English Country

WELCOME TO ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING IN SEATTLE

. . . where friends meet to dance and new friends are made. We are friendly people who laugh together, play together, and dance together almost every week.

  • No partner needed.
  • We switch partners for every dance.
  • Live music with some of the best musicians in Seattle.
  • Each dance is taught with at least one walk-through, having the music played to understand the pace of the dance, and called.
  • Dance patterns are prompted throughout by the caller.
  • We are a fragrance-free dance community.

Beginning in September, we will no longer require proof of vaccination. Most dances are mask-optional, with occasional masks-required dances (designated M and MO in the schedule below).

We suggest you bring your own water bottle, but we do share snacks at the breaks. Please feel free to bring a goodie to share.

Friday Dances are generally the 1st, 3rd, & 5th Fridays, plus occasional other events.

  • Regular Friday dances are held at the Swedish Cultural Center (SCC), 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109.
  • Newcomers session from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Dance from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
  • Suggested donation $10.00 – $20.00, students under 26 years – $5.
  • For the enjoyment of all, please refrain from wearing scented products.

Sunday Afternoon Tea Dances, generally 1st and 3rd Sundays each month.

  • Tea Dances are held at University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE – Room 209
  • Dance: 3:30 -5:45 pm. Newcomers session 3:00- 3:30 pm.
  • Suggested donation $10 – $20.
  • You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

SPECIAL DANCE EVENTS

Occasional Fundamentals Workshops (see schedule below)

These workshops will allow you some extra time to get 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 newer dancers but all are welcome! The next Fundamentals class will be Sunday, April 14.

Occasional Challenging Dances (see schedule below)

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, and can keep your head while all about you are losing theirs, this might be for you. The next challenging dance will be Sunday, March 24.

2023-2024 Schedule

Sunday, March 3, 2024 M

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Russell Owen
Musicians: Julie King, Sande Gillette, and Olga Hauptman
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm Newcomers session 3:15- 3:30 pm.
Admission $10 – $20.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Sunday, March 17, 2024 MO

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Heather Webster of Vancouver, BC
Musicians: Lisa Scott and Olga Hauptman
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm Newcomers session 3:15- 3:30 pm.
Admission $10 – $20.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Friday, March 22, 2024 MO

Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Orly Krasner
Musicians: Anita Anderson, Sande Gillette, and Marni Rachmiel
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.

Sunday, March 24, 2024 Workshop: Dancing Deftly

We’ll talk about some characteristics of good dancing, such as phrasing, handing, and how to be helpful, and we’ll throw in a few illustrative exercises. But mostly, dancing! Npt fpr absolute beginners; however, if you can do a hey for three, this is for you.

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Callers: Rachel Pusey and Dilip Sequeira
Musicians: Anita Anderson and Sande Gillette
Time: 3:15 – 5:45 pm
Admission $10 – $20
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Sunday, March 31, 2024 MO

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Orly Krasner from NYC
Musicians: TBA
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm
Admission $10 – $20
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Friday, April 5, 2024 MO

Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Nan Evans
Musicians: Fred Nussbaum and friends
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.

Sunday, April 7, 2024 M

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Charlene Kern
Musicians: Anita Anderson and Sande Gillette
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm Newcomers session 3:15- 3:30 pm.
Admission $10 – $20.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Sunday, April 14, 2024 (Fundamentals of English Country Dance)

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Rachel Pusey
Musicians: Anita Anderson and recorded music
Time: 3:15 – 4:45 pm
Admission $5-$10
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Friday, April 19, 2024 MO

Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Karen Shaw
Musicians: Julie King, Sande Gillette, and Betsy Cooper
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.

Sunday, April 21, 2024 MO

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Callers: Dilip Sequeira and Rachel Pusey
Musicians: Terry Wergeland and The Peregrine Philharmonic
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm Newcomers session 3:15- 3:30 pm.
Admission $10 – $20.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Sunday, May 12, 2024 M

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Lindsey Dono
Musicians: TBA
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm Newcomers session 3:15- 3:30 pm.
Admission $10 – $20.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Sunday, May 19, 2024 MO

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Russell Owen
Musicians: TBA
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm Newcomers session 3:15- 3:30 pm.
Admission $10 – $20.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Sunday, June 2, 2024 M

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Heather Webster of Vancouver, B.C.
Musicians: TBA
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm Newcomers session 3:15- 3:30 pm.
Admission $10 – $20.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Sunday, June 16, 2024 MO

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Charlene Kern
Musicians: TBA
Time: 3:30 – 5:45 pm Newcomers session 3:15- 3:30 pm.
Admission $10 – $20.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.

Information on English Country Dancing

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

  • Karen Shaw, 206-455-5571, dancerfolk@gmail.com
  • Mary Stevens Zarich, 425-771-2973, ladymary@stevens.net

Programs of Previous Seattle Dances

For programs of previous Seattle dances, click Seattle ECD Programs.