Schedule by Location

CFOOTMAD Dance Series

Boulder

Denver

OTHER Colorado Dance Series

Boulder Community Dance

Traditional American contra, square, and circle dances

Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder. 1^st and 3^rd Fridays. Lesson 7:15. Dancing 8 – 11 p.m. $10/$8 members (prices may vary for special events). Call Teri at 303 499-1346 for more info. Shoes with clean soles are mandatory!
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Contra dancing is participatory American folk dancing — vigorous and enthusiastic. Contra dances feature “live music” every time — Irish fiddle music, Old Time fiddle music or some “wild derivation.” Fun and easy to do, each dance is taught before the music begins. Our typical evening dance is held 1^st and 3^rd Fridays with an easy lesson beginning at 7:15 p.m. All are welcome, and no partner is needed.

Denver Community Dance

Traditional American contra, square, and circle dances

NEW Venue!! Highlands Masonic Center, 3550 Federal Blvd., Denver. 2^nd and 4^th Fridays. Lesson 7:15. Dancing 8 – 11 p.m. $10/$8 members (prices may vary for special events).
Highlands Masonic Center, Denver.
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Contra dancing is participatory American folk dancing — vigorous and enthusiastic. Contra dances feature “live music” every time — Irish fiddle music, Old Time fiddle music or some “wild derivation.” Fun and easy to do, each dance is taught before the music begins. Our typical Friday night dance is held 2^nd and 4^th Fridays with an easy lesson beginning at 7:15 p.m. All are welcome, and no partner is needed.

English Country Dance

From the 1600s to the present—come and experience the English ancestry of our present-day contras

Berkeley Community Church, 3701 West 50th Ave., Denver (near Regis). 3^rd Saturdays, September through May. 8 – 11 p.m. $9/$7 members.
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Experience the “Sense and Sensibility” of English Country Dance to live music. All dances are taught and walked through—easier dances at the beginning of the evening lead up to more elegant and graceful dances by the end of the evening; no partner or previous experience needed. English country dances are the direct ancestors of our American contra dances, but are more graceful and elegant with special tunes for each dance.

A Brief History of English Country Dance in America
English Country Dances came to America with the first settlers in the early 1700s. They were the traditional social dance in America through the late 1700s, and in many places, well into the 1800s. They are historically important, since they were the direct ancestors of the contra dance and the square dance, America’s two enduring traditional dance forms. By the 1770s, Americans in many regions were altering and adapting the English Country Dance. This soon evolved into the New England contra dance (contra meaning “across,” i.e., dances done in long lines with the men on one side, and their partners across from them.) The first genuine contra dances begin appearing about 1775. The development of the square dance takes a more circuitous route. It is heavily influenced by the popularity of the Cotillions and Lancers (French imports --remember, the French were our allies in the fight for independence, and everything French was way cool).

In modern times, the English Country Dance was taken up by Americans with enthusiasm, due primarily to the influence of two school teachers from England, May Gadd and Genevieve Shimer, who brought the dance to their students as a means of teaching social graces and deportment, as well as rhythm and movement, in the 1940s. Since then, English Country Dance has found more of a home in America than in England, with active English Country Dance groups in most major American cities, as well as in many smaller communities.

The dances themselves are an elegant and delightful blend of figures and rhythm, with each dance set to its own particular tune. The dances are done in long sets (called “longways sets”) or in two, three, or four couple sets. There are slow and graceful dances, as well as exciting and energetic ones.

An English Country Dance is also a great form of community dance. By community dance, I mean that they are fun to do, and can be learned by all, young and old alike, with no special training required. They are good mixers, since partners customarily change after every dance. So there is a resulting blend of sociability, mild exercise, and wonderful music. Just the thing to relieve the anomie of a fragmented high-tech society.

That, then, is an extremely brief history of English Country Dance in America, from the early 1700s to the present. They are an important component of our American cultural history, and the principal influence on the only two uniquely American folk dances, the contra dance and the square dance.
Chris Kermiet

More on What is English Country Dance

Ragtime Tea Dance

American ragtime era dances including one-steps, foxtrots, waltzes, tangos, and more

Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder. 2^nd Sundays, September through March, and May. Lesson at 1:30. Dancing 2 – 5 p.m. Complimentary refreshments and the introductory dance lesson are included in your admission price—$18 general admission, or $13 for CFOOTMAD members, $5 discount for full-time students with student ID.
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Rollick in the social ballroom dances of the ragtime era — waltzes, foxtrots, tangos and one-steps, or just dance cheek-to-cheek to the original music of American social dance. A wide variety of live music from the ragtime and tango craze of the 1900s through the early swing of the 1920s is provided by the Mont Alto Ragtime & Tango Orchestra. Easy-going dancing, mixed crowd, and complimentary refreshments makes these dances fun for all. All are welcome, and no partner is needed. Dressy or vintage attire is encouraged.

