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 New Dance Class 6:30 till 7:30: Valerie Daley teaches a variety of new dances learned at Stockton, Statewide or other folk dance camps and festivals. These are dances at beginner or intermediate level, that are not in the co-op’s current library. The idea is to challenge ourselves, learn new dances, and have fun. Dances that turn out to be particularly popular may then be added to our regular weekly programs. Both beginning and experienced dancers are welcome.
- 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. The 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, September 13, 2026
Oretsis & Giorgos playing at Kypseli
The Tango Room Dance Center, 4346 Woodman Ave., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
TIME: 5:00 p.m.
MUSICIANS: Live Greek music by Orestis Koletsos & Giorgos Chatzakis playing Rebetika, Laika, Nisiotika, Epirotika, and more.
INFORMATION: Parking is available in the lots in front and in back of The Tango Room, on Woodman Ave., and on adjacent streets. Music, dancing, snacks, drinks, and other light refreshments will be available. Contributions to our snack bar welcomed!
COST: $25.00. Pay at the door with cash, check, PayPal, or Venmo (NO CREDIT CARDS)
CONTACT: Anne Sirota – Email OR Josef Bilman – Email
WEBSITE: kypseli.events
SPONSORED BY: Kypseli Greek Dance Center
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Joan Hantman Workshop at San Diego Folk Dance Center
San Diego Oasis Wellness Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa, CA 91942
TIME: Workshop 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. followed by a Dance Party at 8:00 with Joan.
COST: $15.00 General Admission, $5.00/$10.00 for FDC members.
TEACHER: Joan Hantman.
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 a snack to share at the party!
WEBSITE: www.folkdancecenter.org
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Ojai Day of Dance
Ojai Art Center, 113 Montgomery St., Ojai, CA 93023
TIME: Teaching: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Requests: 1:30 to 5:00 p.m.
COST: $20.00. Pre-registration is advised (you’ll save time at the door!).
Send a check payable to Folk Dance Federation South to Mindy Belli, 321 S. Vista del Cañon, Anaheim, CA 92807.
INFORMATION: The Art Center features a great wood floor and air conditioning.
Bring a packed lunch to enjoy on the Art Center’s covered terrace.
Refreshments and coffee will be provided all day.
Within walking distance of restaurants, shops, street parking, and Libbey Park.
Please send requests for your favorite dances to Marshall Cates, marshallcates@gmail.com.
CONTACT: Carol Smith – 805-794-5512 – csmit2u@yahoo.com
SPONSORED BY: Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
Pasadena Folk Music Society Events
See their Events webpage: https://pasadenafolkmusicsociety.org/events/
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 2:00 till 4:00 PM
Celebration of Life for Sylvia Stachura
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Tzidia playing at San Diego Folk Dance Center
San Diego Oasis Wellness Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa, CA 91942
MUSICIANS: Tzidia.
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 a snack to share!
WEBSITE: www.folkdancecenter.org
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Tzidia Playing at San Diego Folk Dance Center
San Diego Oasis Wellness Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa, CA 91942
TIME: Warmup teaching with live music 7:00-10:30 p.m. followed by dancing.
COST: $15.00 General Admission, $5.00/$10.00 for FDC members.
MUSICIANS: Tzidia.
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 a snack to share at the party!
WEBSITE: www.folkdancecenter.org
Friday to Sunday, October 30 to November 1, 2026
Fall Camp PRICES REDUCED $50.00!
Brandeis-Bardin Campus, 1101 Peppertree Ln., Brandeis, CA 93064 (near Simi Valley)
TEACHERS: Marcella Lawson and Marc Rayman (The best dances from this summer’s Stockton Folk Dance Camp), Diane Baker (Favorites from Statewide Folk Dance Festival and the North/South Folkdance Teachers™ Seminar).
REGISTRATION: Register NOW at FallCamp.org.
INFORMATION: Enjoy a delightful weekend on the lovely rural Brandeis-Bardin campus in Simi Valley (near Los Angeles).
- Motel-style rooms!
- In addition to great dancing on a wood floor in a beautiful air-conditioned hall, enjoy Fall Camp favorites, including the Potluck Band (open to all musical campers), rafts, stargazing with a rocket scientist, morning nature walks, happy hours, an ice cream social, a Party Hearty session, and more.
- Themes: As always, the theme of one of the evening dance parties will be fall colors. You may use the provided materials and instructions to make a head wreath of fall leaves and flowers. The spine-tingling Saturday party will have a Halloween theme.
WEBSITE: FallCamp.org
SPONSORED BY: The Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Tony Petroulias teaching and Parea playing at San Diego Folk Dance Center
San Diego Oasis Wellness Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa, CA 91942
MUSICIANS: Parea playing live Greek music.
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 a snack to share!
WEBSITE: www.folkdancecenter.org
Saturday, February 20, 2027
Lunar New Year Festival at Cerritos Folk Dancers
Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South St., Cerritos, CA 90703
THEME: East West Workshop (Year of the Goat)
TIME: 12:55 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
COST: Suggested donation: $15.00 per person at the door (non-refundable $12.00 if prepaid by February 13, 2027).
INFORMATION: Finger foods to share are welcome, but not necessary.
TEACHERS: To Be Announced
CONTACT: Sue Chen – 562-338-2298
SPONSORED BY: Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
See the Federation Calendar page for more details plus additional events.
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