Friday Night Dancing

Dates: Every Friday
Time: 7:30 PM till 9:30 PM
with special programs starting at 6:30
Saint James Episcopal Church
1325 Monterey Rd., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Admission: $8 (members $7) Additional donations welcome

• We have a teaching session around 8:00 where we teach one or more dances that are beginner or intermediate level. We usually teach the same dances all month, and whatever we teach will be on the playlist throughout the next month, so you get lots of practice.
• The rest of the evening is programmed dances and requests from our large collection of recorded ethnic dance music from countries around the world. See our This Month page for upcoming playlists.
• When a month has five Fridays, the fifth Friday is a party night. It’s all-request dancing and we take a break from teaching.
• Beginners’ Hour is every 1st and 3rd Friday from 6:30 till 730. We go over folk dance basics and teach beginner level dances. Admission included with general admission.
• Second-Friday set dancing 6:30 till 7:30: Marshall Cates leads set dance review starting at 6:30 before our regular dancing. These are mostly Scottish country dances, with occasionally dances from US, England, or other countries included. Admission included with general admission. 2nd Friday set dancing is dark for December and January but resuming in February.
• Fourth Friday Intermediate teaching 6:30 till 7:30: Volunteer teachers, Toti O’Brien, Valerie Daley, and Rick Cofield will be teaching and reviewing some of the more challenging dances in our music library. he aim is to sustain or revive well-liked dances that sometimes tend to fall off the program for lack of a leader or enough participants. Experienced dancers, whether from the co-op or another club, you’re encouraged to attend and share your ideas.

Check back for updates, or if you’d like to get direct email updates, you can sign up for our email list on the Contact page.

Other Upcoming So Cal Events

Sunday, February 1, 2026
Bouzouki Night at Kypseli
The Tango Room Dance Center, 4346 Woodman Ave., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
MUSICIANS: Live Greek music by Yannis Karabelas, Andreas Foulias, George Kadaroglou.
INFORMATION: Parking is available in the lots in front and in back of The Tango Room, on Woodman Ave., and on adjacent streets.
COST: $25.00.
CONTACT: Josef Bilman – 323-797-0662 OR Anne Sirota – Email
SPONSORED BY: Kypseli Greek Dance Center

Sunday, February 8, 2026
Folk & Vintage Festival in San Diego
Balboa Park Club, 2150 Pan American Rd., West, San Diego, CA 92101
TIME: 12:00 to 4:30 p.m.
COST: FREE
TEACHERS: Michael-Leonard Creditor, Tony Petroulias, Bill Boling & Beata Csanadi, Joan Walton
WEBSITE: https://www.idasdc.com/
SPONSORED BY: International Dance Association of San Diego California.

Saturday, February 21, 2026, 12:55 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Lunar New Year Festival at Cerritos Folk Dancers
Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South St., Cerritos, CA 90703
Suggested donation: $15.00 per person at the door OR non-refundable $12.00 if prepaid by February 14, 2026.
Finger foods to share are welcome, but not necessary.
Teachers: To be announced
Contact: Sue Chen – 562-338-2298, cerritosfolkdancers@gmail.com
Sponsored by The Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.

Saturday, February 21, 2026
Annual Membership Party at Folk Dance Center
San Diego Oasis Wellness Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa, CA 91942
TIME: 7:00 to 10:30 p.m.
COST: Free for FDC members, Event only $20.00, Event plus dinner $30.00.
ENTERTAINMENT & MUSICIANS: Tite Pati performs at 7:00 and Dance Party begins at 7:30 p.m.
INFORMATION: The Wellness Center is behind the T-Mobile Store in the Grossmont Center Mall. Lots of free parking in the adjacent lot. Please bring cookies to share! Join us for hot apple cider and fun!
WEBSITE: www.folkdancecenter.org

Friday to Sunday, March 6 to 8, 2026
Folk Dance Festival at Laguna International Dancers
Clubhouse Two, 24112 Moulton Pkwy., Laguna Woods, CA 92637
Teachers: Ana Angelova (Bulgarian), Daniel Sandu (Romanian & Rom).
Dance parties, happy hours with dance requests, live music, great food and wine, an ice cream social, Sunday concert, plus beach dancing on Monday! Also, awarding of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Website: Laguna International Dancers

Friday to Sunday, June 12 to 14, 2026
California Statewide Folk Dance Festival 2026
Fri/Sat: First Christian Church, 295 E. Washington Ave., Chico, CA 95926
Sun:     Chico Women’s Club, 592 E. 3rd St., Chico, CA 95926
COST: $40.00 to $240.00. 
TEACHERS: “Kotse” Marinov (Bulgaria Dances), Petar Aleksiev (Bulgarian Music), Ahmed Lüleci (Turkish Dances).
MUSICIANS: Live music by Da! Mozhem.
INFORMATION: REGISTER BY JANUARY 31 FOR AN EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!
For more information or to register, https://www.folkdance.com/event/statewide-2026/(After June 6 pay at the door.)
Doors open at noon Friday, and 9:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
HOST HOTEL: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chico, 2074 E. 20th St., Chico, CA 95928
Ask for the “Statewide 2026” rate of $139.00. Hotel reservations: 1-888-465-4329.
CONTACT: Email
WEBSITE: Statewide 2026
SPONSORED BY: Folk Dance Federation of California, Inc.

Sunday to Sunday, July 19 to 26, 2026
Stockton Folk Dance Camp, Week 1
University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
TEACHERS: Roo Lester (Scandinavian), Stacy Rose (Contras and Squares), Tineke van Geel (Armenian), Maurits van Geel (Romani and European), Daniel Sandu (Romanian Inspired), Bruce Hamilton (English).
MUSIC: By the Boston Three Party: Tom Pixton, Ralph Iverson, and Brian Wilson.
INFORMATION: The artists teach the same dances both weeks, but the Assemblies, Parties, and Evening Dancing are different each week.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT: $200.00 by check. Mail it to Registrar, 8151 Oakcrest Pl., Palo Cedro, California, 96073.
CONTACT: stocktonfolkdancecamp@gmail.com
WEBSITE: https://stocktonfolkdancecamp.org/summer-camp/
SPONSORED BY: Folk Dance Federation of California, Inc.

Sunday to Sunday, July 26 to August 2, 2026
Stockton Folk Dance Camp, Week 2
University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
TEACHERS: Roo Lester (Scandinavian), Stacy Rose (Contras and Squares), Tineke van Geel (Armenian), Maurits van Geel (Romani and European), Daniel Sandu (Romanian Inspired), Bruce Hamilton (English).
MUSIC: By the Boston Three Party: Tom Pixton, Ralph Iverson, and Brian Wilson.
INFORMATION: The artists teach the same dances both weeks, but the Assemblies, Parties, and Evening Dancing are different each week.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT: $200.00 by check. Mail it to Registrar, 8151 Oakcrest Pl., Palo Cedro, California, 96073.
CONTACT: stocktonfolkdancecamp@gmail.com
WEBSITE: https://stocktonfolkdancecamp.org/summer-camp/
SPONSORED BY: Folk Dance Federation of California, Inc.

See the Federation Calendar page for more details plus additional events.

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Current Health Protocols for Co-op Dancing:
Do not attend if you are sick
Please bring your own water to drink.