at Averill Park High School is hosting a beginner’s contra dance event that is open to the public! This event will take place Thursday, May 14 from 4 to 6 PM at Averill Park High School.

All dances willl be taught by Rindle Glick, and music will be provided by fiddler George Wilson and pianist Alan Thomson.

The event will take place in the music/chorus room of the high school. Park in the lot in front of the school, and enter the school through the main entrance.

No partners needed and dancers of all experience levels are welcome. Admission is free, with optional donations.

Contra Corners is a new dance club founded this year that aims to bring traditional folk dance and music to students at Averill Park High school. This event was made possible with a Youth Outreach Grant from the DanceFlurry Organization. The club hopes to continue collaborating with the DFO in the future!

Albany Contra Dance
2026-05-29 19:45 - 23:00 | Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
The Russet Trio* with caller Hannah Johlas*Aldo Lavaggi (fiddle, mandolin), Peter Madsen (guitar), Stuart Kenney (upright bass, banjo),

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

One more dance this season!

June 12: Ben Smith (fiddle, banjo), Eric Buddington (fiddle), and Seamus Connor (guitar, mandolin), with caller Liz Nelson

DANCEFLURRY ORGANIZATION ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2026-05-29 21:15 - 22:00 | Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
All DFO members are encouraged to attend the DanceFlurry Organization’s Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, May 29, 2026, during the break of the Albany Contra Dance (approximately 9:15 pm). The meeting will be held at the Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY.

DANCEFLURRY ORGANIZATION ANNUAL MEETING AGENDAFriday May 29, 2025, ~ 9:15 PM

I. Introductory Remarks and Review of 2025-2026II. Election of DanceFlurry Organization Board Member and Officer

You must be a member in good standing to vote, with dues paid for the current membership year. If you are unsure about your membership status, please contact dfoadmin@danceflurry.org. Members who only wish to attend the Annual Meeting, which will be held in the smaller room off the main dance hall, are not subject to an admission fee. See the webpage for information about the May 29th contra dance. Information on the slate of nominees is below. Please vote, using only one of four options:

Attend the meeting in person on May 29, 2026 during the break at the Albany Contra dance (about 9:15 pm) — no admission fee for those only attending the meeting;

Complete the online ballot form by 5:00 pm (Eastern) on May 29, 2026;

Complete and mail the ballot form via US Post to DanceFlurry Organization, PO Box 448, Latham, NY 12110, to be received by Friday, May 29, 2026; or

Attach the completed ballot or complete, copy, and paste your responses into an email to nominations@danceflurry.org – please include your name and community in the body of the email, which must arrive by 5:00 pm (Eastern) on May 29, 2026.

Download the full announcement and ballot here.Download the ballot in Word here.

THANK YOU to retiring board members Rindle Glick, Harvey Raufman, and Sarah Stew

Rindle Glick and Harvey Raufman were elected to the board in 2020, but would not meet fellow board members in person until later in the pandemic. Rindle became involved with the Community Culture committee, working on the Principles of Community Respect Policy, and joined the Albany Contra Dance Task Force and then organizing committee. Having taken the contra dance callers workshop in 2024, Rindle has become a caller for both adult and student dances and also developed and has been running the Troy Queer Contra Dance which debuted in 2025. Both Rindle and Harvey Raufman served on the Program Support committee, which Harvey chaired, to review grant applications for funding provided to other organizations for traditional music and dance events. While Harvey is completing his second round of service as a board member (the first being in the early years of the DFO), he will continue his involvement as Volunteer Coordinator for the Flurry Festival and event organizer for the Adirondack Dance Weekend. Sarah Stewart joined the board in 2023. A swing and blues dancer and instructor, she served as liaison to the 1st Friday Swing Dance event in addition to working with other board members on evolving policies and organizational management.

THANK YOU to the amazing event organizers who contributed so much time and energyto providing wonderful dance and music events for our community year-round.

