Look through our calendar below to find both in person and online events.
The FSGW Calendar can be viewed two ways:
Bulgarian Folk Dance Workshop
Iliana Bozhanova Bulgarian Folk Dance Teacher and Choreographer & Todor Yankov Accordionist, Singer and Accompanist
Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Greenbelt Community Center - Upstairs Gymnasium (Metropolitan DC Area) 15 Crescent Rd. - Greenbelt, MD
Adults $10.00 - Children Free
More information: International Folk Dancing (Greenbelt)
Contra dance in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD. Co-sponsored by Friday Night Dancers and FSGW.
Caller: Greg Frock
Music: Frog Hammer (Jim Besser on Anglo concertina, Dave Casserly on sax and vocals, Bob Collins on drums, Glyn Collinson on bouzouki, acoustic and electric guitar, Andrew Marcus on accordion, and Michael Ferguson on bass Harpejji)
All dances will be taught.
Lesson at 7:30pm, Dance is at 8:00pm.
COVID Policy : This is an FSGW Tier 2 event, which means that masks and vaccinations encouraged but not required
Registration is required of all participants. Pre-registration is preferred - you may pay online or wait to pay at the door. You may register at the door. Cash and credit card are accepted at the door. Registrations may be cancelled prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
Click on this link to view the FSGW COVID-19 Response policy
Square Dancing at the 15th Annual Takoma Park Play Day, Saturday September 23rd, Noon - 2pm
Try out square dancing in the Takoma Park Middle School gym! This is a family-friendly dance with live band and caller. All dances will be taught and led by dance caller, Lucia Schaefer and designed for beginners and young people. Come listen to some traditional tunes played by The Pinky Pickers and go for a spin. No partner needed. There will be other concurrent events happening as well from 10am - 2pm including Forest Walks, Book Readings, Cornhole, Giant Chess, Hula Hooping and many more games and activities!
More info at https://www.letsplayamerica.org/upcomingevents
In-person dancing at Glen Echo Town Hall
You may register in advance (preferred) or at the door. Attendance will be limited to 44 dancers and spectators so if you are planning on registering at the door, please check the event page beforehand to see how many spaces are left.
If you have not previously attended a Wednesday night English country dance at Glen Echo, you may select "first time free" when registering. New dancers are welcome. If you have no previous English country dance experience or would like a refresher, please arrive at around 7:30 for a lesson.
Covid precautions: This dance series is now Tier 2, meaning that masks and vaccination-and-booster are encouraged but not required
The dance is held in the upstairs room of the Glen Echo Town Hall.
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General information on our English Country Dance (in-person) web page
The Glen Echo Folk Dancers will be meeting in-person every Wednesday evening at the Bumper Car Pavilion, Glen Echo Park (7300 MacArthur Blvd).
Dance instructions at 7:30 pm, followed by request dancing at 8:30pm. Admission: $10
This is an outdoor space. Masks are optional. We strongly urge everyone to be vaccinated and fully boostered, but do not require it. If you have not done so already, please send your email address to dancingplanet@erols.com.
Note: if you are having symptoms, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, or may be positive, please attend the class via Zoom for the next week or 2. If you attend the class and then test positive, please let me know immediately, so I can inform those who attended the class (without identifying you).
For out-of-towners and those who cannot attend in person, we are offering this class via Zoom. You can enter by clicking onto the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87152651884?pwd=QWVyVEc1cm9uWTNqTkwrYTdPWlRrdz09
Meeting ID: 871 5265 1884 Password: 145
See the website for more information: dancingplanetproductions.com/folkdance
Join us online for an evening of English Country Dancing. Our caller this month will be Andrea Nettleton.
Our talented caller has put together a program of dances adapted for one or two dancers.
We will be using Zoom video conference. To get details on how to attend, visit the English Country Dance (online) page
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Each month we will be collecting contributions to the caller (turns out it is more work to prepare an evening of dances for people dancing solo, or in pairs, in their homes). To contribute to this month's caller, please use the link below:
Online ECD caller contribution
The Getaway will be live starting on Friday, September 29, with a pot-luck dinner, and runs so late on Sunday night that we serve breakfast on Monday morning, October 2.
The Getaway is an amazing weekend-long party of folks who love to sing, play and listen to folk music. We come together in a lovely riverside retreat to join together in making music, sharing what we bring and learning from friends old and new. There will be workshops, sing-arounds, sign-up concerts, music and conversations at all hours. Participation is encouraged at any level comfortable to you in a supportive and welcoming environment. Old and new songs and tunes, recitations and stories, along with information on historical contexts and insights, have filled the Getaway, along with conversation and laughter, for over half a century; come be a part of the fun!
Musical guests include Sara Grey, Elizabeth LaPrelle and Brian Dolphin, Kevin Elam, Sean and Deirdre Murtha, Dave Rowe, Will Brown, and The Ranzo Boys
View the schedule here
See the Getaway page for details.
