1st, 3rd, and 4th Sunday Contra Dances

BIDA hosts contra dances at the Masonic Temple at 1950 Mass Ave., Cambridge MA, in Porter Square. They cost $5-$20 (sliding scale).

If you've never contra danced before and you come to the beginner's workshop, or you bring someone new with you, we'll give you a free pass for a future dance.

BIDA hosts both mask-optional and mask-required dances. Policies for each dance are listed on the schedule below. At mask-required dances high-filtration (KN95 or better) masks are required for people two years and older. All of our dances are gender-free (Larks / Robins calling). The Masonic Hall is not wheelchair accessible, but there is a stair lift. See our accessibility information.

Upcoming Events

Have feedback on a recent dance? Use our feedback form.

Sunday 3/23
Contra Dance
This dance is mask-required

2:30-3:30Family dance (mask-optional)
3:30-4:30Potluck (mask-optonal)
4:00-4:30Beginner's Lesson (mask-required)
4:30-7:30Evening dance (mask-required)

Alex Cumming will lead an open band for the family dance, and Sycamore (Cedar Stanistreet, Samuel Foucher, and Michael Sokolovsky) will play the main dance. Luke Donforth will call the whole time.

details on facebook
Sunday 4/6
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance will include elections for our board, which runs these events; let us know by 2025-03-20 if you'd like to be on the ballot!

Andrew Stout calling to Eileen O'Grady, Donal Sheets, and Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin
Sunday 4/20
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Julian Blechner calling to The Star Charters: Cecilia Vacanti, Jess Newman, Mark Price
Sunday 4/27
No Dance
Dance cancelled.
Sunday 5/4
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Harris Lapiroff calling to Countercurrent: Alex Sturbaum and Brian Lindsay
Sunday 5/18
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required.

Because this is Elixir's final dance before retirement we think it is likely we will hit capacity. We are planning to sell tickets, but are still sorting out details.

Nils Fredland calling to Elixir: Anna Patton, Ethan Hazard-Watkins, Owen Morrison, Jesse Readlynn, Nils Fredland
Sunday 5/25
No Dance
Dance cancelled.
Sunday 6/1
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Maia McCormick calling to Crossover
Sunday 6/15
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

BIDA Open Band playing.
Sunday 6/22
Contra Dance
Lesson: 4pm
Dance: 4:30pm-7:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Liz Nelson calling to Windfish
Sunday 7/6
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Jeremy Korr calling to Birch Trio: Daphne Pickens, Molly Tucker, Casey Murray

Show Past Events
Sunday 3/16
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Alex Deis-Lauby calling to Max Newman, Larry Ungar, & Julie Metcalf
details on facebook
Sunday 3/2
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Annie Kidwell calling to Hayden Stern, Helen Kuhar, and Casey Murray
Sunday 2/23
Contra Dance
Lesson: 4pm
Dance: 4:30pm-7:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Evan DeSmitt calling to Open Band led by Helen Kuhar with Elias Cardoso
Sunday 2/16
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Don Veino calling to Julie Metcalf, Milo Stanley, Dan Africk, and Mike Siegel
Sunday 2/2
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Qwill Duvall calling to Jesse Ball, Sam Zakon-Anderson, Sarah-Hadley Yakir
Sunday 1/26
Contra Dance
Lesson: 4pm
Dance: 4:30pm-7:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Hannah Chamberlain calling to Here on the Hill: Rosemary Powell, Victoria Horner, and Annie McDougall
Sunday 1/19
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Julian Blechner calling to Cojiro (Mark Price, Jess Newman)
Sunday 1/5
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Tommy Linden calling to Anadama (Emily Troll, Bethany Waikman, and Amelia Mason)
Sunday 12/15/2024
No Dance
Dance cancelled.
Sunday 12/1/2024
Contra Dance
This dance is mask-optional

5:30-6:30Family dance
6:30-7:30Potluck
7:00-7:30Beginner's Lesson
7:30-10:30Evening dance

Jeff Kaufman will lead an open band for the family dance, and the Ice Cream Truckers will play the evening dance. Lisa Greenleaf will call the whole evening.

Sunday 11/17/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Hannah Johlas calling to Einstein's Little Homunculus
Sunday 11/3/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Hannah Chamberlain calling to River Road
Sunday 10/27/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Alyssa Adkins calling to Anna and the Alphabet
Sunday 10/20/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Jeremy Korr calling to Open Band
Sunday 10/6/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Harris Lapiroff calling to Casey Murray, Molly Tucker, & Sam Zakon-Anderson
Sunday 9/22/2024
Contra Dance
This dance is mask-optional

5:30-6:30Family dance
6:30-7:30Potluck
7:00-7:30Beginner's Lesson
7:30-10:30Evening dance

Andy Taylor-Blenis will call the family dance with Emma Azelborn leading an open band.