Adirondack Dance Weekend Harvey Raufman, Laura PerraultAlbany Contra Dances & Contra Fest Rindle Glick, Kevin Musick, Mike Patterson, Laura Perrault, Jill WheatAlbany Family Barn Dance & Octagon Barn Dance Social Paul Rosenberg, Patricia Kernan, Jim Mead, Sue MeadAlbany First Friday Swing Dance Jim Dolen, Candy Dolen, Will Anderson, Katie Brennan, Phyll Brienza, Heather Coleman, Jason Fenton, Janice Joyce, Marissa Thorburn, Christina Van HoesenAlbany Sacred Harp Singing Tarik WarehBuhrmaster Barn Contra Dance Cindee Herrick, Kathryn WedderburnCajun/Zydeco Ron Bruschi, Marie Bruschi, Cynthia DeMichele, Nancy Hewitt, Rich PisarriCapital District Megaband Judy Pardee, Terry Klein, George WilsonCapital English Country Dancers Melanie Axel-Lute, Diane Bell, Laura Paris, Ann ThomasNorth Berkshire Community Dance Doone Mackay, Pat Dunlavey, Nicholas Adams, Katherine Abbott, Seamus Connor, Eric Buddington, Mairi Smith, Pauli VoelkelTri-City Folk Dancers Barbara MacLean, Bob Schulz, Juliana Post GoodWest African Drum and Dance Jordan Taylor-Hill

DFO Board Members 2025-2026Kevin Musick, President Amanda Stickney, First Vice President Andrea Ferster, Second Vice President Noel Kropf, Treasurer Marie Bruschi, SecretaryRindle Glick, Jordan Knicely, Harvey Raufman, Anne Seeley, Sarah Stewart (through 1/26)Board Members, Emeritus: Co-Founders Pat Melita and Paul Rosenberg

Staff (Contractual) DanceFlurry Organization: Peggy Smith, Bookkeeper, Lorraine Weiss, AdministratorFlurry Festival: Kathleen Crayne; Marketing Manager; Adam Goodman, Technical Manager; Jonathan Greene, Program Curator; Shira Love, Administrative Manager; Jim Mead, Database Manager; Sue Mead, Administrative Assistant

PROPOSED SLATE OF NOMINEES

The Nominating Committee presents the following slate of new director and officer candidates. Additional nominations for Board Members may also be made at the Annual Meeting by written petition of five members, as noted on the ballot sheet.

Returning board members and officers:

Kevin Musick, President (Rensselaer County) Kevin joined the board in 2020 during the pandemic and has served on the Outreach Committee as chair, the Program Support Committee, and task forces for bylaw revisions and strategic planning. In 2021, he joined the newly-formed Albany Contra Dance Task Force, later the organizing committee, where he remains active, and has also become involved in helping with sound at a number of dances he attends from the Hudson Valley to western MA.Kevin notes “I enjoy being able to contribute to this organization and to the great dance community that it serves. In my day job I work full-time as an electron microscopist, specializing in TEM and STEM based analysis.”Elected as 1st Vice President in 2023, Kevin later stepped up into the President position, and was officially elected as president in 2024. Kevin is nominated for an additional year as a board member so that he can complete the one year remaining in his role as an officer.

Marie Bruschi, Secretary (Albany County) Active as a dancer and volunteer in the area for decades, including the Eighth Step dances, Marie recently completed 12 years of organizing the Cajun and Zydeco dance series with her husband, Ron Bruschi. She was inducted into the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Hall of Fame in 2019 for promoting and keeping Irish Set Dance alive in this region.“I try to understand how and why people learn to dance, develop confidence, and get hooked,” Marie says, and she’s spent many years putting her words into action as an event organizer and dance instructor at the Flurry Festival and dances in the Northeast, in other parts of the country, and internationally via cruises. In addition, Marie has served as Board Secretary since 2020 and continues to contribute her experience as a member of the Nominations and Budget and Finance committees. Marie is being nominated for an additional term as board member and Secretary.

Anne Seeley (Rensselaer County & Queens County) Though she always enjoyed dancing, Anne found “a certain magic” in contra dancing and the Flurry Festival. Newly relocated to the Capital District, Anne found that DFO was the natural place for her to give back to the dance community, and she joined the board in 2023. She has been involved with revising the By-laws, developing a Diversity Policy, and chairing the Nominations Committee.Anne has really enjoyed sampling the various Capital area dance programs that DFO is involved with, e.g.,: Contra, English Country, Cajun/Zydeco, and International/Folk. Newly-retired from a career in environmental protection and public health, Anne now has some time to devote to other interests and activities and hopes to continue contributing her experience and skills to help support — and hopefully to help grow — the traditional dance community.

