Join our celebration of
music and dance!

Contradancing for a Cause
Mother’s Day Community Dance
(Knights of Columbus fundraiser, Coats for kids etc.)

Sunday, May 10, 2026, 6–9 PM
K of C #109, 15 Winslow St., Arlington MA
Cammy calling with music by “Tourner a Trois”

A trio of musicians (two fiddles and guitar, with recorders, hurdy gurdy, limberjack possible for added spice) launched dances on the north shore and in mid-state MA prior to the pandemic and we named ourselves “Tourner a Trois” (after a waltz of the same name). John Hicks, Adrienne Howard, and I will be performing as Tourner a Trois for an early evening Mother’s Day dance on 10 May. I’ll teach a mix of dances from the last 400 years, Scottish Ceilidh dances and English country and Barn Dances, traditional and contemporary Contra dances, squares, and couples dances. All dances will be taught and prompted using easy to follow positional terms and the dances will be easy enough for anyone to learn. The music is driving, energetic and well-matched to the dances.

Bring your mother or someone else’s mother — for that matter, bring the whole family! Even if they don’t all want to dance, they will enjoy the music and the sense of community.

This Mothers’ Day dance brings a new flavor to an established series called “Contras for a Cause,” run by the Knights of Columbus #109 in the center of Arlington, MA. Proceeds after expenses go to three charities that help children and people with disabilities. It should be a really swell occasion!

English Country Dancing

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3–5 PM
Baystate Cohousing, 368 Pleasant St., Malden MA
Facebook

This is our twice-a-month series. We do dances mostly from the 17th and early 18th centuries – the stuff the settlers did when they first came to New England. This is a very informal thing where all abilities join in the fun on the dance floor or in the band, no admission (donations allowed), and guaranteed fun! We’d love to have you join us!

There is parking on Pleasant street across from the Beebe school. The Orange Line T stop is an easy walking distance (~2 blocks away).

There is nothing fancy or polished about this event. It is a fun community gathering to try out some of the music and figures the settlers brought to New England in the 17th century. We invite any who wish to give it a whirl, to join us on 1st and 3rd Sunday afternoons. Dances done to date are listed at the bottom.

Harvard Square English Country Dancing

Friday, May 22, 2026, 7:30–9:30 PM)
(with extra instruction in basics starting at 7:10)
Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church, 1555 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA

Cammy calling with music by “Mad Robin” (Van, Cam, and John)

For the first time, Boston CDS has invited me to lead ECD at their newcomer-friendly series in Harvard Square and I decided to bring Mad Robin back together for the occasion. Unfortunately our Harpsichord player is not able to join us, but John Hicks will do his best to fill the role on the guitar. Van Kaynor and I will supply melodies and harmonies. We’re looking forward to a thrilling evening of dances including a few originals and some new ones I have picked up lately along with our standard Playford repertoire.