Today's Dances & Events
Round Top String Band
Robin Fischer
Friday, October 17, 2025:
SQUARE
at
Hillside Club in Berkeley.
Robin Fischer with Round Top String Band:
Nick Lofaro, Rowan McCallister, Dan Kluger, Allegra Thompson • 8:00pm–10:00pm
Doors open at 7:45. We accept cash and venmo. Paying with cash is quicker! BYOB: You may bring beer and wine--no hard alcohol allowed. Dance: $6-25 (see below). Free old-time jam from 6:45-8:00 pm, open to all (separate room). Dancing:
More Info
Upcoming Dances & Events
The Opporchoonists
Susan Petrick
Saturday, October 18, 2025:
Family Contra with crafts, song, and stilts
(SPECIAL)
at
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Palo Alto in Palo Alto.
Join us for the Palo Alto Family Dance!
Susan Petrick will lead us in family dance frolics, to the music of The Opporchunists: Ernest Kinsolving, David Hansen, Oceanlight, Paul Kostka, and Sue Lindner. Between the five of them, the members of band have over two centuries of experience playing for Balkan, Contra, Irish Ceili and Set, English, Morris, Norwegian, Punk Rock, Scottish, Victorian dances, and other poorly remunerative events.
During the break, we’ll sing, and you can enjoy a craft project with Erin McCauley and try your hand (and feet) at stilting. Snacks provided. Dance is co-sponsored and located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto from 2:00 to 4:30. Admittance is free. Donations welcome to help cover costs.
During the break, we’ll sing, and you can enjoy a craft project with Erin McCauley and try your hand (and feet) at stilting. Snacks provided. Dance is co-sponsored and located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto from 2:00 to 4:30. Admittance is free. Donations welcome to help cover costs.
Bruce Herbold
Bill Jensen
Craig Johnson
Tuesday, October 21, 2025:
ENGLISH
at
First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto in Palo Alto.
Bruce Herbold with
Mary Tabor, Craig Johnson, Bill Jensen • 7:30pm–9:30pm
More Info
Sarah Trop
Patti Cobb
Valerie Rose
Wednesday, October 22, 2025:
CONTRA
at
The Polish Club in San Francisco.
Sarah Trop with
Valerie Rose, Patti Cobb • 7:30pm–10:00pm
Contra—beginner lesson at 7:30, dance 8:00–10:00
More Info
Bruce Hamilton
Craig Johnson
Wednesday, October 22, 2025:
ENGLISH
at
Christ Church East Bay in Berkeley.
Bruce Hamilton with
Caroline Armitage, Betsy St. Aubin, Craig Johnson • 7:45pm–10:00pm
English dancing for all - newcomer lesson at 7:25; dance 7:45-10:00
More Info
Susan Petrick
Daniel Steinberg
Rodney Miller
Saturday, October 25, 2025:
CONTRA
at
First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto in Palo Alto.
Susan Petrick with
Rodney Miller, Daniel Steinberg, Ezra Warren Steinberg • 7:00pm–10:00pm
Hallowe'en dance! Costumes admired, but not required.
More Info
Bruce Herbold
Bill Jensen
Jon Berger
Christopher Jacoby
Saturday, October 25, 2025:
ENGLISH/EXPERIENCED
at
Christ Church East Bay in Berkeley.
Bruce Herbold with
Bill Jensen, Jon Berger, Christopher Jacoby • 7:30pm–10:00pm
Berkeley Experienced English
More Info
South Bay Woodshed
Tuesday, October 28, 2025:
WOODSHED
at
Sunnyvale Community Center Dance Studio in Sunnyvale.
Maybe you?
• 7:30pm–9:30pm
Now on fourth Tuesdays in the Dance Studio at Sunnyvale Community Center
7:30-9:30pm
Help us improve our dances!
Experiment with new and new-to-us material to improve choreography, music, and calling.
Note: Sunnyvale prohibits street shoes and absolutely no food is allowed in the hall. More Info
7:30-9:30pm
Help us improve our dances!
Experiment with new and new-to-us material to improve choreography, music, and calling.
Note: Sunnyvale prohibits street shoes and absolutely no food is allowed in the hall. More Info
Erik Hoffman
Rebecca King
Rodney Miller
Wednesday, October 29, 2025:
CONTRA
at
Christ Church East Bay in Berkeley.
Erik Hoffman with
Rodney Miller, Rebecca King • 8:00pm–10:30pm
More Info
Alan Winston
Lise Dyckman
Bill Jensen
Robin Lockner
Valerie Rose
Friday, October 31, 2025:
ENGLISH
at
St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto.
