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Upcoming Dances

Our primary dance hall is at the Suzanne Paterson Center, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton NJ. Please see our Directions page for more details.

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Wednesdays Contra Dances: 8-10:30 pm Contra Dance (7:30 pm Intro to Basics Workshop)

 

English Country Dances (2nd Saturday of most months): 7:30-10:30 pm English country dance (7:00 pm Intro to Basics Workshop)

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Saturday Contra Dances (4th Saturday of most months): 7:30-10:30 pm Contra dance (7:00 pm Into to Basics Workshop)

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Family Dances and Mixed Age Dance Band (Selected Sundays:) 3-5 pm dancing, 2:15 pm rehearsal for MAD Band

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ScandiDance-NJ: Every 3rd Monday of the month, 8-10 pm, held at Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton NJ, parking in lot off Houghton Road.

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You can click on any of the events below for more details, or find a printable copy here: schedule of events.  Please do not forget to check our "Dance News" section at right for the most recent updates. If viewing on a mobile device, you may scroll down to find it.

Community News
Dance News

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Dance Times Are Changing

 

Please note the new start and end time of the Saturday dances, in the information at the left.  Please also note the new dance date in the calendar for the June ScandiDance (June only).

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PCD Executive Committee Election Results

 

Jay Gaonkar, Charlie Groth, Doug Healy, Larry Koplik, Eva Meyer, Jim Rice, and Brian Schmult were elected to serve as members of the PCD Executive Committee, 2023-2024.

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We thank outgoing EC members Ann Meng, Dan Porcher, and Bill Taylor for their time on the committee and all their hard work.

 

From the PCD Constitution: "The Executive Committee shall be
responsible for organizing the weekly dances, planning special events, making policy decisions, organizing the music, handling finances, purchasing equipment and supplies."  Responsibilities
also include being in the rotation to manage opening and/or closing dances. The annual election of the 7 members of the Executive Committee is done electronically, and voting closed on March 21, 2023.
 

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​​Current Masking Policy

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At this time, masks are required at all PCD dances, unless specifically indicated otherwise on the schedule and in the calendar.  Please check the schedule to find a dance that fits with your masking preferences.

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Dance Safety Requirements for Admission to Dance

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PCD continues to adhere to the standard safety policies established for dance safety.  The following information was most recently updated on 11/18/22, and is subject to change in light of current coronavirus news. This information should be reviewed if you are planning to attend a dance, and safety must be observed for admission.  Note: PCD has had two known cases of a dancer testing positive for Covid shortly after a dance (3/26/22 and 8/27/22).

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Requirements for admission to the dance:

  • One-time showing of proof of vaccination, eg a CDC card, an Excelsior Pass, etc.

  • Booster vaccines are required for anyone 18 and older whose last vaccine was at least 6 months ago

  • Refreshments will be provided during the break, outdoors, weather permitting.

  • Masks are required (N95, KN95, or KF94 masks are strongly recommended), except during specified mask-optional dances.

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There will be a list at the dance of the people who have submitted their proof of vaccination, so they will be able to be quickly admitted to the dance.  You can expedite your admission to the dance by scanning your proof of vaccination any time it changes and emailing the scanned files to the PCD Executive Committee by clicking here. Or to enter the address manually, email pcd_ex(at)googlegroups(dot)com.

 

Doing this in advance means that you will be admitted more quickly, and you will be able to get to dancing and socializing quicker. We look forward to seeing you there!

Admission

Wednesday Dance:      
$15 regular admission; $5-$15 for Students / Limited Income

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​Saturday Dance: $15 regular admission; $5-$15 for Students / Limited Income

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Family Dance: $5-10 per person, or $15-25 per family

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FREE admission for first-time contra or English dancers

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FREE admission on the last Wednesday of every month for all dancers age 35 and under.

 

Please note that special events may have a different admission charge.

Schedule of Events

If you would like to print a hard copy of our quarterly schedule, you can download the PDF by clicking here.

Please Bring

To protect the floor of the hall, please bring clean, SOFT-SOLED SHOES to dance in.

 

Also, in consideration of dancers with sensitivities, please do not wear FRAGRANCES.  Thank you in advance!

Executive Committee

Our dance is a fully volunteer-run organization.  The Executive Committee is responsible for organizing the weekly dances, planning special events, making policy decisions, organizing the music, handling finances, and purchasing equipment and supplies.  If you have questions, comments, concerns, are having a problem with someone on the dance floor, or would like to find out how you can volunteer with us, please see a member of the Executive Committee.

 

The Executive Committee members for the 2022-2023 year from left to right: Brian Schmult, Jim Rice, Larry Koplik, Jay Gaonkar, Dan Porcher, Bill Taylor, Ann Meng.

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Executive Committee News
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The results of the online election are in.  Congratulations to the current members of the Executive Committee for 2023-2024:

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  • Jay Gaonkar

  • Larry Koplik

  • Brian Schmult

  • Jim Rice

  • Doug Healy

  • Eva Meyer

  • Charlie Groth

 

Our dances are run by volunteers, including the Executive Committee, who oversee things like setting up tables and chairs, set out refreshments, collect money at the door, set up or take down the sound system, and clean up after the dance.  If you have any questions about the EC or have interest in joining the committee that keeps our dances planned and running smoothly throughout the year, please contact Larry Koplik or speak to him at the next dance -- or talk to any other current EC member.

 

Where Feet Fly and Spirits Soar

Princeton Country Dancers is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization whose mission is to carry on and promote traditional forms of American and English dancing, both historic and in modern interpretation.  We sponsor contra and English country dances, Scandinavian couple dancing, as well as Morris, Longsword, Rapper Sword, Molly, Garland, and May Pole dance teams, a house Pick-Up Band, and a series of family dances.  All our events are open to the public, and all ages are welcome.  If you would like to learn more about how our organization operates, you can read our constitution.  Please also consider connecting with us on our Facebook group.  You can search for "Princeton Country Dancers (PCD)," or you can click the social media button at the bottom of this page to go directly to our group.

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You can expect:

  1. An enjoyable social dance event open to all

  2. Live music always

  3. A different band each week

  4. National and local talent

  5. Once a month Pick-Up Band

  6. Beginners welcome

  7. No partner needed

Dance Traditions

Click the red/orange lettering to visit the pages that interest you:

Contra dance is a traditional folk dance that has many "American" elements, but has its origins in Western Europe.

English Country Dance is an ancestor of contra dance and shares many similar movements. The music and dance forms are more varied in tempo and style than contra and provide myriad opportunities to relate to your partner and the set as a whole. 

At Family Dances, children are welcomed and encouraged to dance and/or play in the Mixed Age Dance (MAD) Band.

Visit our Special Events page to see some exciting things that we are looking forward to.

On select days throughout the year, musicians can bring their instruments to join the Pick-up Band.  Click over to our PUB page to find out about the Pick-up Band.  You can click here for information about the MAD (Mixed Age Dance) Band.

The newest dance series sponsored by PCD, this series features traditional couple dancing mainly from Sweden and Norway.  As with our other dances, all are welcome, no partner required.  Dances include schottische, reinlender, polska, slangpolska, snoa, waltz, and hambo.

Molly dancing team which presents traditional dances of East Anglia in a New Jersey style.

Morris team that performs traditional English dance utilizing rhythmic stepping, the wearing of bells, and the use of implements such as sticks, swords, and handkercheifs.

This Rapper Sword Team performs intricate dances with flexible swords.

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