Look through our calendar below to find both in person and online events.
The FSGW Calendar can be viewed two ways:
On Tuesday, May 5th, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm in a video conference meeting. Please contact the FGSW President via this link or the FSGW WebMaster via this link to get the video conference information if you wish to attend.
Board meetings are open to members. If you have agenda items you wish to have considered, please contact the FSGW President at: president@fsgw.org
The Glen Echo Folk Dancers will be meeting in-person every Wednesday evening at Glen Echo Park (7300 MacArthur Blvd).
7:30 p.m.: beginning/intermediate/advanced teaching
8:30 to10 p.m.: open request dancing
Admission: $10
We strongly urge everyone to be vaccinated and fully boostered, but do not require it. If you have not done so already, please send your email address to dancingplanet@erols.com.
Note: If you are having symptoms, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, or may be positive, please attend the class via Zoom for the next week or 2. If you attend the class and then test positive, please let me know immediately, so I can inform those who attended the class (without identifying you).
For out-of-towners and those who cannot attend in person, we are offering this class via Zoom. You can enter by clicking onto the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87152651884?pwd=QWVyVEc1cm9uWTNqTkwrYTdPWlRrdz09
Meeting ID: 871 5265 1884 Password: 145
See the website for more information: dancingplanetproductions.com/folkdance
Andrea Nettleton calls while Elisabeth Epstein (flute), Jeff Steinberg (fiddle), and Neil Epstein (piano) play
You may register in advance (preferred) or at the door. Attendance will be limited to 50 dancers and spectators so if you are planning on registering at the door, please check the event page beforehand to see how many spaces are left.
If you have not previously attended a Wednesday night English country dance at Glen Echo, you may select "first time free" when registering. New dancers are welcome. If you have no previous English country dance experience or would like a refresher, please arrive at around 7:30 for a lesson.
COVID info: masks and vaccinations encouraged but not required. More info
The dance is held in the upstairs room of the Glen Echo Town Hall.
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If you'd like to get weekly reminders and other email of interest to our local dancers, please send an email to ecd.registrar@fsgw.org to be added to the list.
General information on our English Country Dance web page
The monthly Song Circle provides a daytime opportunity to enjoy delightful songs, old or new, humorous or serious, timeless or topical. Free!
Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience. Come for informal group singing or just to listen, in person or via Zoom.
Pete Seeger's birthday was May 3 and Mother's Day will be May 10, so bring or request your favorite Pete Seeger songs, songs about mothers, or any other songs!
If you wish to request particular songs, it helps to keep the singing going if you let us know well in advance using the registration form linked here.
Elizabeth Rosenberg and Joe Whitesell will lead songs with guitar accompaniment, and any participant may lead any song, a cappella or self-accompanied.
The Song Circle will be held in person at the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, MD 20901. Plenty of free parking!
In-person attendees must be age 55 or older and should read and follow FSGW's Respiratory Virus Guidelines.
If you can't come in person, please join us on Zoom with any Internet-connected device--computer, tablet, or smartphone--or you can join by dialing a phone number.
If this will be your first use of Zoom, go to https://zoom.us, click on " Sign Up Free " and follow the prompts. Do this ahead of time so that you'll be all set to "join the meeting" when it's time to do so. Information about getting started with Zoom is at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697.
Before you join a Zoom session, go to zoom.us/download to download and install the latest version of the Zoom Workplace app (7.0.2, 7.0.3, or 7.0.4, depending upon your operating system). For a smartphone or tablet, update the Zoom app from your App Store or equivalent source.
Join us on April 10 in person or via Zoom. Especially if you're just getting started with Zoom, please try to join the Zoom session 5 or 10 minutes before 1:30 p.m. so that we can help with any technical issues before the singing begins.
For more information. see the Song Circles page.
Linda Mansdorf will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
No experience or partner necessary.
Lessons 8:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Request dancing 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
More information: International Folk Dancing (Greenbelt)
Romanians of DC and the Glen Echo Folk Dancers invite you to a Romanian folk dancing workshop/party on Saturday, May 9, from 4 until 6 pm. The event will take place in the Ballroom Backroom of the Glen Echo Park located at 7300 MacArthur Boulevard in Glen Echo, Maryland.
