English country dancing to live music at Princeton Country Dancers
contra dancing to live music at Princeton Country Dancers
contra dancing to live music at Princeton Country Dancers
English country dancing to live music at Princeton Country Dancers
Princeton Country Dancers
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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PRINTABLE SCHEDULE: You can click on any of the events in the calendar 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.
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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 Combo Contra/English Dances (4th Saturday of most months): 7:30-10:30 pm Evening dance (7:00 pm Into to Basics Workshop)
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All-Ages Folk 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.
Community News
Dance News
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Spring Quarterly Flyer Correction
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After the schedule was printed, masking requirements for the English dances changed. Masking will be optional at the April 13 English dance. Later flyers for 2024 will contain the correct information about masking at English dances. Please continue to check our website for information regarding our safety requirements.
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Annual Community Meeting Topics
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The PCD Executive Committee presented information on the following topics at the Annual Meeting held at the dance on March 20. Please let us know if you have any comments or would like to have a follow-up discussion on any of the topics with members of the EC.
1) The EC announced that, starting with the June-August quarter, PCD will let all callers decide if they want to use traditional ladies and gents calling or larks and robins (or
conceivably another gender-free option). Many callers, particularly those from out of town, are now more comfortable with gender-free calling. It was also noted that many of the other dances in our region (Mt Airy, Swingin' Tern, CDNY) have moved to all larks & robins calling. We will continue our practice of informing the community ahead of time on our flyers and on the website of what the calling will be at all
future dances.
2) The EC discussed the practice of booking ahead. In order to give everyone a chance to dance with everyone else, especially those that might have been sitting out the previous dance, the practice of booking ahead is discouraged.
3) The EC encouraged dancers who would like to improve their dancing skills, eg on giving weight, dancing in time to the music, or on specific figures (eg balances, do-si-dos, allemandes) to reach out to more experienced dancers for their help and suggestions. If enough people have a particular interest on working on one area, "mini" workshops at the break could be organized. We will also be asking all of our callers
to include at least one "style tip" each evening as part of their calling.
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PCD Executive Committee Election Results
The annual election of the 7 members of the Executive Committee was held, and the results announced at the March 20 dance.
Jay Gaonkar, Doug Healy, Larry Kaufman, Larry Koplik, Eva Meyer, Hillary Murtha, and Jim Rice were elected as members of the 2024-2025 PCD Executive Committee.
Thank you to everyone who voted.
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Dance Safety Requirements for Admission to Dance
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PCD continues to adhere to the standard safety guidelines established for dance safety. The following information was most recently updated on 11/28/23, and is subject to change in light of current coronavirus news. This information should be reviewed if you are planning to attend a dance.
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Current requirements for admission to the dances:
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For Contra, Combo, All Ages Folk dances:
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Masks & vaccines optional
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For English dances:
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Vaccines optional
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Masks are required (N95, KN95, or KF94 masks are strongly recommended), except during specified mask-optional dances.
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For Scandinavian dances:
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Vaccinations strongly recommended but not required.
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Masks required (N95, KN95, KF94, or equivalent)
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Complete a one-time waiver that can be used for contact tracing if necessary.
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Dance Times Are Changing
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Please note the new start and end time of the Saturday dances, in the information at the left. (7:30- 10:30, instead of 8:00- 11:00)
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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All-Ages Folk Dance: $7 per person, or $20 per family. Financial assistance is available.
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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 a previous year from left to right: Brian Schmult, Jim Rice, Larry Koplik, Jay Gaonkar, Dan Porcher, Bill Taylor, Ann Meng.
Executive Committee News
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The current members of the Executive Committee are:
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Jay Gaonkar
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Doug Healy
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Larry Koplik
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Eva Meyer
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Hillary Murtha
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Jim Rice
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Larry Kaufman
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:
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An enjoyable social dance event open to all
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Live music always
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A different band each week
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National and local talent
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Once a month Pick-Up Band
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Beginners welcome
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No partner needed
Dance Traditions
Click the titles on each image 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.
All ages from toddlers to grandparents are welcomed and encouraged to join the fun of an old-fashioned barn 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.
For information about the MAD (Mixed Age Dance) Band check out the All-Ages Dance page.
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.
