Bellingham Country Dance Society

08/05/2026

Link to Nellie's celebration of life concert yesterday that she was able to watch from hospice:

https://www.youtube.com/live/-1p4gYwsigY

08/05/2026

BCDS dances don't resume till September so nothing stopping you from going to the Jamboree this weekend!

Home page of The Subdued Stringband Jamboree, an event from Bellingham, WA

08/04/2026

Bellingham's own Amy!

This episode features pianist and accordionist Amy Englesberg and fiddler Cedar Stanistreet. You’ll hear about their early influences, how Cedar and Amy each became a dance musician, kind of the path they traveled, when they started playing together as a band, and also their thoughts on the tunes ...

08/03/2026

Please help support Nellie and her mom Meryle by joining their Caring Bridge group. You need to have an account but you can set one up for free.

Nellie has been our sound engineer for many years and has taken such good care of us. Now that she is in hospice due to ovarian cancer it is our privilege to take gentle care of her and her mom.

We are using CaringBridge to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and…

06/10/2026

Hello Dear Dancers!

Join us on Saturday evening by breaking bread in community at a potluck supper, and then dancing to lively music in a historic venue in a lovely setting. (The Glen Echo Community Club building was originally a school house, built circa 1906.)

Music: The Open Band Orchestra, aka OBO, became such a big band that we added "Orchestra" to our name. While some of us are not pros (it's an open band, after all) we can say that we are musicians that promise a variety of instruments will be played with exuberance and at dance speed! For more information about the OBO: https://bellinghamcountrydance.org/open-band-orchestra/

Calling: This dance is an opportunity for new callers to call a dance with the guidance of an experienced caller. The lead caller for this evening is John Hatten.

The BCDS board voted recently to be consistent in how dances are called and we will be using the calling terms Robins and Larks at all our dances.

Supper: Eating commences at 5:30 pm

(Dance instruction 7:00 pm, dancing until 10:00 pm)

Spread the word, no partner necessary, and bring your friends!

Dance Details
Location: Glen Echo Community Center. 7694 Goodwin Rd, Everson, WA

Day: Saturday, June 13th, 2026

Time: 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Beginner Lesson: 7:00 - 7:30pm

Entry: $12-$15; $8 students (by donation)

Future Dances (typically 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays):

We don't yet have our fall schedule finalized.

Volunteer?
Join the team that makes it happen! Help set up by coming a bit early and/or stay a bit later for tear down. We also need help with flyers, social media, administrative tasks, and more! If interested, please email: [email protected]

Note: In addition to having fun...
• Please bring your own water bottle and name tag
• Please avoid wearing fragrances
• Please bring clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floor

More info: At some point, we'll have the Fall 2027 dance line up to share. Additional information on the BCDS website at:
https://bellinghamcountrydance.org

05/27/2026

Hello Dear Dancers!

This Saturday will be a dance night with a special focus on Waltzes, as well as some complicated Contras!

For something completely different, this will be an “inside out” contra evening with contras at the end of the first half and at the end of the night, with waltzes for rest of the time!

There will be an Intro to Waltz session (1-2-3, 4-5-6 / leading and following) and then at 7:30, we will start with a basic circle waltz mixer followed by a couples waltz. After that, we will “walk through” a few more waltz moves and have 2 or 3 waltzes to practice. At the midpoint of the evening we will do an “intermediate-advanced contra” followed by a short break. The second half of the evening will bring more waltz moves, including the rotating waltz steps, and end with another intermediate-advanced contra.

The music for the night will be provided by Raven & Goose. Raven & Goose are Corwin Zekley and Grace Fellow, who both have broad musical training and lots of experience. They can play a range of music on the fiddle and piano, but especially lively traditional tunes made to get you dancing. You can find out more about this nationally touring duo here: https://www.corwin.us/ravenandgoose

Spread the word, and bring your friends!

Fairhaven Library Auditorium (enter through side door).
1117 12th St., Fairhaven
Saturday, May 30th, 2026
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Intro to Waltz: 7:00 - 7:30pm
Entry: $12-$15; $8 students (by donation)
Calling: Robins and Larks / Leads and Follows

Future Dances (typically 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays September-June):

• June 13 - Glen Echo in Everson: Open Band Orchestra + Open Calling [Robins/Larks]

Volunteer?
Join the team that makes it happen! Help set up by coming a bit early and/or stay a bit later for tear down. We also need help with flyers, social media, administrative tasks, and more! If interested, please email: [email protected]

Note: In addition to having fun...
• Please bring your own water bottle and name tag
• Please avoid wearing fragrances
• Please bring clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floor

More info: At some point, we'll have the Fall 2027 dance line up to share.

Additional information on the BCDS website at:
https://bellinghamcountrydance.org

05/18/2026

Folklife!!! Fisher Pavilion/Warren's Roadhouse starting Friday.

05/06/2026

Blueberry Jam, with Sky Leuba on piano, Liam Weydert playing guitar, and Todd Citron playing whistle, flute, and bodhrán. As well, the incomparable Laure Mé Smith will be collaborating with the band to bring you a lovely evening of dancing.

Calling terms will be ladies and gents.

Dance Details
Location: Fairhaven Library Auditorium (enter through side door). 1117 12th St., Fairhaven

Day: Saturday, May 9th, 2026
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Beginner Lesson: 7:00 - 7:30pm
Entry: $12-$15; $8 students (by donation)

Future Dances (typically 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays):

• May 30 - Raven & Goose + Judy Zeidel (caller and waltz teacher) [Robins/Larks]
• June 13 - Glen Echo in Everson: Open Band Orchestra + Open Calling [Robins/Larks]

Welcome! The Bellingham Country Dance Society presents an ongoing series of participatory old-time country dances, mostly New England contra dance with some square and circle dancing thrown in. See the dance schedule here. The upcoming dances for the near future will use the calling terms decided by...