English Country

WELCOME TO ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING IN SEATTLE

. . . where old friends meet to dance and new friends are made.

Country dancers in a ballroom

  • Live music
  • No partner needed; we switch partners for every dance
  • Each dance is taught and called

Read more about English Country Dance.

REGULAR EVENTS

Afternoon Tea Dances – 1st & 3rd Sundays
Workshops – 2nd Sundays

      NEW! Weeknight Dances – 2nd & 4th Tuesdays (from September)

      • The Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N (Stockholm Room)
      • Dance 7:00-9:30 pm
        The first hour will feature easier dances and teaching
      • Tuesday dances are all gender-neutral (GN)

      General

      • We are a fragrance-free dance community; for the enjoyment of all, please refrain from wearing scented products
      • We suggest you bring your own water bottle, and feel free to bring a snack to share at the break
      • Use of gender-neutral language is indicated by GN after the caller’s name
      • Suggested donation $10-$20

      UPCOMING DATES

      Sun, Nov 2, 2025 – Tea Dance/Portland Ball Review

      Room change: Room 104
      For this session only we will use the  new dance studio on the first floor of U Heights Center. 
      Includes more challenging  Portland Ball dances;  some experience recommended.  Great as ball preparation; equally great as your own ball afternoon right here.  
      Callers: Peter and Mary Zarich
      Musicians: Anita Anderson, Kimberly McKittrick, and Marni Rachmiel

      Wed, Nov 5, 2025 – House Party

      7-9pm, Green Lake area

      Sun, Nov 9, 2025 – Fundamentals Workshop

      Is this for me?
      Caller: Rachel Pusey (GN)
      With Anita Anderson on piano and recorded music 

      Tue, Nov 11, 2025 – Weeknight Dance

      NO DANCE. Venue closed for Veterans Day.

      Sun, Nov 16, 2025 – Tea Dance

      Caller: Ric Goldman of Portland, OR  (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, Nov 25, 2025 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: Peter and Mary Zarich (GN)
      Musicians: John Parejko and Koren Wake

      Sun, Dec 7, 2025 – Tea Dance

      Caller: Lindsey Dono (GN)
      Musicians: Hayden Stern and Anita Anderson

      Tue, Dec 9, 2025 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: Theresa Barker (GN)
      Musicians: Sande Gillette, Olga Hauptman, and Guinevere Saenger

      Sun, Dec 14, 2025 – Challenging Dances

      Is this for me?
      Callers: Lindsey Dono and Russell Owen (GN)
      Musicians: Ali Webb and Hayden Stern

      Sun, Dec 21, 2025 – Tea Dance

      Caller: TBD
      Musicians: TBD

      Sun, Jan 11, 2026 – Basics to Ball Workshop

      Is this for me?
      Caller: Rachel Pusey (GN)
      With Anita Anderson on piano and recorded music 

      Tue, Jan 13, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, Jan 27, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Probably no dance due to venue maintenance.

      Sun, Feb 8, 2026 – Basics to Ball Workshop

      Is this for me?
      Caller: Rachel Pusey (GN)
      With Anita Anderson on piano and recorded music 

      Tue, Feb 10, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, Feb 24, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: Orly Krasner (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Fri, Feb 27/Sat, Feb 28, 2026 – Seattle Ball Weekend

      The highlight of our dancing year! See ball website for details. The Friday Welcome Dance is open to all.

      Tue, Mar 10, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, Mar 24, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, Apr 14, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, Apr 28, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, May 12, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, May 26, 2026 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (GN)
      Musicians: TBD

      ABOUT OUR WORKSHOPS

      Fundamentals Workshop

      These workshops will allow you some extra time to become more familiar with the basics you need to enjoy ECD events in Seattle and elsewhere. We’ll dance a few less complex dances, spend time on core figures (patterns), and answer some of those questions you’ve been puzzling over. Suitable for new dancers but all are welcome! 

      Basics to Ball Workshop

      Similar to the Fundamentals Workshop, but focusing on the simpler dances from the ball program. There will be two such workshops, in Jan & Feb.

      Intermediate Workshop

      If you are already comfortable with the basics of ECD but want to be able to tackle more complex dances, this is a workshop to build your confidence and self-reliance. We’ll spend time on double figures of eight and heys, strategies for understanding and remembering a dance, and we’ll think about how to make a dance more than the sum of its parts.

      Challenging Dances Workshop

      A mixture of brain teasers, dances that reward a little polishing, and some old favorites too difficult for social programs. If you’re comfortable with double figures of eight and all kinds of heys, can execute complex figures without help from other dancers and keep your head while all about you are losing theirs, this might be for you.

      INFORMAL EVENTS

      Occasionally dancers host events at their homes, including:

      • Pot-luck socials:  Food and conversation – a great chance to get to know each other better.
      • House parties: Informal dance events, often with an open band, and snacks. Dancers of all levels welcome.
      • Calling parties: “Lab” sessions for callers to build their skills and problem-solve together. Never called before but want to try? Come along!

      Contact us to RSVP and for specific details of each event.

      CONTACT US

      For information about English Country Dancing in Seattle, please contact:

      • info@seattleecd.org
      • Mary Stevens Zarich, 425-771-2973

      PAST PROGRAMS

      For programs of previous Seattle dances, click here.