Friday Night Contra Dances
All are welcome to come and dance and you don’t need to come with a partner. Contra dancing is easy to learn. If you’re new or want a refresher, we have beginner lessons at the start of each event.
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 can find lively dance communities all over the United States, across the world, and right here in Nashville, TN.
FIRST AND THIRD FRIDAY CONTRA DANCE TO LIVE MUSIC. FIFTH FRIDAY WILD CARD DANCE (EITHER OPEN BAND, DJ CONTRA OR REGULAR CONTRA!)
2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center, 3511 Belmont Blvd Nashville, TN 37215
7:30 PM - Beginner/Refresher lesson
8 - 10:30 PM - Dance
Pay at the door: Sliding-scale admission: pay whatever you can afford, $7 to $25 per person. We take cash, checks, and Venmo.
(This money pays the band, caller, sound technician and hall rental. Any extra goes towards NCD’s on-going expenses.)
FREE! SECOND FRIDAY CALLERS WORKSHOP DANCE with Cathy Hollister and Crystal Melton.
St John’s Lutheran Church 3259 McGavock Pike, Nashville 37214.
Try calling, or brush up your calling! Get helpful feedback! Or just come to dance and support your callers. Recorded music. For more information, email ncdwebteam@gmail.com.
FREE!
Doors open 6: 45 PM
Beginner lesson (for new dancers or those wanting a refresher) 7 PM
Dancing 7:30 - 9:30 PM
SCHEDULE WINTER/SPRING 2025/6
April 3: Anna Claire Camp calling with The East Nashville Serenaders; 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center. Please note, there will be a Good Friday service going on in the church, so we need to be very quiet between 7 and 8 p.m. The beginner lesson will start at 7.45. The dance will start at 8.15, and end 10.45-11pm.
April 10: FREE: 7.30-9.30pm - Callers’ Workshop Dance with Cathy Hollister and Crystal Melton. St John’s Lutheran Church.
April 17: Crystal Melton calling with John Fabke & Friends; 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
May 1: Emma Rushton calling with Rafe Stefanini & Friends; 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
May 8th: FREE: 7.30-9.30pm - Callers’ Workshop Dance with Cathy Hollister and Crystal Melton. St John’s Lutheran Church.
May 15: FREE CONTRA DANCE! Greer Hannan (Louisville KY) calling with Alex Wilder and Friends; 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
May 29: Anna Claire Camp calling with OPEN BAND. Musicians are welcome to join us for all or part of the evening! Click here to learn more.
June 5: Elijah Jaime (Chattanooga) calling with Southwind; 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
June 12: No caller workshop this month.
June 19: Ed Wilkinson calling with The Four O’Clocks (Atlanta, GA); 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
July 3: Wendy Graham (Brasstown, NC) calling with Thistlebird (Boston and Maine); 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
July 10: FREE: 7.30-9.30pm - Callers’ Workshop Dance with Cathy Hollister and Crystal Melton. St John’s Lutheran Church.
July 17: Cathy Hollister calling with John Fabke & Friends; 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
July 31: Darlene Underwood (Cincinnati, OH) calling with Hot Coffee Breakdown (Louisville, KY); 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
August 7: Susan Kevra calling with Tyler Andal & Friends; 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.
August 14th: FREE: 7.30-9.30pm - Callers’ Workshop Dance with Cathy Hollister and Crystal Melton. St John’s Lutheran Church.
August 21: Crystal Melton calling with The East Nashville Serenaders; 2nd Presbyterian Church Activity Center.