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! 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 2009-2010
| Date | Caller | Musicians | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 11 | Leslie Lassetter | Ron Dann (clarinet), Bruce Randall (winds), Victor Troll (piano) | ||
| September 25 | Barbara Finney | Barbara Pixton (piano, accordion), Ishmael Stefanov-Wagner (fiddle), Elaine Winic (flute) | ||
| October 9 | Victor Skowronski | Jonathan Gilbert (fiddle, guitar), Andrea Larson (fiddle), Jean Monroe (piano) | ||
| October 23 | Christine Robb | Open Band with Jim Ialeggio from the Free Range English Country Dance Boogie Band. Band rehearsal/workshop at 6:15pm | ||
| November 13 | George Fogg | Shandy Hall String Quartet: Ken Allen (viola), Johanna Bobrow (violin), Vince O'Donnell (violin), Robert Penny (cello) | ||
| November 27 | Thanksgiving - no dance | |||
| December 11 | Leslie Lassetter | Ken Allen (piano) | ||
| December 25 | Christmas holiday - no dance | |||
| January 8 | Michael Cicone | Seven Times Salt (Karen Burciaga, Daniel Meyers, Joshua Schreiber, Matthew Wright) | ||
| January 22 | Barbara Finney | Jacqueline Schwab | ||
| February 12 | Rich Jackson | Ken Allen, Robert Penny, Bruce Randall | ||
| February 26 | Michael Cicone | Johanna Bobrow, Donna Slonim, Julie Vallimont | ||
| March 12 | Christine Robb | Robert Penny, Barbara Pixton - It's Jane Austen night! | ||
| March 26 | George Fogg | Johnana Bobrow, Vince O'Donnell, Victor Troll | ||
| April 9 | Barbara Finney | Open Band led by Mary Lea with rehearsal beginning at 6:15pm | April 30 (fifth Friday!) |
Leslie Lassetter | Ron Dann, Jean Monroe, Marc Vilain | May 1 | May Day Benefit Dance for Harvard-Epworth Church: A special benefit dance for the church hall. Calling by Leslie Lassetter, music by Jean Monroe and friends. Admission $8. 7-10pm. |
| May 14 | Barbara Finney | Barbara Pixton, Ishmael Stefanov, Elaine Winic |
||
| May 28 | Michael Cicone | Jerome Fung, Jonathan Gilbert, Bruce Randall | ||
| June 11 | Michael Cicone | Open Band led by Karen Axelrod with rehearsal beginning at 6:15pm |
| Open Band nights: Band rehearsal starts at 6:15 pm. Call or email for tune list. Donation by musicians appreciated to cover cost of band leader and church hall. Tune list for June 11 dance: Take a Dance, Mistwold, Parson's Farewell (for Oxford Circus), Rafe's Waltz, Fenterlarick, Knives and Forks, True Kit, Rufty Tufty, Sun Assembly, Queen's Jig |
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 >
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Dances done in 2009-10 Dances done previous years CDS Boston Centre home page |
Last updated: June 8 2010 |