Halifax Contra Dances

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Halifax Contra Dances

Halifax Contra Dances is a volunteer organization that runs monthly community dances in Halifax What are Halifax Contra Dances all about?

Contra is a folk dance style from New England, in which couples dance facing each other in parallel lines. Contra dancing has a special community feel because you interact with everyone in your line. By the end of the evening, you’ll have smiled at or danced with everyone else in the hall. Our dance events are beginner-friendly, all-ages, spirited evenings that last about 4 hours. Foot-stomping Ce

ltic, East Coast, and bluegrass-inspired jigs and reels by local bands will keep you hooting and hollering all night long! In our community, you don’t have to attend the dance with a partner, and nobody is shy to ask a stranger to dance. Our dances follow the "bird rule", with one partner being the Lark, and the other the Raven. No prior knowledge of contra dancing is required because the caller teaches each dance before it begins. Most figures in the dance are simple and are usually done with a walking step, although skipping may be used if you feel energetic! You may be familiar with some figures’ names: do-si-do, star right & left, allemande, sashay, promenade, turn your partner, swing your partner. Knowing where to go can be disorienting at first, but the caller and the experienced dancers will help guide you. Besides, making a mistake is a good opportunity to enjoy a giggle: Halifax Contra Dances promotes a light-hearted and accepting environment where all levels of dancers are celebrated! We strongly recommend beginners arrive at 7:15 p.m. for a quick beginner’s lesson. The dancing will start at 7:30 p.m. If you can’t afford to pay for admission, we offer several ways to get in for free, including volunteering at the dance or bringing some baked goods. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information.

06/08/2026

Join us next Sunday, June 14 for an afternoon of FREE contra dancing on the Halifax Waterfront from 2 to 4:30 pm

Location:
Tall Ships Quay on the Halifax Waterfront (near the Discovery Centre, at the end of Morris St-- look for the trellises on the boardwalk)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RyGL1uogp9PDKkZDA

Cost:
This event is brought to you at no charge by the enthusiastic volunteers at Halifax Contra Dances community group! We do appreciate donations, big or small, for our wonderful live musicians. Bring a little cash if you can.

Weather:
Event is fair-weather only - please check our website (halifaxcontra.ca) or facebook (Halifax Contra Dances) for updates if the weather looks iffy. We will make the final call on Saturday evening.

Check out our event here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Crw2bG4iA/

Voir moins

If you left this bottle and the dance last night and you'd like to have it back, please write to info@halifaxcontra.ca.W...

05/31/2026

If you left this bottle and the dance last night and you'd like to have it back, please write to [email protected].
We will make arrangements to return it to you.

05/29/2026

The May 30th dance is happening tomorrow Saturday at 7PM!

Toronto-based caller, Drew Delaware, is in Halifax and will be hosting most of it. HCD's caller, Kat, will enjoy the dances amongst us 😊.

Our dances happen at All Nations Church Hall, located at 2535 Robie St at Charles. The entrance is up the wooden ramp on Robie. Cash admission is $15 or pay what you can - you won't be turned away!

You should:
- wear low-heel, smooth-soled shoes/shoes to change into if dirty
- wear comfortable clothing and layers… you will get hot!
- bring a water bottle for when you get thirsty
- cash for admission
For all the information, check out our event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DrGYzXJwi/

See you soon!

05/27/2026

Join us Sunday, June 14 for an afternoon of FREE contra dancing on the Halifax Waterfront from 2 to 4:30 pm

Location:
Tall Ships Quay on the Halifax Waterfront (near the Discovery Centre, at the end of Morris St-- look for the trellises on the boardwalk)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RyGL1uogp9PDKkZDA

Cost:
This event is brought to you at no charge by the enthusiastic volunteers at Halifax Contra Dances community group! We do appreciate donations, big or small, for our wonderful live musicians. Bring a little cash if you can.

Weather:
Event is fair-weather only - please check our website (halifaxcontra.ca) or facebook (Halifax Contra Dances) for updates if the weather looks iffy. We will make the final call on Saturday evening.

05/22/2026

We hope you'll join us next Saturday for our May 30th contra dance!

Doors open at 7PM, beginner orientation starts at 7:15, and then dance sequences start at 7:30!

Drew Delaware, Toronto-based contra dance instructor, teacher, and choreographer is on tour and will be calling the evening!
Check him out here: https://drewdelaware.com/

Jeremy Finney and Décota McNamara will be playing great tunes all night. Check them out here: https://jeremyfinneymusic.com/ and https://soundcloud.com/decotamc/.

Check out our event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/186uM11W3R/

05/18/2026

Our next dance is happening on Saturday, May 30th!

Jeremy Finney and Décota McNamara will be back to play great tunes all night. Check them out here: https://jeremyfinneymusic.com/ and https://soundcloud.com/decotamc.

We warmly welcome the Toronto-based contra dance instructor, teacher, and choreographer Drew Delaware who will be hosting the evening!
Check him out here: https://drewdelaware.com/

The FB event page is live here: https://www.facebook.com/share/19Na1xn75u/

Watch your email or social media for more information soon — or visit halifaxcontra.ca for all the details! Please share widely!

05/01/2026

The May 2nd dance is happening tomorrow Saturday at 7PM!

Our dances happen at All Nations Church Hall, located at 2535 Robie St at Charles. The entrance is up the wooden ramp on Robie. Cash admission is $15 or pay what you can - you won't be turned away!

You should:
- wear low-heel, smooth-soled shoes/shoes to change into if dirty
- wear comfortable clothing and layers… you will get hot!
- bring a water bottle for when you get thirsty
- cash for admission
For all the information, check out our event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/17Sr4rF3oa/

See you soon!

04/25/2026

We hope you'll join us next Saturday for our May 2nd contra dance!

Doors open at 7PM, beginner orientation starts at 7:15, and then dance sequences start at 7:30!

Papilio will be playing great tunes all night. Check them out here: www.papiliomusic.ca/.

Our house caller Kat will be calling!

Check out our event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ETFvHBcFi/

04/24/2026

Valley Dance Cancelled - Hi all - we are sad to say that the Valley Square Dance we helped promote for tonight (Friday April 24) has been cancelled by the organizers. If you know anyone who was thinking of going, please help spread the word!

04/18/2026

Our next dance is happening on Saturday, May 2nd!

🦋 PAPILIO 🦋, our house band will be back to play great tunes all night. Check them out here: www.papiliomusic.ca/.

Our house caller Kat will be calling too!

The FB event page is live here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GrX4sAw1h/

Watch your email or social media for more information soon — or visit halifaxcontra.ca for all the details! Please share widely!

Address

All Nations Church, 2535 Robie Street
Halifax, NS

Website

http://www.halifaxcontra.ca/

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