Friday Night Dancers

Friday Night Dancers Friday Night Dancers is a contra dance in the Washington, DC area. All ages. All genders. All body types. No experience needed! Come alone or with friends!

We dance almost every Friday of the year in Glen Echo Park. Lesson at 7:30pm, Dance at 8:00pm Since 1974 we've been holding contra dances on Friday nights in DC. Since 1981 we've been at Glen Echo National Park in the Spanish Ballroom (and in the Bumper Car Pavillion). There's Wikipedia articles on contra dance, but it's a live traditional form that dates back to New England in the 1790s. Some tun

es we dance to date back to then, and rarely we dance some of the dances from the 1700s and 1800s. It's an evolving tradition, and many if not most of the dances we do have been written since 1960. But many of the tunes we dance to have been kicking around Ireland, Quebec, New England, and Appalachia for 100s of years. Throughout its 200+ year history, contra dancing has been an easy, simple, and fun dance. Try it some time!

The Friday Night Dancers announce the opening of their detox sauna. Sweat away those bad toxins and embrace the joy of d...
06/09/2026

The Friday Night Dancers announce the opening of their detox sauna. Sweat away those bad toxins and embrace the joy of dance!

06/08/2026

The dog star is risen and the summer heat has descended. Must we then abandon our vigorous pastime of social dance? Jane Austen counsels NO, and gives tips on how to remain graceful at a summer ball!

06/06/2026
06/06/2026

Glorious dance with the sweet compelling sounds of TOPSPIN and the awesome collection of versatile dances called by Luke Donforth!

06/03/2026

Contra is a fun and easy dance, and darn it, you need more dancing in your life!

No experience needed! Come alone or with friends! All ages. All genders. All body types.

Luke Donforth calls to the music of Topspin, which is Stefan Amidon (drums), Owen Morrison (guitar), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Emily Troll (fiddle, accordion).

The lesson is at 7:30 pm, the dancing starts at 8:00 pm and goes until 11:00 pm!

06/03/2026

Our scientists are always designing the optimal dances for your brain. This Friday caller Luke Donforth is crafting dances that build teamwork and fight a general sense of ennui. The musicians in Topspin,  Stefan Amidon (drums), Owen Morrison (guitar), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Emily Troll (fiddle, accordion), plan to concoct a vibe that will mellow your soul and nourish your spirit. Never miss your weekly dose, but especially not this week!! 👩‍⚕️🏥💊🧠

Address

7300 MacArthur Boulevard
Glen Echo, MD
20812

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