Contra Dances at Glen Echo!
Friday Night Dancers (FND) hosts contra dances every Friday night at Glen Echo Park, in Glen Echo, Maryland. Check the Upcoming Dances page for the callers and bands. We have a mix of local and out-of-town bands and callers. There is a free lesson from 7:30-8:00 pm, and dancing from 8:00-11:00 pm. Dances are $15.
Do you want more information about our dance?
What is Contra Dancing?
We welcome everyone to dance with us. All ages and experience levels are welcome! Come alone or with friends. We hope to see you on the dance floor!
We are celebrating our 50th Anniversary!
In 1974, the Concordia dance, held in the Concordia Church in downtown DC,* began. At first, it was mostly squares with a few New England-style Contras thrown in, but over the years it morphed into the Contra dance we now know and love.
If you enjoy the dance and want to help keep the dance happening for the next 50 years, please consider making a tax-deductible donation! Any amount, no matter how small, helps a lot!
*Thanks to Owen Kelley for his history of the Friday Night Dance, How the Friday Night Dance Came to Glen Echo Park. This wonderful history of the dance is available for $10 at our dances.
50th Anniversary Mech!
Pick up a limited-time commemorative shirt to support our dance!
These designs will only be available through December 31!
Get yours soon!
COVID-19 POLICY
All Friday Night Dances are MASK OPTIONAL. We continue to recommend, but not require up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination. We ask dancers to inform us at info@fridaynightdancers.org if anyone is diagnosed with COVID-19 infection following a dance. We also monitor the website Montgomery County Maryland COVID Hospitalizations as a measure of community hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 infection. If an outbreak of COVID-19 infection occurs following this change or hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 infection rise significantly, the FND Board will consider requiring masks and/or COVID-19 vaccinations again. Our goal is to continue to dance with each other in safety and with joy.
Please do not attend a dance if you have symptoms of any infectious illness, even if you don’t think you have a COVID-19 infection. Help keep our community safe!
