Contra Dancing "Most" 3rd Saturdays of the Month... in Grass Valley, CA!
NOTE OUR CHANGE OF VENUE/HALL FOR THE OCTOBER DANCE: WE WILL BE AT THE GOLDEN EMPIRE GRANGE (11363 Grange Ct, Grass Valley)
Join us each month (schedule to the right; or below, if you are using a mobile device) for a folk dance with European roots and American flair, amped up with a saucy mix of LIVE Celtic-inspired music from New England, Appalachia and beyond! It’s fun, flirty and easy to learn. Walking/stepping/twirling in time with the music is 87.5% of it.
Pricing, etc:
Ages 21 and over... $15; ages 10-20 ... $10; children under 10 are $5 and must be supervised at all times for everyone's safety. It is very dangerous to have small people running underfoot while trying to complete a full "hey" or right-left-through! Children are welcome to learn contra dance by attending the lesson; they're often really good at it! NOTE: No one turned away for lack of funds, and your second time is free with voucher!
All ages welcome; gender neutral. Attend once and you'll have it figured out conceptually. Join us three times and you're practically an expert!
Bring a potluck snack for halftime. BYO water, hands and feet.
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October Dance: 10/17/2026
7-10 pm (doors open 6:30; intro/lesson 6:40) at the Golden Empire Grange, Grass Valley (different venue for this month only)
Caller: Celia Ramsay
Music: Full Tilt
Entry: $0-15 cash (exact $ appreciated) SEE PRICING INFO TO LEFT or ABOVE (on mobile)
KVMR Events Calendar link to share is TBA
What is Contra Dancing?
Imagine a lively blend of English country dancing, square dancing and swing dancing … to infectious live music. All the moves are "called" in advance, first with a walk-through and then during most of the dance. Come with or without a partner; we usually change partners for each dance. More info about contra on our About page
November Dance: 10/21/2026
7-10 pm (doors open 6:30; intro/lesson 6:40) at the Grass Valley Elks Lodge
Caller: Mike Fynan
Music: Community Band of the Foothills
Entry: $0-15 cash (exact $ appreciated) SEE PRICING INFO TO LEFT or ABOVE (on mobile)
KVMR Events Calendar link to share is TBA
Dance Contra, Dance Local
Where are people contra dancing in the US? Check out this “heat map” (thanks to Jeff K at Boston/BIDA) to see where the most bodies are dancing. The highest concentrations are in New England, Appalachian areas and the Northwest. But no need to travel far and create tons of CO2. Join us for a dance in Nevada County each month!
If you’re visiting the Sacramento region, check out Sacramento Country Dance Society’s lineup of English country dances (1st and 3rd Sundays) and contra dances (most 2nd and 4th Saturdays)! Be sure to check their online calendar before going.