The Bay Area Country Dance Society Website

Events / Locations (and Directions)

The Playford Ball is more than single glorious evening's dancing.  It's an entire array of events.  To begin with, there are many opportunities to learn and enjoy dances for the Ball.  Starting in January, local dances in our regular English Country dance series will include Ball dances in their programs.  In addition, there are two workshops to teach Ball dances, one in February and the other in March.  Finally, there is a Rehearsal dance the night before the Ball, at which we work through the better part of the dance program.

During the weekend of The Playford Ball are many associated activities.  Besides the Friday Rehearsal, there is the hall preparation on Saturday during the day, an After-party which will go into the wee hours after the Ball, and a celebratory Brunch on Sunday.   Many folk, including our treasured out-of-towners, use the Ball as an excuse to visit, vacation, and catch up with old and new friends.  Some of the events include refreshments, a potluck, or opportunities to meet before/after.

Here's a schedule - for details, click on or see the individual event below:

East Bay Workshop - Sunday, February 22nd, 2004, 2:00 - 5:00pm, $8
Caller David Newitt, music by Charlie Hancock and David Strong
Veterans Hall, 6401 Stockton Avenue, El Cerrito, CA

There'll be a potluck supper after the workshop, followed by the special Anniversary dance for the BACDS Square and Contra series.  (There is a separate admission for the evening dance).

From I-80: Exit east (away from the Bay) at El Cerrito/Central Avenue.  Turn left at San Pablo Avenue (traffic light).   At the next traffic light, turn right at Stockton.  The hall is one block up (there is street parking).

Peninsula Workshop - Saturday, March 6th, 2004, 2:30 - 5:30pm, $8
Caller Bob Fraley, music by Craig Johnson, Stan and Susan Kramer
Palo Alto Masonic Temple, 461 Florence Street, Palo Alto, CA

There will be potluck snacks at the break, so please bring something to share.

From US 101: Take University Avenue exit and go West (toward the hills) for 1.5 miles into downtown Palo Alto.  Turn right on Florence (only way it goes) and left into the parking structure.

Rehearsal Dance / Ball Review - Friday, April 2nd, 2004, 8:00 - 11:00 pm, $10
A cavalcade of callers, music by Ruth Anne Fraley, Shira Kammen, and Jim Oakden
San Mateo Masonic Temple, 100 N. Ellsworth Avenue, San Mateo, CA

There will be potluck snacks at the break, so please bring something to share.  For dinner before the dance, there are many wonderful restaurants just a couple blocks south of the hall in downtown San Mateo.

From US 101: Take 3rd Avenue exit and head west into San Mateo.  Follow 3rd Avenue across the railroad tracks, and turn right on Ellsworth Avenue.  The Masonic Lodge is located on the corner of Ellsworth and Tilton.  Parking may be available at the Congregational Church parking lot on Catalpa Avenue between Ellsworth and San Mateo. 

The Playford Ball - Saturday, April 3rd, 2004, $32/$37, gallery $10
Reception 6:45 pm, First Dance 7:15 pm, Closing 11:00 pm
Dancing Master Tom Roby, music by Flashpoint Plus (Rebecca King, Jon Berger, Howard Booster, and special guest Erin Vang)
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA

Of course, there will be many delights for the palate at the ball itself.  If you'd like to contribute to the spread, see the recipes page to volunteer.

From I-580 in Oakland (south): Take the Fruitvale Avenue exit.  Turn up hill (east) onto Fruitvale Avenue.  Turn right onto MacArthur Blvd.  Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue and go uphill a little over a mile.  There's a parking lot as you pass the church.

From I-580 heading west (north): Take the Warren Freeway (CA-13) to the Joaquin Miller (Lincoln Avenue) exit.  Turn left and the Cathedral will be on your left.  Additional parking is just downhill from the church, hidden in the trees.

Playford After-party - Saturday, April 3th, 2004, starts around midnight.
Well Hall, home of Jens Dill and Jody-Distler Dill, 4682 Ewing Road, Castro Valley, CA, 510-886-6549

From the Ball: Head up the hill from the Ball on Lincoln Avenue.  Take the Warren Freeway (CA-13) south to I-580 (first south and then east towards Stockton, past the I-238 junction).  Take the Redwood Road exit in Castro Valley.  Go left onto Redwood, past all traffic lights to the top of the hill (the last signal you pass is Seven Hills Road).  Turn left on Proctor Road (there's no light and it can be hard to see, but it's the only left turn with no "Not a Through Street" sign).  Go 1/2 mile until it ends in a T and turn right onto Ewing Road.  The driveway to 4682 is on the right, between white fences with 3 rails and hidden behind a telephone pole (the last driveway before High Pine Way).  It will be marked.  If the driveway is full, drop your passengers and park around the next corner on High Pine Way.  (Shh! - Please be considerate of the neighbors.)  This is about 20 minutes from the Ball, and parking is easy. 

(This button links to an interactive map with different directions  It shows a shorter route that goes by way of Lake Chabot Road, Seven Hills Road, and Walnut Street, which will work, but sends you off into the hills for a couple of miles of following winding roads in the dark.)