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
Download the Fall 2008 flyer
Download the Spring 2009 flyer
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! And then stay afterwards for the often scheduled trip to Herrell's Ice Cream for yet another social opportunity!
Would you like to see some pictures of our dance series?
Schedule 2008-2009
| Date | Caller | Musicians | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 12 | Leslie Lassetter | Johanna Bobrow (fiddle), Jonathan Gilbert (guitar), Marc Vilain (recorders) | ||
| September 26 | Barbara Finney | Ken Allen (piano), Bruce Randall (winds) | ||
| October 10 | Linda Leslie | Open Band led by Peter Barnes. Band rehearsal/workshop at 6:15pm | ||
| October 24 | Leslie Lassetter | Andrea Larson (fiddle), Jean Monroe (piano) | ||
| November 14 | Barbara Finney | Ron Dann (clarinet), Vince O'Donnell (fiddle), Victor Troll (piano) | ||
| November 28 | Thanksgiving - no dance | |||
| December 12 | Michael Cicone | Robert Penny (cello), Barbara Pixton (piano, accordion), Donna Slonim (fiddle) | ||
| December 26 | Christmas holiday - no dance | |||
| January 9 | Michael Cicone | Seven Times Salt (Karen Burciaga, Daniel Meyers, Joshua Schreiber, Matthew Wright) | ||
| January 23 | Barbara Finney | Open Band led by Jacqueline Schwab with rehearsal beginning at 6:15pm | ||
| February 13 | Graham Christian | Barbara Pixton, Bruce Randall, Donna Slonim | ||
| February 27 | Michael Cicone | Shandy Hall String Quartet: Ken Allen (viola), Johanna Bobrow (violin), Anne Hooper (violin), Robert Penny (cello) | ||
| March 13 | Christine Robb | Amy Cann, Carol Compton | ||
| March 27 | Barbara Finney | Ken Allen, Vince O'Donnell, Robert Penny | ||
| April 17 (a third Friday!) |
Victor Skowronski | New-Rigged Ship (Jacqueline Schwab, Reinmar Seidler) | ||
| May 8 | Michael Cicone | Johanna Bobrow, Jonathan Gilbert, Victor Troll It's Request night/Spiffy Dress night! |
||
| May 22 | Christine Robb | Ron Dann, Jean Monroe, Marc Vilain | ||
| June 12 | Leslie Lassetter | Open Band led by Dave Langford with rehearsal beginning at 6:15pm |
| Open Band nights: Band rehearsal starts at 6. Call or email for tune list. Donation by musicians appreciated to cover cost of band leader and church hall. |
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.
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 in 2004-05 Dances done in 2005-06 Dances done in 2006-07 Dances done in 2007-08 dances done in 2008-09 |
Last updated: April 21 2009 |