Liz Nelson calling to Gaslight Tinkers
Sunday 9/15/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Dereck Kalish calling to Rose Jackson, Oliver Scanlon, & Max Newman)
Sunday 9/1/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional. Join us beforehand for a picnic at Raymond Park at 4pm!

Annie Kidwell calling to Calico (Jesse Ball, Casey Murray, & Eric Boodman)
Friday 8/16/2024
Spark in the Dark
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
Dance with Lisa Greenleaf calling to the electronic music of Kingfisher and guests.

This dance is at a different location: The Somerville Armory, 191 Highland Ave.

Accessibility info: Lighting at this dance will be darker than usual, and will include black lights. Some dancers can find it confusing or overwhelming. The Armory's is wheelchair accessible, with more information on their website.

6:40Lesson
7:00Kingfisher
8:30Moondial, then Kingfisher
10:30Yaron, then Kingfisher
12:00End

details on facebook
Sunday 6/16/2024
Open Band Night & Family Dance
This dance is mask-required — the family dance and potluck are mask-optional

5:30-6:30Family dance (mask-optional)
6:30-7:30Potluck (mask-optional)
7:00-7:30Beginner's Lesson (mask-required)
7:30-10:30Evening dance (mask-required)

Jeff Kaufman will call the family dance with Rick Kaufman leading an open band.

Sue Rosen calling to Open Band led by Casey Murray and Molly Tucker
details on facebook
Sunday 6/2/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Andrew Stout calling to Good Company
Sunday 5/19/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Chloe Levine calling to Chimney Swift
Sunday 5/12/2024
Bonus Contra & Family Dance with Nova!
This dance is mask-optional

5:30-6:30Family dance
6:30-7:30Potluck
7:00-7:30Beginner's Lesson
7:30-10:30Evening dance

Jeff Kaufman will lead an open band for the family dance.

Steve Zakon-Anderson calling to Nova
details on facebook
Sunday 5/5/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Hadley Stockwell & Abi Sandy playing.
Sunday 4/21/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Ben Sachs-Hamilton calling to Thunderwing: Amy Englesberg & Cedar Stanistreet
Sunday 4/7/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Crossover: Len Bittenson, Alex Cumming, and Carol Bittenson playing.
Sunday 3/3/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Liz Nelson calling to The Red Case Band: Stuart Kenney, Matt Kenney, Clara Stickney, and Max Newman
Sunday 2/4/2024
BIDA's 15th Anniversary Dance!!!
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
Join us in celebrating 15 years of BIDA! Any musician who has ever been booked for BIDA is invited to return to our stage for a spectacular megaband extravaganza (RSVP to jeff@jefftk.com). This dance is mask-optional

BIDA musician megaband playing.
Sunday 1/21/2024
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Annie Kidwell calling to Helen Kuhar, Elias Cardoso, & Rohan Weeden
Sunday 11/5/2023
Double Dance! Challenging Contras, Triplets, and Squares with Will Mentor
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Will Mentor calling to Eric Boodman, Emily Troll, and Max Newman w/ special guest Yann Falquet
details on facebook
Sunday 10/15/2023
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Chloe Levine calling to Casey Murray, Molly Tucker, Sam Zakon-Anderson
Sunday 10/1/2023
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Sonya Kaufman calling to Rohan Weeden & Helen Kuhar
Sunday 9/17/2023
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Don Stratton calling to Joy Factor: Gianna Marzilli Ericson, Henry Yoshimura, Rebecca Weiss
details on facebook, meetup, instagram
Sunday 9/3/2023
First Dance Back From Summer!
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-optional

Qwill Duvall calling to Jonah Spear, Sammy Wetstein, & Hilary Menegaz Weitzner
details on facebook, meetup, instagram
Sunday 6/18/2023
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
This dance is mask-required

Hannah Chamberlain calling to Cojiro: Jess Newman, Mark Price
Sunday 1/1/2023
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
details TBA
Sunday 12/18/2022
No dance: hall unavailable
Dance cancelled.
Sunday 10/2/2022
No dance: hall unavailable
Dance cancelled.
Sunday 6/5/2022
Contra Dance, mask and booster required
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
details TBA
Sunday 4/5/2020
CANCELLED: Contra Dance + Family Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
details TBA
Sunday 11/17/2019
Contra Dance
Lesson: 7pm
Dance: 7:30pm-10:30pm
details TBA

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