Contra Dance and Waltz in Fort Collins
Contra Dances run most 1st and 3rd Saturdays. See schedule below.
next contra dance: Feb 18 - live music; Royston Hunget & Teri Rasmusson, w/?
Dances run 7–10 p.m.
Beginner’s Workshop at 6:15 p.m. (or thereabouts)
$10–15 sliding scale, $5 less for students
Public welcome. No tickets needed, just pay at door
We dance at the fabulous Masonic Ballroom, with its gorgeous sprung wood dance floor.
225 W. Oak St., Fort Collins: Directions (google maps)
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Proof of COVID Vaccination Required! Please see FoTD COVID guidelines.
If you think you’ve been exposed, you are strongly encouraged to take a rapid test at home before arriving at the Masonic. Stay home if you have ANY symptoms of ANY illness. Attendees PLEASE inform the event organizer if you have COVID symptoms or test positive for COVID within 2 weeks of attendance.
To expedite entry, please download and bring a Signed Waiver and email a copy of your Vaccination Record to president@fotd.org.
Schedule of Bands and Callers:
Check the CFOOTMAD.org calendar for upcoming dances throughout the Denver area.
- December 3rd - Avourneen with Tina Fields calling: Denver-based trio that specializes in Irish folk, doesn’t have direct geographic ties to Ireland. The band is composed of guitarist/vocalist Adam Goldstein, a Denver native, violinist CL Morden, an import from California, and Alice on bass. Check out their website.
- December 17th - Julia Hays & Ben Cohen with Sam Smith
- December 25th - Christmas Day, 6-9pm, Adam Goldstein, Andy Reiner, Alice on bass with Helle Hill
- January 7 - Royston (fiddle), Ed (clarinet), Teri (keyboard) with Sam Smith
- January 21 - Rodney & the Coffee People with Viki Lawrence
- February 4 - Prairie Dog Picnic with Pat Danscen
- February 11 - Waltz Night in City Park (1599 City Park Dr), Live Music - 7:30-10pm, free lesson at 6:30.
- February 18 - Royston Hunget (fiddle),Teri Rasmusson (keyboard) with ?
Callers and bands: E-mail FoTD@FoTD.org or call the FoTD hotline at 970-829-8689 with booking inquiries.
Balls and special events: temporarily on hiatus. Let us know if you're interested in helping organize!
What is Contra Dancing?
Contra dancing is a form of American folk dancing, usually danced to live music of Celtic origin. Although it has been done since the eighteenth century, contra dancing is a living tradition. Thousands of people contra dance every week all over the country, and new contra dances are being written all the time. Contra dancers form an informal community locally, regionally, and nationally.
Check out this NPR story on Contra Dancing!
Here's what Contra dancing looks like:
Contra dancing is a very easy form of dance to learn, but the music is lively and the dancing is vigorous and aerobic. Each dance is taught by the caller, who cues the dancers through the moves in the dance. Contra dance moves are similar to square dance moves, but sets of couples dance in facing lines. Each time through the dance, each couple dances with the couple next to them, and ends by trading places with that couple. In the course of a dance, each couple dances with every other couple in the set. Contra dancing combines the pleasure of dancing with your partner with the pleasure of dancing with everybody in the room.
Contra dances are community events. At almost any contra dance you will find people of all ages and all dance skill levels, from young to old, beginner to expert. Contra dancers form a very open and welcoming group of people. And you don't have to come with a partner. At a contra dance, it is customary to dance with a variety of partners. It is perfectly acceptable for either a man or a woman to ask someone they haven't met before to dance. You will find contra dancing a great way to make new friends.
You may also want to check out some attempts by Gary D. Shapiro to answer the question, "What Is Contra Dance?"
COVID Policy
The FoTD board has determined criteria under which we will dance based on what we believe is prudent and reasonable, given the current conditions:
- Initial course of vaccinations required, booster not required.
- Masks optional.
- No dance when CDC level is “high.”
We understand that many in our community cannot or choose not to vaccinate, and we will miss you on the dance floor. Please understand these decisions have been made for the health of all of us — dancers as well as our larger community of family and friends.
Additional resources:
CONTACT
Let us know if you have questions! We are thrilled to have beginners at all our Fort Collins dances.
email: board@fotd.org
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