Covid Policy
The Getaway will require proof of vaccination, sent to getawaychair@fsgw.org. If a medical reason prohibits vaccinations for you, please contact us at this email address to discuss possible alternate strategies. Depending on the situation near the time of the event we may revisit what the testing requirements will be. At this time it seems most likely that people will need to have a negative covid test about 3 days before the event and a negative test on, or shortly before, their arrival at camp. We also ask that you bring an extra test with you as we all will test before dinner on Saturday as well. We must insist that this protocol is followed in order to allow folks to sing and play without masking. Of course, you are welcome to mask at any time.We also strongly encourage folks to mask for the week leading up to the Getaway when out and about.
Caller: Lisa Greenleaf
Music: Daybreak Trio (Owen Morrison on guitar, Naomi Morse on fiddle, and Anna Patton on clarinet)
COVID Policy: This is an FSGW Tier 2 event, which means that masks and vaccinations encouraged but not required
John Robinson will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
No experience or partner necessary.
Lessons 8:00 - 8:30pm
Request dancing 8:30 - 9:30pm.
On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the FSGW Board will meet from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in a video conference meeting. Please contact the FGSW President via this link or the FSGW WebMaster via this link to get the video conference information if you wish to attend.
Board meetings are open to members. If you have agenda items you wish to have considered, please contact the FSGW President at: president@fsgw.org
We are going to celebrate our dancers and musicians with September birthdays at the break. If you have a September birthday, come to the dance so we can celebrate your birthday with you. If you don’t have a September birthday, come to the dance, have a cupcake and sing Happy Birthday to your friends. Please be sure to register in advance for the dance. Spaces are filling up.
Covid Protocol: This dance series is now Tier 2, meaning that masks and vaccination-and-booster are encouraged but not required
Larry Weinerwill lead an
Oldies but Goodies Night
all request evening featuring recorded music international folk dance favorites - many easy dances to just follow along -
Request dancing 8:00-9:30pm.
Caller: Bob Isaacs
Music: The Last Chance Saloon House Band (Nathan Bishop on fiddle, Doug Healy on guitar, Judy Minot on accordion, and Christie Reihl on cello)
FSGW Gospel Sing in Takoma Park MD
Sunday, October 8, 4 - 6 pm
General information about Gospel Sings
Melissa Running leads the dancing while (Guest musician from PA) Miranda Weinberg (fiddle), Sophie Chang (cello), and Liz Donaldson (piano) play the tunes
In the Great Hall (wood floor) at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
Please note: There is no longer free parking at the Civic Center Parking Garage
Caller: Gaye Fifer
Band: Elke Baker & friends
Calling Terms: Larks and Robins
Lesson at 7:00pm, Dance is from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Covid Precautions: Tier 2 - masks and vaccinations encouraged but not required
The monthly Schweinhaut Song Circle provides a daytime opportunity to enjoy delightful songs, old or new, humorous or serious, timeless or topical. Free!
Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience. Come for informal group singing or just to listen, in person or via Zoom.
With Halloween coming up, bring or request your favorite spooky songs, or any other songs! We'll go around the room as many times as we can, giving everyone a chance to lead or request a song (or just pass) during each round.
If you wish to request particular songs, it helps to keep the singing going if you let us know in advance using the registration form linked below.
Susan McNelis will lead songs with guitar accompaniment, and any participant may lead any song, a cappella or self-accompanied.
The in-person session will be held under FSGW's COVID-19 Policy Tier 2 guidelines.
If you can't come in person, you can join us on Zoom with any Internet-connected device--computer, tablet, or smartphone--or you can join by dialing a phone number.
If this will be your first use of Zoom, go to https://zoom.us, click on " Sign Up Free " and follow the prompts. Do this ahead of time so that you'll be all set to "join the meeting" when it's time to do so. Information about getting started with Zoom is at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697.
Before you join a Zoom session, if you installed Zoom on your computer before September 5, go to zoom.us/download to download and install the current version (5.15.12). For a smartphone or tablet, update the Zoom app from your App Store or equivalent source.
Join us on October 13 in person or via Zoom. Especially if you're just getting started with Zoom, please try to join the Zoom session 5 or 10 minutes before 1:30 p.m. so that we can help with any technical issues before the singing begins.
For more information see the Song Circles page.
Linda Mansdorf will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
Request dancing 8:30-9:30pm.
FSGW and Voices in the Glen invite storytellers and listeners to an evening of shared stories. Anyone is welcome to tell a tale; no one ever has to. Event details and Zoom link here.
Cost: FREE!
General information on Story Swaps
Contrastock: 8+ hours of contra dancing! A premier contra dance event, featuring nationally renowned bands and callers and an amazing open air dance hall.
When: October 15, 2023 from 1pm to 10:00 PM. There is a break for dinner.
