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.
We no longer require proof of vaccination. Most dances are mask-optional, with occasional masks-required dances (designated MO and M in the schedule below). At University Heights, the first Sunday of each month is mask-required.
Also, we specify what calling style you can expect — traditional (may use gender terms), positional, or mixed — for each dance program.
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
Friday, May 3, 2024 MO
Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Laura Mé Smith (mixed calling)
Musicians: Laurie Andres, Alec Keith, and Ogla Hauptman
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.
Sunday, May 12, 2024 M
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Lindsey Dono (positional calling)
Musicians: Laurie Andres and friends
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, May 17, 2024 MO
Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Charlene Kern (mixed calling)
Musicians: Terry Wergeland, Sande Gillette, and Marni Rachmiel
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.
Sunday, May 19, 2024 MO
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Russell Owen (positional calling)
Musicians: Julian Adamaitis and friends
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 26, 2024 FOLKLIFE WEEKEND
No dances at our regular locations, but come to Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion to enjoy an English Dance session Sunday afternoon from 4 – 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2, 2024 M
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Heather Webster of Vancouver, B.C. (mixed calling)
Musicians: Terry Wergeland 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, June 7, 2024 MO
Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Mike Richardson (mixed calling)
Musicians: TBA
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.
Sunday, June 9, 2024 MO (Advanced ECD)
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Cavalcade of Callers (mixed calling)
Musicians: Julie King and band
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 (mixed calling)
Musicians: Laurie Andres and Ruthie Dornfeld
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, June 21, 2024 MO
Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Ric Goldman (mixed calling) coming from Portland
Musicians: TBA
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.
Sunday, July 7, 2024 M
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Callers: Theresa Barker and 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, July 21, 2024 MO
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Laura Me Smith (mixed calling)
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, August 4, 2024 M
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Callers: Mary and Peter Zarich (mixed calling)
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, August 11, 2024 (ECD Fundamentals) MO
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Rachel Pusey (positional calling)
Musicians: Anita Anderson and recorded music
Time: 3:30 – 4:45 pm
Admission $5 – $10.
You will need to use the code of 6160 to enter the building on the west side.
Sunday, August 18, 2024 MO
Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Callers: Dilip Sequeira and Rachel Pusey (positional calling)
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.
August 30 — September 2, 2024 NORTHWEST PASSAGE DANCE CAMP in Government Camp, Oregon.
No scheduled dances this weekend.
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.