Rochester Contra & English Dancing

Rochester Contra & English Dancing We were formed on June 23, 1976. Country Dancers of Rochester, Inc. CDR currently holds two weekly dances, Contra and English Country.

As a dance community, we are dedicated to the preservation, study, teaching, enjoyment and continuing evolution of English and American traditional and historical dance and music. is a non-profit educational organization which is dedicated to the preservation, study, teaching, enjoyment and continuing evolution of English and American traditional and historical dance and dance music.

This Thursday - lights, camera, contra! Come fill the Rose Room on Thursday with Ostara bringing the tunes and Margaret ...
08/24/2026

This Thursday - lights, camera, contra!

Come fill the Rose Room on Thursday with Ostara bringing the tunes and Margaret Mathews calling!

Clara will also be filming for the CDR Documentary, so come dance, have fun, and look your Contra best for the camera!

See you at 7PM on 8/27!

We’re making a movie, and we need you on the dance floor!There are just two more opportunities this month to be part of ...
08/20/2026

We’re making a movie, and we need you on the dance floor!

There are just two more opportunities this month to be part of the filming for CDR’s 50th Anniversary documentary.

Contra filming: Thursday, August 27
English filming: Sunday, August 30

Come dance, bring your energy, and help us fill the halls! This film is all about the people, music, memories, and community that have kept CDR dancing for 50 years, and we’d love to see a wonderfully full dance floor for these final filming days.

Have a CDR story or memory you’d like to share? Clara is also still looking for people to interview. Details are in the graphic.

Come be part of CDR history!

Thursday night plans? Come dance with us!Evan De Smitt is calling this week with awesome live music from Spindrift (Chuc...
08/19/2026

Thursday night plans? Come dance with us!

Evan De Smitt is calling this week with awesome live music from Spindrift (Chuck Abell on guitar and Eileen Kalfass on fiddle). Whether you’re brand new to contra or already know your way around a hey, there’s a place for you on the dance floor.

No partner or experience needed. Come as you are, bring a friend, and spend your Thursday night dancing with us.

Thursday, August 20th at 7 PM
The Rose Room, 295 Gregory Street
$12 suggested

08/18/2026

A little dancing across traditions at the Fiddle & Folk Festival! 🎻

We had such a fun time dancing alongside the Flint Hill Dance Troupe at the Genesee Country Village & Museum this past weekend!

A big thank you to the Fiddle & Folk Festival for inviting CDR back to be part of the day, to the Flint Hill Troupe dancers and musicians for collaborating and sharing the dance floor with us, and to all of our dancers who came out to dance, demonstrate, and represent our community. A big thank you to Margaret Mathews for calling the dances and for this lovely video!

We loved getting to share a little contra dancing and make some new dancing friends along the way. Thanks for having us!

ONE MONTH TO GO! 🎉Contra is headed back to the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival, and this one is going to be FUN.We’ve got ...
08/17/2026

ONE MONTH TO GO! 🎉

Contra is headed back to the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival, and this one is going to be FUN.

We’ve got an absolutely fantastic lineup with Qwill Duvall calling and Raven & Goose bringing the tunes!

✨ Thursday, September 17th at 7 PM
✨ The Rose Room, 295 Gregory Street
✨ FREE!
✨ No experience necessary!

Come dance, bring your friends, try something new, and help us fill the Rose Room for Fringe. This is going to be one for the books!

Mark your calendars and we’ll see you on the dance floor!

Our dancers really know how to top off an outfit.
08/15/2026

Our dancers really know how to top off an outfit.

08/14/2026

What a joyful night of music and dancing!

Thank you to Bob Nicholson for calling and to the Kanack School of Musical Artistry instructors Daphne Pickens, Clare Fraser, Simon Lace, and Tim Ball for filling the hall with such wonderful tunes.

We were also treated to something extra special when students from the Kanack School Fiddle Camp joined the band for a dance. Seeing the next generation of traditional musicians sharing their music with our community was a genuine delight. We loved playing and dancing with you, and hope this is only the beginning of many more tunes together! 🎻

Bring your dancing shoes to the village this weekend! 🎻CDR will be at the Genesee Country Village & Museum Fiddle & Folk...
08/13/2026

Bring your dancing shoes to the village this weekend! 🎻

CDR will be at the Genesee Country Village & Museum Fiddle & Folk Festival on both Saturday and Sunday, and we’d love to see our community there!

Saturday, August 15, Village Green:

• 11:15 AM–12 PM: Contra dancing with Margaret Mathews, including participatory dances open to everyone
• 2:30–3:15 PM: CDR and the Flint Hill Dance Troupe join forces for more dancing, with everyone invited to take part

CDR dancers who would like to help demonstrate contra and welcome newcomers on Saturday can check in beginning at 10 AM. Tell the entrance staff you’re with Country Dancers of Rochester to receive your tag and free festival admission.

Sunday, August 16, Village Green:

• 10:15–11 AM: The Meryton Assembly Dancers will share two English country dance performances, then invite the audience to join the assembly!

Come support your fellow dancers, share the joy of English and American traditional dance, and enjoy a full weekend of live music, dancing, and traditional arts. No partner or experience is needed to join the fun!

Questions? Email [email protected]

Address

Rochester, NY
14620

Opening Hours

Thursday 7pm - 10:30pm
Sunday 6:30pm - 9:30pm

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