All three nominees for new board members were introduced to the DanceFlurry Organization through the Flurry Festival:

Peter Himmelman began contra dancing as a teenager in the Utica area and attended dances in Syracuse and Cooperstown before becoming a participant and a tech and sound crew volunteer at festivals such as the Flurry, Adirondack Dance Weekend, and NEFFA. He has also been involved with Burning Man for a number of years. Peter divides his time between New Hartford, NY, where he works for a firm that constructs costuming, puppets and commercial and convention displays, and Mexico, where he is enrolled in courses and teaches English as a Second Language.He particularly enjoys seeing young dancers at events and is interested in supporting social dancing and working to ensure the future of community-based dance events. In addition to contributing his experience with working on a number of events, Peter is considering helping with the DFO’s social media objectives.

Contra dance is a “passion” for Kate Parr, who runs her accounting firm in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. While located outside the Capital District, Kate has attended a variety of events in the northeast and Canada and foresees expanding her dancing in the region since she has family and friends in the area. She’s not only been attending the Festival for a number of years, but has also volunteered on the Lost and Found Committee, and notes that she “tries to volunteer wherever I can” with groups that support the community. She’s been involved with The Dandelion Romp (Oberlin College’s annual contra dance and folk music festival) and the Cleveland Butterfly Twirl contra dance weekend in addition to helping organize other local dances. Kate has observed the challenges and characteristics of various dance and music events led by independent organizers in her region and believes there are advantages to a regional collaborative approach like the DFO. She is interested in learning more about how the DFO operates, while at the same time providing a larger view of contra dancing outside the Capital Region and contributing her skills as an organizer and accountant to events and financial management.

Ray Qin began dancing in college and is a “Jack of all trades” when it comes to dancing. They love the variety of the Flurry Festival, thoroughly enjoy trying all different kinds of dance, and observe that each style has a format based on competition and a format based on community. They are interested in people talking about their own culture in terms of dance language, the history and background of dance types, and learning a different perspective on a culture via dance. Ray was involved as treasurer and president of the Asian Student Association while at Smith College and participated in organizing a number of events. Newly graduated with a degree in computer science and based in Worcester, MA, they are currently working in the field of biomedical research.Potential areas of involvement include helping with website/app development, computer work in general, outreach, and fundraising. They note: “I love the community building aspect of social/traditional dancing, and in helping people to understand each other better through the language of dance.”

Albany 1st Friday Swing Dance
2026-06-05 19:00 - 22:30 | Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
The Teresa Broadwell Quintet

https://www.facebook.com/events/2022071858522923/

* 7-8pm – Swing Dance Lesson. No partner needed. Beginners welcome!!

* 8-10:30 pm – Dance

Cost: $20 General, $15 Student, 65+ Senior, DFO Member

Albany Elks, 25 S Allen St, Albany, NY 12208 (1 block south of Rt. 20 Madison/Western)

Spacious, attractive A/C hall (plus new large fans) with large wooden dance floor.

Covid/Flu: Stay home if you feel sick, or were in close contact with someone who is contagious. Thank you for taking precautions to keep our wonderful dance community safe. Proof of vaccine is no longer required.

Volunteers needed! Please contact us if you’d be interested in being on the Albany 1st Friday Swing Dance committee and helping with the dance, especially with take down.

Ambassador Program: The DFO has established this program to welcome all people, especially beginners, to our dances. For more information, please ask at the front desk. All of you, men AND women, can help by asking everyone to dance, especially newcomers and those sitting down. <<<<<

very 1st Friday except July and August

= = = =

Albany Contra Dance
2026-06-12 19:45 - 23:00 | Albany Elks Lodge, 25 South Allen Street, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
Caller Liz Nelson with music by Ben Smith (fiddle, banjo), Eric Buddington (fiddle), and Seamus Connor (guitar, mandolin)

This will be the last dance before our regular summer break for July and August. We hope to see you this summer at the nearby Buhrmaster Barn Dances.

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

Sacred Harp Shape Note Singing - All Day Sings & Special Events
2026-06-13 10:00 - 15:30 | NY
Sat., June 13, 2026: Albany All-Day Sacred Harp Singing

Come join us and sing out of the Sacred Harp (2025 edition) in beautiful and historic Burton Hall (Easton, N.Y.). All are welcome. Loaner books provided. Dinner on the grounds, approx. 12:30-1:30pm. Beginners and the curious are very welcome; feel free to dip in, come and go, etc.

10am-3:30pmBurton Hall (Easton Town Hall)1071 NY-40, Greenwich, NY 12834​Housing inquiries: Use our contact form​Facebook event

Check here for more events, including those outside the Greater Capital Region.