3 - 6pm Picnic (Please bring a dish/snack/beverage to share)
4 - 5pm Workshop of easy Romanian dances
5 - 6pm Romanian dance party led by the Glen Echo Folk Dancers (recorded music)
The event will begin with a one-hour workshop led by Jamie Platt, who will introduce participants to several Romanian folk dances and traditional steps. The workshop will be followed by another hour of dancing with the Glen Echo Folk Dancers, featuring a broad range of Romanian folk dances. No prior dance experience is required, and everyone is welcome to join in the celebration.
The Glen Echo Folk Dancers have been an active part of the Washington area’s international folk dance community for over 40 years, welcoming dancers of all ages and skill levels to their weekly events at Glen Echo Park. Their repertoire includes folk dances from Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, and many other countries. To learn more, please visit: https://dancingplanetproductions.com/folkdance/
Jamie Platt, a respected instructor and founder of Dancing Planet Productions, has been teaching international folk dance for nearly five decades. His experience, enthusiasm, and deep love of dance have made him a beloved figure in the local folk dance scene.
Admission is $10 per person (cash) and is payable at the door. Bring shoes suitable for dancing. Feel free to invite friends, whether they have Romanian roots or are just curious to learn.
Come learn a few new steps, celebrate Romania’s rich traditions, and enjoy an afternoon of community and joy through dance!
VITG Monthly Story Swap
Sunday, May 9th, 7:30pm, Falls Church, VA
Storytellers and listeners are invited to an evening of shared stories. Anyone is welcome to tell a tale; no one ever has to. For adults or families.
Info: Jane Dorfman, 301-654-5818, dorfmanjo@gmail.com
Cost: FREE!
RSVP or learn more here
General information on Story Swaps
Barn Dance from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD.
Caller: Kappy Laning
Music: Liz Donaldson & Becky Ross
Come join us for this Mother's Day edition of the Barn Dance! This fun-spirited dance event is suitable for all ages and ability levels and features live music and calling. There will be circle dances, ceilidhs, and a variety of mixers. This dance fits the bill for families with preschool children just as well as older groups of tweens and teens. Our intergenerational community is what makes this dance unique and fun. So bring a friend or your kids and come join us!
Admission: Free! (no need to register, just show up at the door)
Covid Info: Masks and vaccination are encouraged but not required
General information on our Barn Dance web page
Join Flurut for their debut concert - a vibrant evening of music and dance from the heart of Jämtland, Sweden! Flurut is Göran Olsson (fiddle), Ellen Bartlett (fiddle), Andrea Larson (fiddle), Marko Packard (guitar, saxophone, flute), and Charlie Pilzer (bass, organ).
Sunday May 10th in Silver Spring, MD. Doors open at 3:30, concert at 4pm. Bring some snack/drink to share.
Please contact phllsdrrck@gmail.com to reserve your spot and for the address.
Dance floor opens during the second half of the program - don't forget your dance shoes!
As this is a residential neighborhood, please consider carpooling.
Donations are welcome. We look forward to seeing you!
More FSGW Concerts
The May 2026 Gospel Sing will take place at the home of Rick Morgan and Arlene Rodenbeck in Takoma Park. Group singing for two hours, from 4 - 6 pm, followed by a potluck dinner. Hymnals provided, including songs for Mother’s Day. A mask-friendly event — masks are optional but welcome. Everyone is welcome, but be sure you are symptom-free. RSVP/directions: call Rick at 301-920-0087 (landline; no texts) or email Rick at MorganRick50@gmail.com or Kathie Mack at kpmack2@gmail.com.
General information about Gospel Sings
Join us on Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30 Eastern at Busboys and Poets Takoma; or, for out-of-towners, via Zoom. Our featured tellers this month are the beneficent Lona Bartlett and the nifty Sarah Beth Nelson!
No pre-registration needed for in-person, but if you register at https://fsgw.org/grapevine you will have access to the live stream and the recorded show for later.