Alan Winston, Lise Dyckman with
Bill Jensen, Robin Lockner, Valerie Rose • 7:30pm–10:00pm
Special Hallowe'en ECD dance party for all, with ghost, er, guest appearances! Danceable costumes welcome but not required. Stay tuned for more messages from the beyond ...
More Info
Doe Taryn
Anne Goess
Craig Johnson
Sunday, November 2, 2025:
FAMILY/SPECIAL
at
College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Oakland.
Doe Taryn with
Anne Goess, Craig Johnson…and friends • 2:00pm–4:00pm
Caller Doe Taryn will teach some easy, fun English and American traditional folk dances, to live music from a grand community band.
Plus songs, games and snacks!
More Info
Bruce Hamilton
Bill Jensen
Elizabeth Ingber
Tuesday, November 4, 2025:
ENGLISH
at
All Saints Episcopal Church in Palo Alto.
Bruce Hamilton with
Elizabeth Ingber, Susan Jensen, Bill Jensen • 7:30pm–9:30pm
More Info
Special Events
The Opporchoonists
Susan Petrick
Saturday, October 18, 2025:
Family Contra with crafts, song, and stilts
(SPECIAL)
at
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Palo Alto in Palo Alto.
Join us for the Palo Alto Family Dance!
Susan Petrick will lead us in family dance frolics, to the music of The Opporchunists: Ernest Kinsolving, David Hansen, Oceanlight, Paul Kostka, and Sue Lindner. Between the five of them, the members of band have over two centuries of experience playing for Balkan, Contra, Irish Ceili and Set, English, Morris, Norwegian, Punk Rock, Scottish, Victorian dances, and other poorly remunerative events.
During the break, we’ll sing, and you can enjoy a craft project with Erin McCauley and try your hand (and feet) at stilting. Snacks provided. Dance is co-sponsored and located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto from 2:00 to 4:30. Admittance is free. Donations welcome to help cover costs.
During the break, we’ll sing, and you can enjoy a craft project with Erin McCauley and try your hand (and feet) at stilting. Snacks provided. Dance is co-sponsored and located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto from 2:00 to 4:30. Admittance is free. Donations welcome to help cover costs.
Doe Taryn
Anne Goess
Craig Johnson
Sunday, November 2, 2025:
FAMILY/SPECIAL
at
College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Oakland.
Doe Taryn with
Anne Goess, Craig Johnson…and friends • 2:00pm–4:00pm
Caller Doe Taryn will teach some easy, fun English and American traditional folk dances, to live music from a grand community band.
Plus songs, games and snacks!
More Info
Dare To Be Square West
Friday, November 7 - Sunday, 9 November, 2025:
Dare To Be Square West
(SQUARE/WEEKEND/SPECIAL)
The BACDS is proud to support DTBSW, November 7-9 in a weekend of square dancing, calling, music making, community building, and more in Berkeley, CA.
We’ll be joined by visiting callers Sue Hulsether and Tony Mates and out-of-town bands Stumptown Stringband and Echo Mountain, plus local bands Stone Cold Ramblers (featuring members of the Squirrelly Stringband, Skillet Licorice, and the Town Howlers), Round Top Stringband, Skillet Licorice, and The Baybillies.
Tickets are available for the entire weekend, featuring all day workshops and dancing – or individual days – or even just the big evening dances!
Presented by
the Dare To Be Square West.
Bruce Hamilton
Joanna Reiner Wilkinson
Alicia Cover
Audrey Jaber
Jeffrey Spero
Rebecca King
Shira Kammen
Christopher Jacoby
Hayden Stern
Friday, November 14 - Sunday, 16 November, 2025:
FALL FROLICK
(ENGLISH/WEEKEND/CAMP)
at
Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg.
FALL FROLICK - A predominantly English Country Dance Weekend at The Bishop's Ranch, Healdsburg, CA, November 14-16, 2025.
Featuring Fabulous English Country Dance Callers: Joanna Reiner, Bruce Hamilton, and Lindsey Dono.
Stellar Musicians including Shira Kammen, Audrey Jaber, Bill Tomczak, Jeff Spero, Rebecca King, Christopher Jacoby & Hayden Stern, with sound support by Christopher Jacoby and Alicia Cover.
Join us for a full Weekend of English dancing, singing, music-making, frolicking and workshops aplenty, from 4 pm Friday - including dinner - until 4 pm Sunday.
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