Tri-City Folk Dancers - Daylight Dance
2026-06-13 14:00 - 16:30 | Scotia Methodist Church, 201 North Ten Broeck, Scotia, 12302, New York, United States
Note: The Saturday Daylight Dance takes the place of the usual Friday session.

Scotia United Methodist Church, 201 N Ten Broeck St, Scotia, NY 12302

International Folk Dancing includes the traditional dances of many countries and cultures done to authentic music in a variety of formations (long and short lines, circles, broken circles, and a few duos, trios, and individual). Our group is particularly fond of dances from the Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and Serbia), Romania, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Israel, Brittany, French Canada and other countries. We mostly dance to recorded music but have live music events a few times a year.We welcome all ages and genders, and no partner is necessary, as most dances do not involve couples.

We welcome beginners and children who are interested in dancing. We encourage those to come early in the evening when instruction is emphasized and tailored to newer dancers. Typically, the level of difficulty increases as the dance progresses, and we move on to dances requested by the group.

Comfortable clothing and clean, soft-soled shoes are recommended.

Parking is free, and we enter the building from the rear. We ask a donation of $8, as you are able.

Questions? Want to be added to (or deleted from) our email list? Contact Barb or Bob at (518) 452-1154, or email Barb at macleanbarb@aol.com.

Tri-City FolkDancers is an Affiliate of the DanceFlurry Organization and a member of Country Dance and Song Society.

North Berkshire Community Dance
2026-06-13 19:15 - 22:30 | All Saints Episcopal Church, 59 Summer St., North Adams, Massachusetts, 01247, United States
* Moving to North Adams for the summer! *

Open band led by George Wilson and Becking Hollingsworth, homegrown callers

Admission is pay-as-you-can: $5 – $15, or barter equivalent, suggested.

As a community dance in a small college town, we welcome people of all ages and backgrounds into the ever-changing tradition of New England contra dance. Contra dancing is the contemporary face of a living tradition; some of the dances are hundreds of years old, some are recently composed. Some of the dances are hundreds of years old, some are recently composed; all are good fun and a pleasurable occasion for meeting and interacting with people both new and familiar.

Everyone is welcome. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive at 7:15 for an introductory lesson. Come with or without a partner; most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening.

Covid Policy: Masks are optional, and we are no longer checking vaccination status.

For more information, Visit www.northberkshiredance.org or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/northberkshiredance/.

UPCOMING DANCES

We send a quick email reminder once a month before each dance. If you would like to be included, you can subscribe here.

May 9th: Williamstown. Fern Bradley will call; plus music by a very fine band.

June 13th: North Adams. Open band led by George Wilson and Becking Hollingsworth, homegrown callers.

July 11th: North Adams

August 8th: North Adams

September 26th (fourth Saturday): Williamstown. Jeff Walker will call using Gents and Ladies role terms, music by Jeff and Kathy Walker.

October 10th: Williamstown. Luke Donforth will call to music by “Trois Amies” (Andy Davis, Laurie Indenbaum, Mary Cay Brass)

November 14th: Williamstown. Quena Crain will call.

December 12th: Williamstown.

For more information, visit www.northberkshiredance.org, see the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/northberkshiredance/, or contact doonemackay@gmail.com.

Special English Country Dance at the Buhrmaster Barn
2026-06-14 15:00 - 17:00 | Pruyn House Buhrmaster Barn, 207 Old Niskayuna Road, Colonie, New York, 12110, United States
SPECIAL SUMMER DANCE: June 14 at the Buhrmaster Barn Double Header Season opener!!

3-5 pm: English Country Dance, caller Don Bell with music by Contravention (Alan Thomson, piano |Eric Buddington, fiddle |Malcolm Callagy, cello & fiddle)Sponsored by the DFO and Capital English Country Dancers . Separate admission of $15 (no discounts)

Potluck Dinner follows from 5-6 pm.

6-9 pm: Contra dance, caller Melanie Axel-Lute – Contra dance admission is $20 General Public, $17 DFO Members & Seniors, $6 Students

The barn is located behind the Pruyn House museum at 207 Old Niskayuna Road, Colonie, NY. Directions from Exit 5 of Northway (I-87): Northbound – Go right onto Rt. 155. Turn left onto Old Niskayuna Road (just before overpass). Southbound – Go left onto Rt. 155, go under overpass, turn right onto Old Niskayuna Road. The Buhrmaster Barn is ½ mile on left, behind the Pruyn House at 207 Old Niskayuna Road, Colonie, NY.

Download the flyer here.
