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Promoting traditional English and American music and dance

Today's Dances & Events

Upcoming Dances & Events

Ric Goldman (Portland, OR)
Patti Cobb
Robin Lockner
Friday, October 3, 2025: ENGLISH at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto. Ric Goldman (Portland, OR) with Mary Tabor, Robin Lockner, Patti Cobb • 7:30pm–9:30pm
English dancing for all - dance 7:30-10:00 More Info
Bruce Hamilton
Anne Goess
Bill Jensen
Judy Linsenberg
Tuesday, October 7, 2025: ENGLISH at First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto in Palo Alto. Bruce Hamilton with Anne Goess, Judy Linsenberg, Bill Jensen • 7:30pm–9:30pm More Info
San Francisco Wednesday Contra
Wednesday, October 8, 2025: CONTRA at The Polish Club in San Francisco. Penelope Weinberger with Bryce Druzhin…and friends • 7:30pm–10:00pm
Contra—beginner lesson at 7:30, dance 8:00–10:00 More Info
Ric Goldman (Portland, OR)
Alicia Cover
Charlie Hancock
Judy Linsenberg
Wednesday, October 8, 2025: ENGLISH at Christ Church East Bay in Berkeley. Ric Goldman (Portland, OR) with Alicia Cover, Judy Linsenberg, Charlie Hancock • 7:45pm–10:00pm
English dancing for all - newcomer lesson at 7:25; dance 7:45-10:00 More Info
Alan Winston
Friday, October 10, 2025: REGENCY/ENGLISH at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto. Alan Winston with Divertimento • 7:45pm–9:45pm More Info
Presented by the BACDS and the Bay Area English Regency Society.
Alan Winston
Saturday, October 11, 2025: CONTRA at First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto in Palo Alto. Alan Winston with The Corn Likkers: Ray Chen, Lael Sigal, Lauren Graves, Elijah Chen, Eleanor Chen • 7:00pm–10:00pm More Info
Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a Strathspey Society Band
Bruce Hamilton
Bruce Herbold
David Newitt
Patti Cobb
Saturday, October 11, 2025: ENGLISH at St. John's Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. Bruce Hamilton with Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a Strathspey Society Band: Betsy St. Aubin, Bruce Herbold, Heather MacKay, Patti Cobb, David Newitt • 7:30pm–10:00pm More Info
Lise Dyckman
Robin Lockner
Sunday, October 12, 2025: ENGLISH at First Unitarian Church of San Jose in San Jose. Lise Dyckman with Mary Tabor, Robin Lockner, William Allen • 2:30pm–5:00pm More Info
Rebecca King
Christopher Jacoby
Tuesday, October 14, 2025: Improper English (ENGLISH) at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists in Berkeley. Anna Rain with Christopher Jacoby, Rebecca King, Debbie Gold • 7:00pm–9:30pm
Improper English is an English country dance series committed to gender-neutral (positional) calling. Improper English runs every 2nd Tuesday, just down the street from BACDS’ usual Berkeley Hall. Sliding scale admission, $5–$25. Note that masking (KN-95 or better) is required for all dancers. A beginners’ lesson will be held at 6:50, all are welcome. More Info
Presented by the SF Bay Queer Contra Dance.
Berkeley Contra Dance
Wednesday, October 15, 2025: CONTRA at Christ Church East Bay in Berkeley. Sarah Trop • 8:00pm–10:30pm More Info
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. Free old-time jam from 6:45-8:00 pm, open to all (separate room). Dancing: More Info
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.

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.
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
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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