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
  • Come early for a short workshop to get oriented
  • 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
  • Suggested donation $10-$20 

REGULAR EVENTS

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

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

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

      UPCOMING DATES

      Sun, Oct 5, 2025 – Tea Dance

      Caller: Lindsey Dono  (gender-neutral calling)
      Musicians: Julian Adamaitis, Bonnie Aher, and Olga Hauptman

      Wed, Oct 8, 2025 – House Party

      7-9pm, Green Lake area

      Sun, Oct 12, 2025 – Intermediate Workshop

      Is this for me?
      Caller: Rachel Pusey and Dilip Sequeira  (gender-neutral calling)
      Musician: Anita Anderson and recorded music

      Tue, Oct 14, 2025 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: Russell Owen (gender-neutral calling)
      Musicians: Brian Lindsay, Dave Bartley, and Anita Anderson

      Sun, Oct 19, 2025 – Tea Dance

      Callers: Rachel Pusey and Dilip Sequeira  (gender-neutral calling)
      Musicians: Alex Webb and Olga Hauptman

      Wed, Oct 22, 2025 – Calling Party

      6:30-8:30pm, Green Lake area

      Sat, Oct 25, 2025 – House Party

      6:30-9:30pm, Ravenna area

      Tue, Oct 28, 2025 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: Sam Weiler (gender-neutral calling)
      Musicians:  Peregrine Philharmonic

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

      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 (gender-neutral calling)
      With Anita Anderson on piano and recorded music 

      Sun, Nov 16, 2025 – Tea Dance

      Caller: Ric Goldman of Portland, OR  (gender-neutral calling)
      Musicians: TBD

      Tue, Nov 25, 2025 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: Peter and Mary Zarich (gender-neutral calling)
      Musicians: John Parejko and Koren Wake

      Sun, Dec 7, 2025 – Tea Dance

      Caller: Lindsey Dono (gender-neutral calling)
      Musicians:   Hayden Stern and Anita Anderson

      Tue, Dec 9, 2025 – Weeknight Dance

      Caller: TBD (gender-neutral calling)
      Musicians: TBD

      Sun, Dec 14, 2025 – Challenging Dances

      Is this for me?
      Caller: TBD
      Musicians: TBD

      Sun, Dec 21, 2025 – Tea Dance

      Caller: TBD
      Musicians: TBD

      ABOUT OUR WORKSHOPS

      Fundamentals Workshop

      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 new dancers but all are welcome! 

      Intermediate Workshop

      If you are already comfortable with the basics of English County Dance (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 tried calling 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.