You will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link as well as a reminder of the date, time, and location. We ask for donations to support our tellers, suggested $20 per person (feel free to give more!). Donations can be made in person or online before, during, or after the show, at: https://fsgw2.org/grapevine.html
The Grapevine is spoken word performance for adults and teens, celebrating the timeless art of the story, hosted by storytellers Renée Brachfeld and Tim Livengood.
ABOUT OUR TELLERS:
Lona Bartlett is a captivating storyteller, puppeteer, and educator with over 30 years of experience. Drawing inspiration from her Catskill Mountains upbringing, she weaves personal narratives, folktales, and literary adaptations into rich performances. Lona brings characters to life through dynamic vocals (and sometimes puppetry), engaging audiences of all ages at festivals, schools, and libraries worldwide. An award-winning artist, she masterfully blends humor, heart, and tradition to create unforgettable experiences. More about Lona
Sarah Beth Nelson is a storyteller and a scholar, an Assistant Professor in the School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She studies, and practices, American open mic storytelling and stories told in and about libraries. Sarah Beth performs in fringes, festivals, and slams, and she hosts the Wright House Concerts at her home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. More about Sarah Beth
Learn more about The Grapevine (Storytelling) series
April Blum calls to the playing of Anna Rain (recorders), Tina Chancey (fiddle), and Liz Donaldson (piano)
This dance is in the Great Hall at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
Please note: There is no longer free parking at the Civic Center Parking Garage.
Callers: Too Hot Mamas! (Janine Smith and Susan Taylor)
Band: Dead Sea Squirrels (Cathy Mason on fiddle, Craig Edwards on fiddle, banjo, and mandolin, and Henry Yoshimura on guitar)
Calling Terms: Larks and Robins
Lesson at 7:00 p.m., Dance is from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
COVID info: Masks and vaccinations encouraged but not required. More info
Registration is required of all participants. Pre-registration is preferred--you may pay online or wait to pay at the door. You may register at the door. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the door. Registrations may be cancelled prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
Ben Hole will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
House Concert with Audrey Jaber and Karen Axelrod
Come join us for a fabulous time! Doors open at 7:00 pm, dancing starts at 7:30.
The Washington Spring Ball is a joyful yearly event of English Country Dancing to glorious music. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.
The band for the ball this year will be Karen Axelrod (keyboard), Audrey Jaber (violin), and Miranda Weinberg (violin)
We have a practice session the day of the ball, where most of the dances will be taught. Attending the practice session is strongly encouraged but not required. In the evening at the ball, all dances will be briefed (talked-through) and then prompted for the first few rounds. Dancers wear what makes them feel happy and festive; some choose attire from the 18th or 19th century.
Afternoon practice session from 2:00 - 5:00 pm on the day of the ball, at the Civic Building , which is included in the admission fee. The practice session will be called by Anna Rain with music by Liz Donaldson on piano and Elke Baker on fiddle.
Please visit the Annual Washington Spring Ball page for additional details.
The Takoma Park Old-Time Jam is again at Busboys and Poets in Takoma, DC, the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
More info about the Old-Time Jams
Tom Spilsbury and Wendy Clarke lead the dancing while Robin Wilson (flute), Becky Ross (fiddle), and Janina O’Brien (piano) make the music
John Robinson will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
Dan Gillespie calls to the playing of Carrie Rose (flute), Mari Carlson (fiddle), and Diane Sorenson (piano)
Larry Weiner will lead, teach and organize the request dancing.
On Tuesday, June 2nd, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm in a video conference meeting. Please contact the FGSW President via this link or the FSGW WebMaster via this link to get the video conference information if you wish to attend.
Join us on Wednesday, June 10at 7:30 Eastern at Busboys and Poets Takoma; or, for out-of-towners, via Zoom. Our featured tellers this month are the wild Don White and the wooly Candace Wolf!
