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. Note: 2nd Friday set dance review is dark for the month of May 2026, planning to resume in June.
• 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, May 3, 2026
Polyxeni and the Gents playing at KypseliThe Tango Room Dance Center, 4346 Woodman Ave., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
MUSICIANS: Live Greek music by Polyxeni and the Gents 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.
COST: $25.00. Pay at the door with cash, check, PayPal, or Venmo (NO CREDIT CARDS)
WEBSITE: kypseli.events
SPONSORED BY: Kypseli Greek Dance Center

Saturday, May 16, 2026
17th Anniversary Festival at Cerritos Folk DancersCerritos Senior Center, 12340 South St., Cerritos, CA 90703
TIME: 1:00 to 5:30 p.m.
INFORMATION: Finger foods to share are welcome, but not necessary. Your traditional or special costume will add splendid color to the party. Each group is welcome to perform, lead, and/or request up to three dances. 
COST: Suggested donation: $15.00 per person at the door OR $12.00 if prepaid by May 9, 2026.
CONTACT: Sue Chen – 562-338-2298
SPONSORED BY: Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.

Pasadena Folk Music Society Events 
See their Events webpage: https://pasadenafolkmusicsociety.org/events/

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 (Bulgarian Dances), Petar Aleksiev (Bulgarian Music), Ahmed Lüleci (Turkish Dances).
MUSICIANS: Live music by Da! Mozhem.
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.
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
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.

Friday to Sunday, October 30 to November 1, 2026
Fall Camp
Brandeis-Bardin Campus, 1101 Peppertree Ln., Brandeis, CA 93064 (near Simi Valley)
TEACHERS: Outstanding teachers from Southern California will present new dances and revive some older ones.
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), crafts, stargazing with a rocket scientist, morning nature walks, happy hours, and more.
CHAIRPERSONS: Marc & Jan Rayman
SPONSORED BY: The Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.

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