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.

We no longer require proof of vaccination. Most dances are mask-optional, with occasional mask-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, gender-neutral, or mixed (mostly positional, may occasionally use a gender term) — 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.

FYI- Out of Town Events

Northwest Passage is currently full, and there is a wait list. Contact :https://nwpdancecamp.org/ for information.

Hands Across the Water – Sept-6-8, 2024

Contact :https://vecds.bc.ca/hands-across-the-water/ for information

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, August 11.

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.

2024 Schedule

Friday, July 26, 2024 – CANCELLED

We’re sorry to say that we just learned (on July 17th) that the Swedish Club has scheduled a private event for this evening, for the entire building. So we must cancel our dance.

Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Russell Owen
Musicians: Julie King, Joe Bowbeer, and Alec Keith
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.

Friday, August 2, 2024 MO

Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Dilip Sequeira (gender-neutral calling)
Musicians: Anita Anderson and Hayden Stern
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.

Sunday, August 4, 2024 M **

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Callers: Mary Stevens Zarich 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.

** NOTE: Following the August 4 Tea Dance, all are invited to a potluck social at the home of Rachel Pusey and Dilip Sequeira.

Sunday, August 11, 2024 (ECD Fundamentals) MO

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Caller: Rachel Pusey (gender-neutral 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.

Friday, August 16, 2024 MO

Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Callers: Theresa Barker and Mary Stevens Zarich (mixed calling)
Musicians: Wergleyburg: Terry Wergeland, Dave Bartley, and Claude Ginsburg
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.

Sunday, August 18, 2024 MO

Location- University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE
Callers: Dilip Sequeira and Rachel Pusey (gender-neutral 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.

Friday, Sept 6, 2024 MO

Location: Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Caller: Theresa Barker
Musicians: Julie King, Joe Bowbeer, and Alec Keith
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Newcomers session: 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 – $20.


Friday, Sept 6, 2024 MO

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

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.