Don White brings laughter and tears as a storyteller-comedian-author-troubadour-folk singer-songwriter. There is no one-word description for what Don White does. His work is infused by experience as a husband, a father, a seeker, and a joker. He draws inspiration from his family, in a touching song about the circle of life or an uproarious story about dealing with his daughter. Don White is an odd fit in any medium: funny, sarcastic, sentimental. More about Don
Candace Wolf is a master storyteller and oral historian. She is the barefoot storyteller due to her fearless determination to travel all roads, to all destinations, to expand her treasury of myth and oral history Candace has deployed storytelling skills to contribute to social well-being, emotional health, and cultural enrichment of youth and seniors, urban and rural. She was a long-time performing and teaching artist with the Kennedy Center. She has published a book of international oral history testimonials speaking to the universal quest for justice and liberation. More about Candace
Callers: Kim Forry
Band: The Bone Shakers (Gina Faber, Joe DeZarn, and Ralph Gordon)
Lesson at 7:00 p.m., Dance is from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Registration is required of all participants. Pre-registration is preferred - you may pay online or wait to pay at the door. You may register at the door. Cash and credit card are accepted at the door. Registrations may be cancelled prior to the event, and any payment will be refunded as a credit for future use. No refunds will be available after the event has started.
Saturday, June 13, 7:30p.m. Online
More info here
Caller: Janine Smith & Kim Fory
Music: L'Adoré Fiddlers
Come join us at the Barn Dance! This fun-spirited dance event is suitable for all ages and ability levels and features live music and calling. There will be circle dances, ceilidhs, and a variety of mixers. This dance fits the bill for families with preschool children just as well as older groups of tweens and teens. Our intergenerational community is what makes this dance unique and fun. So bring a friend or your kids and come join us!
Hosted by Linda Mansdorf, John Robinson, Ben Hole, Vita Hollander & other guest instructors. This is a FREE event.
To Register for the Zoom link contact John Robinson at j_srobinson@verizon.net
Sunday Afternoon Dancing Planet Contra Dance
Intro lesson at 2:30pm, dance from 3-6pm in the Ballroom Backroom at Glen Echo Park, MD.
Caller: Gaye Fifer
Band: Box & String Trio (Bill Quern, Sarah Gowan, and Laura Alexander)
Admission: $15, cash, check, or credit cards accepted at the door (credit card fees apply).
Covid info: masks and vaccinations are suggested but not required.
Lessons 8:00 - 8:30pm
Request dancing 8:30-9:30pm.
On Tuesday, July 7th, the FSGW Board will meet from 8pm to 10pm in a video conference meeting. Please contact the FGSW President via this link or the FSGW WebMaster via this link to get the video conference information if you wish to attend.
Larry Weinerwill lead an
Oldies but Goodies Night
all request evening featuring recorded music international folk dance favorites - many easy dances to just follow along -
Request dancing 8:00-9:30pm.
Request dancing 8:30 - 9:30pm.
Save the Date:
The Washington Folk Festival returns on August 23, 2026
A one-day event, jam-packed roster with dancing, storytelling, and music ranging from American to International styles: bluegrass to Celtic, Klezmer to Americana, blues to Zydeco, we cover folk music from around the world! Five stages, hundreds of performers, and it's all free!
Performer applications accepted through Sunday, April 26th - APPLY NOW
Donate to Support the Festival
Learn more about the Washington Folk Festival
Caller: Janine Smith
Band: The Second Floor (Abe Joyner-Meyers, Steven Bluestein, and Cecily Mills)
The Getaway starts Friday, October 2nd, with a pot-luck dinner, and runs so late on Sunday night that we serve breakfast on Monday morning, October 5th.
The Getaway is an amazing weekend-long party of folks who love to sing, play and listen to folk music. We come together in a lovely riverside retreat to join together in making music, sharing what we bring and learning from friends old and new. There will be workshops, sing-arounds, sign-up concerts, music and conversations at all hours. Participation is encouraged at any level comfortable to you in a supportive and welcoming environment. Old and new songs and tunes, recitations and stories, as well as information on historical contexts and insights, along with conversation and laughter, have filled the Getaway for over half a century. Come be a part of the fun!
Our guests this year include Janie Meneely and Rob Van Sante, Bill Destler, Lynn Noel, George and Kathy Stephens, and Derek Piotr. We are working on a few more.
Although the Getaway will not occur until the weekend of October 2 to October 5, 2026, it is helpful if you can register early. The deadline is September 26. You do not need to pay immediately, but we expect you to view registration as a commitment. If you have not paid in full by September 19, we will remind you.