Where: Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park
Bands:
Kingfisher (Jeff Kaufman on keyboard, mandolin, drums, etc, and Cecilia Vacanti on fiddle)
Live Wire (Tom Krumm on fiddle, Bill Quern on mandolin, banjo, melodeon, Ben Kennedy on keyboards, and Sarah Gowan on guitar)
Elke Baker (fiddle) and Larry Unger (guitar)
Callers: Diane Silver, Bob Isaacs, and Janine Smith
View schedule
Please use fragrance sparingly or not at all. Contrastock is being called with non- gendered dance role terms
Covid protocol: Tier 2, masks and vaccination-and-booster are encouraged but not required
More about the FSGW COVID-19 Response policy
Wednesday, October 18, Doors open at 7, concert at 7:30pm
With Juno and ADISQ nominations, and four Canadian Folk Music Awards, Quebecois ensemble GENTICORUM is one of the leading groups of traditional Quebec music. Washington knows this group well from its starring role in the 2017 Washington Revels production. Pascal Gemme (violin), Yann Falquet (guitar) and Nicolas Williams (flute, accordion) are each individually sought after musicians. But as the old saying goes, the whole is even greater than the sum of its parts. The evening will be filled with joy, energy, and music that will keep you smiling for a long long time.
https://www.genticorum.com/
Suggested Donation: $20-25
RSVP/questions/street address: email phllsdrrck@gmail.com.
Ben Hole will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
Caller: Caroline Barnes
Music: Handspring (Carrie Rose on flute, Alexander Mitchell on fiddle and mandolin, and Owen Morrison on guitar)
Caller: Quill Duvall
Music: Gigmeisters (Alexander Mitchell, Paul Oorts, Ralph Gordon, and Dave Wiesler)
FSGW is working with the Traditional Music Series at the Lyceum, sponsored by the City of Alexandria and the North American Morris Dance Organization to bring you this concert. The fee structure and COVID protocols are those of the Traditional Music Series at the Lyceum.
This new trio act features a unique collaboration between 3 of the best known names in traditional Irish music - Cillian Vallely on uilleann pipes, David Doocey from County Mayo on fiddle, and Dave Curley on guitar and vocals.
Date/Time: Sunday, October 29, 2023 - Doors open at 3, concert at 3:30 PM Venue: The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum
Event webpage/Online ticket purchase: https://ticketstripe.com/VallelyDooceyCurley
Tickets/Info - phone: 866-412-5943
Caller: Anna Rain
Music: BOW (Baker - Oorts - Wiesler) (Elke Baker on fiddle, Paul Oorts on mandolin, and Dave Wiesler on piano/guitar)
On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, the FSGW Board will meet from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in a video conference meeting. Please contact the FGSW President via this link or the FSGW WebMaster via this link to get the video conference information if you wish to attend.
This dance will be in the Spring Room, NOT the Great Hall where the dance usually takes place.
Caller: Penelope Weinberger
Band: The Rhythamajigs (Patti Reum, Michael Giordano, and Jack Maus)
Caller: Susan Michaels
Band: Glen Echo Open Band
Lesson at 7:30pm
Calling all musicians! The Glen Echo Open Band is scheduled to play for the September 8th contra dance (organized by Friday Night Dancers and FSGW), which will take place in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park from 8-11pm. If you are interested in helping to provide exciting, high-energy live music for contra dancers, please join us! Musicians of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate.
If you would like to be paid after playing the dance, please complete a W-9 form and either submit it electronically at this link to FSGW or present a physical copy to the check-in table at the dance.
Click here for more info about the open band, or here for a tune list.
More info on FSGW's Covid response here
Band: Frog Hammer (Jim Besser, Andrew Marcus, Glyn Collinson, Michael Ferguson, and Bob Collins)
From Washington's elegant Kennedy Center to a Capitol Hill dive bar to the fabled Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom, Frog Hammer has been exciting contra and ceilidh dancers since 2010 with high energy music drawing from the English ceilidh tradition, the American contra dance repertoire and far beyond.
https://froghammerband.com/
FSGW is thrilled to return to the Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase for another fantastic New Year’s celebration. We plan a full evening of fun dances to amazing musicians. Stay tuned for the fanciest NYE in the Metro area.
Doors open at 7:15, and the Grand March starts at 8. There will be a toast at midnight, followed by Auld Lang Syne, then some final dancing.
Caller: Lisa Greenleaf Band: Stomp Rocket (Glen Loper on mandolin, Dave Langford on fiddle, and Bethany Waickman on guitar)
Band: Stomp Rocket (Glen Loper on mandolin, Dave Langford on fiddle, and Bethany Waickman on guitar)
Details and updates can be found on the New Year's Eve Contra Dance Ball page.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a snack to share!
COVID PROTOCOL: If Covid transmission rates are low in Maryland, DC, and Virginia at the time of the event, this will be an FSGW Tier 2 event, which means:
This event should be used to donate a payment credit to FSGW. It should NOT be used for normal donations, go here for that. Event "registrations" are $1 each. Register as many time as you need to use up your credit.