Friday Night Contra Dance

All are welcome to come and dance! You don’t need to bring a partner. Contra dancing is easy to learn. We have beginners lessons for anyone who hasn’t done it before, or wants a reminder.

2nd Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 3511 Belmont Blvd Nashville, TN 37215

7.30pm Beginner/Refresher lesson

8 - 10.30pm Dance

Pay at the door: Sliding-scale admission: pay whatever you can afford, $5 to $25 per person. We take cash, checks, Paypal and Venmo.

(This money pays the band, caller, sound technician and hall rental ($200). Any extra goes towards NCD’s on-going expenses.)

Vaccines and masks are encouraged, but not required.


Contra dance is a social dance – You’ll see a lot of faces, smile a ton, and dance up and down the lines with multiple dance “partners,” “neighbors,” and maybe even “shadows.”

Onstage with the musicians  is a dance caller who teaches and walks you through each dance before the music begins. He or she also calls the dance figures during the music to keep you on top of things.

What kind of music can you expect? Most bands have a fiddle, guitar or piano. Bass, mandolin, sometimes winds, even percussion.

Contra dance originated in New England, with roots in French, Scottish, and English traditional dances. You will now find lively dance communities all over the United States, across the world, and right here in Nashville, TN.

The BEST way to learn about contra dance is to jump in and go to one.

Schedule 2024 

March 29 DJ Contra with Rachel Bergin!            

April 5 Susan Kevra calling with Tyler Andal and Friends - Tyler Andal on guitar, Rafe Stafanini and Brittany Haas on fiddles, Alan O'Bryant on banjo, Reed Stutz on mandolin and John Fabke on bass.  

April 19 Emily Andrews calling with the East Nashville Serenaders

May 3 Anna Claire Camp calling with Clelia Stefanini and Friends                                                       

May 17 Susan Kevra calling with James Bryan, Matt Combs and Family                                           

June 7 Kendal Broadie calling with Serendipitous Combustion (Emma Rushton, Daniel Charlton and Alex Wilder)                                                      

June 21 Emma Rushton calling with Emerald Rae and Friend                                                               

July 5 Wendy Graham (Durango, Colorado) calling with Hot Coffee Breakdown (Louisville, KY)

July 19 Charlie Chessman calling with John Fabke and Friends                                                           

Aug 2 Susan Kevra calling with The East Nashville Serenaders                                                       

Aug 16 Emily Davis calling with Southwind (Emma Rushton, Karl Kersey, Jeff Rohrbough and Anne Hoos)        

We no longer require pre-registration for Friday Night Contra

Sign up here to get on our mailing list.