For information,

Events Coordinator: Jim X. Borzym, 303 449-5962,
Orchestra Leader: Rodney Sauer, 303 665-9413

Read Jim Borzym’s article on Ragtime Dance in Colorado.

Waltz Night

Waltz Dances

The Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder. 5^th Fridays. 8 – 11 p.m. Lesson 7:15. $10/$8 members.
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An evening of waltzing to live music by local ensembles playing traditional music from a variety of countries including the British Isles. You may come alone or bring a partner, but in this relaxed evening people generally dance with a different partner for each dance. Dress can be casual to dressy, vintage to modern! A free lesson is provided at 7:15 p.m. for people just (or still) learning to waltz, and light refreshments are provided during the breaks.

Westminster Old-Time Community Dance

Squares, reels, circles, contras, waltzes and other couple dances to live, old-time music

Westminster Grange, 3935 West 73^rd, Westminster. 1^st Saturdays. 7 – 10 p.m. $6/$5 members, $2 kids 6 – 15.
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The Westminster Grange Hall dance features squares, reels, circles, contras, waltzes and other couples dances. Live American old-time music is provided with Southern, Northwest and Northeast influences. Beginning dancers are always welcome and supported. Callers and musicians seeking to gain experience should contact the dance organizers for information on calling and participating in a band at this dance. Casual dress, no partner needed, all dances are taught, beginners and well-behaved youngsters are welcome.

Directions: Take Boulder Turnpike (US 36) to Federal Blvd. exit, south on Federal to West 72^nd Avenue, turn right (west) on 72^nd, go to stoplight at Lowell Blvd., turn right (north) on Lowell, go one block north to 73^rd Avenue, turn left (west) on 73^rd about 4 blocks—theGrange is on the right across from the fire station. Park on the street or in the back (not on the east side of the building!) Also sponsored by the City of Westminster.

Zesty Contra Dance

Contras for experienced dancers—quick walk-throughs and little caller leading

NEW :: Venue / Night / Time :: for the foreseeable future! :: Scheitler Recreation Center at Berkeley Park, 5031 W 46 Ave (Directions: I-70 to Sheridan Blvd, south to first stop light at 46th St [in front of Entrance to Lake Side Park] & turn left (east). Go a little more than a block. Scheitler Center in on left - with parking lot in front. Enter at 2nd entrance to parking lot. Inside the Center, turn right to the East Wing, follow the corridor to the Ball Room. 2^nd Saturdays, 7 – 10 p.m. No lesson—beyond the basics, quick walk-throughs and little caller leading. $12/$10 members.
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Zesty Contras are for dancers with enough experience to successfully do contra corners, hey-for-four, half-figure-eight above, California twirl, and similar moves without an explanation from the caller. Zesty contras are danced with little caller instruction and minimal walk-throughs. We do high energy contra dances. Emphasis is on good timing, good manners, and smooth moves. Dancers help each other so we can all have a great time. If you have been dancing for a while, check out the Zesty Contras—you will be in for the time of your life—fun, engaging, and definitely aerobic!

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Other Colorado Dance Series

Buena Vista Community Dance: Traditional circle, square, longways, contra, and couple dances — fun for all!

2^nd Fridays, September – May at Buena Vista High School Cafeteria, intersection of Railroad and Marquette, Buena Vista. (Head East from the stop light in town. Take your first right after the railroad tracks. Go about two blocks. The high school will be on your left. The high school is on the right of the middle school which is attached to it. 7 – 9 p.m. $3

Live music — traditional Irish and old-time tunes played by local musicians. Band often includes hammered dulcimer, guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. Light refreshments included, beginners welcome, casual dress. Dances are taught and called throughout the evening by local callers, Randy Barnes and Eleanor Fahrney. Generally we change partners after each dance (not required) so that you need not come with a partner. Call Randy or Carole Barnes at 719 395-6704.