CDS Boston Centre
Harvard Sq. English Dance

2nd and 4th Fridays, 7:30 - 9:30pm (see schedule below)
Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church
1555 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
(map, parking suggestions)
September through June
$7 general, $6 members, $4 students
Harvard Square publicity flyer


What is English Country Dancing?

English Country Dance is social, community dancing. Dancers take a different partner for each dance of the evening, and join a "set" of couples. Each couple dances a series of figures with another couple, then repeats the same figures with each couple in the set. There's minimal footwork: If you can walk you can dance! One of the pleasures of this kind of dancing is that you interact with everyone in the room. Dancers are encouraged to be attentive to each other as well as to the dance patterns.

The repertoire includes dances popular in 1650 all the way up to dances written (last year). Some are elegant, some rowdy, some romantic, some playful. Each dance has its own tune. Often the first thing that attracts people to English Country Dance is the splendid live music.

New people are welcome any time... You don't need to bring a partner. Wear loose, comfortable clothes, and sturdy, flat shoes that won't skid or stick on a wood floor.

-- by Jenny Beer, Germantown Country Dancers

All dances at this series will be taught by a caller and accompanied by live music ranging from works by Purcell and Susato to traditional waltzes, jigs, and reels. Come join us!

Would you like to see some pictures of our dance series?


Schedule 2012-2013

Date Caller   Musicians
September 14   Leslie Lassetter   Barbara Pixton (piano & accordion), Donna Slonim (fiddle), Elaine Winic (flute)
September 28   Christine Robb   Ken Allen (piano), Robert Penny (cello), Brian Wilson (fiddle & clarinet)
October 12   Miriam Newman   Becca Bosworth-Clemens (clarinet), Nora Smith (fiddle), Julie Vallimont (piano)
October 26   Sue Rosen   Ron Dann (clarinet), Catherine Miller (fiddle), Bruce Rosen (piano)
November 9   George Fogg   Open Band led by Bruce Randall (recorders, sackbut). Band rehearsal/workshop starts at 6:15 pm.
November 23   Leslie Lassetter   Paradise Bird: Jonathan Gilbert (strings & winds), Jean Monroe (piano & percussion), Marc Vilain (recorders, percussion)
December 14   Barbara Finney   Jerome Fung (piano), Nora Smith (fiddle)
December 28   Leslie Lassetter   Barbara Pixton (piano & accordion), Bruce Randall (winds), Ishmael Stefanov (fiddle & winds)
   
   
January 11   Barbara Finney   Robert Penny (cello), Barbara Pixton (piano), Elaine Winic (flute)
January 25   Christine Robb   Ken Allen (piano), Bruce Randall (winds), Nora Smith (fiddle) - cancelled: chilled out!
February 8   George Fogg   Seven Times Salt (Karen Burciaga (fiddle), Daniel Meyers (winds), Joshua Schreiber (viola da gamba), Matthew Wright (lute, cittern))
February 8 dance cancelled - snow storm
February 22   Tom Roby   Jerome Fung (piano), Jonathan Gilbert (strings & winds), Ishmael Stefanov (fiddle & winds)
March 8   Miriam Newman   Becca Bosworth-Clemens (clarinet), Clara Stefanov-Wagner (fiddle), Victor Troll (piano)
March 22   Tom Roby   Open Band led by Jacqueline Schwab with rehearsal beginning at 6:15pm
April 12   Linda Leslie   rescheduled Seven Times Salt: Daniel Myers (winds), Josh Schreiber (viola da gamba), Matthew Wright (lute), and guest Ishmael Stefanov (fiddle)
April 26   Christine Robb   Paradise Bird: Jonathan Gilbert (strings & winds), Jean Monroe (piano), Marc Vilain (recorders & percussion)
May 10   George Fogg   rescheduled Ken Allen (piano), Bruce Randall (winds), Nora Smith (fiddle)
May 24   Leslie Lassetter   Sally Kolodkin (fiddle), Barbara Pixton (piano, accordion), Brian Warnock (recorders)
June 14   Barbara Finney   Open Band

Open Band nights: Band rehearsal starts at 6:15 pm. Donation by musicians appreciated to cover cost of band leader and church hall.

March 22 tune list: Easter Morn, Elizabeth, Hole in the Wall, Midnight Ramble, Mulberry Garden, News from Tripoly, Peace be With You, *Saint Albans, *Widows Shall All Have Husbands, Wood Duck, Well Done Jack
*The only tunes which are not in the Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes, vols. 1 & 2 are marked with an asterisk, are downloadable here.

Send e-mail to < harvardecd at cds-boston dot org > to be added to the open band early notification list.


Membership Information

As you may (or may not) know, our dance series is sponsored by the Country Dance Society, Boston Centre. That means that we don't have to rely solely on charging admission to pay musicians, callers, or for the use of the hall. CDS Boston has been promoting traditional and contemporary dance and dance music since 1915. So, if you are not already a CDS member, now is the time to sign up (for as little as $10/yr!) and get the member discount every time you come dance with us!

To join CDS Boston, print out and mail the membership application, with payment enclosed, to the address indicated at the top of the form. At this time, CDSBC isn't set up for credit cards or web pay options.


Parking Suggestions

Parking in Harvard Square is extremely limited and difficult to find. Consider alternative means of transportation first.

We recommend that you take an MBTA bus or train to the Square, and then walk the rest of the way. From the Square just walk north on Mass Ave (Rt 2A), staying on the west side of the street until you reach the end of the Cambridge Common at the intersection with Waterhouse St. Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church should be directly across Mass Ave. By the way, if you are on Mass Ave. then you are moving north when Harvard Yard is off to your right.

(Mapquest map) (Google map)

If you are feeling lucky and are determined to drive then you certainly can try to look for parking on the street. At least you won't have to feed the parking meter after 6pm. Try looking on Kirkland and Oxford St near the Harvard Science Center, on Everett and Oxford St near the Harvard Natural History Museums, or on Mass Ave and Garden St next to the Cambridge Common. Although those are the closest parking spots to the church there are many other streets with non-permit parking available. However, it can take some time to find an open spot. Good luck! For the less patient, there are commercial parking lots on Church Street, at the corner of Eliot and JFK, and near the Charles Hotel.


Contact Information

For more information or parking, email < harvardecd at cds-boston dot org >


Dances done so far this year (2012/13)
Dances done previous years
CDS Boston Centre home page
Last updated: March 22 2013