Please fill out the entire registration form. We pay close attention to what you write; we use this information to plan workshops and assign rooms.
Here is a summary of the prices:
Overnight Registrations Day Registrations
2 Nights
3 Nights
Adult Member
Upper Bunk
$265
$310
Lower Bunk
$275
$325
Adult Non-Member
$300
$345
$360
Child age through 3
$0
Child age 4 to 12
$115
$160
Child age 13 to 17
$150
$190
Student 18 and older
$230
1 Day
2 Days
Without Meals
$50
$100
$60
$120
$8
$15
$30
Please note that if you are registering more than one person, you must complete the registration process (including payment) for each person before registering the next person.
See the Getaway page for more details.
Contrastock: 8+ hours of contra dancing! A premier contra dance event, featuring nationally renowned bands and callers and an amazing historic dance hall.
When: October 3, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM. There is a break for dinner.
Where: Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, MD
Bands: Syncopaths, Petrichord, and Supertrad
Callers: Janine Smith, Michael Karcher, and Chloe Levine
Contrastock is called with non-gendered dance role terms
Wellness policy: Contra dance is a close contact activity and germs love dancing too! Stay home if you are unwell the day of Contrastock. Full refunds will be provided.
The CDC currently recommends yearly COVID boosters for all individuals 6 months and older. We ask that all attendees have received a COVID booster or have tested positive for and recovered from COVID within the past 2 years. Please consider adding a COVID booster to your vaccination list if you have not already, for our immunocompromised dancer friends, and for yourself.
More about the FSGW COVID-19 Response policy
Intro lesson at 2:30pm, dance from 3-6pm in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, MD.
Caller: Beth Molaro
Band: Laura and the Lava Lamps (Laura Legnick, Dave Wiesler, and Ralph Gordon)
Will Mentor and Stomp Rocket take DC by storm for the second year in a row with a challenging Square Dance to tickle your brain and energize your feet!
Join us for Challenging Squares from 2:30-5:30pm on Saturday, November 21st. After a BYO dinner break, join us for Challenging Contras from 7:00-10:00pm. Please note you will need to register SEPARATELY for each event.
Will Mentor calls with music by Stomp Rocket (Bethany Waickman on guitar, Dave Langford on fiddle, and Glen Loper on mandolin and tenor banjo). What a lineup!
To have the most FUN at this afternoon of Challenging Squares, please read below, does this describe your dancing?
More info on Stomp Rocket here: https://www.stomprocketmusic.com/
Will Mentor and Stomp Rocket take DC by storm for a second year in a row with a challenging Contra Dance to tickle your brain and energize your feet!
An evening of Challenging Contras from 7:00-10:00pm on Saturday, November 21st at Ballroom Blum in Adelphi, MD.
Come early for the Challenging Squares at 2:30pm and BYO dinner at 5:30pm!
Please note you will need to register SEPARATELY for each event.
To have the most FUN at this evening of Challenging Contras, please read below, does this describe your dancing?
You know how to do basic moves without teaching (Roll Away, California Twirl, Pass Through to a Wave, Contra Corners) You know where to be at the start of each dance phrase and how to recover from a lapse You can dance and enjoy no walk through dances You assist your partner and neighbor to the next move - and you have a friendly approach to it You execute flourishes safely and on time without disturbing others You respond to confusion and missteps by others with grace, encouragement and good humor
It's not how long you've been dancing, it's how well you can adapt to challenging and unusual choreography!
Caller: Will Mentor
Band: Stomp Rocket (Dave Langford, Bethany Waickman, and Glen Loper)
Hashdance Weekend is an ultra challenging urban dance weekend featuring mind bending figures, non-gendered calling, and phenomenal music. Two days of amazing workshops, dancing, community, fun, and food in the fabulous Spanish Ballroom; workshops throughout Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD
Callers: Lisa Greenleaf and Will Mentor
Bands: Red Case Band (Stuart Kinney, Max Newman, Clara Stickney, Alex summing, and Matt Kinney), Lighthouse (Audrey Jaber, Max Newman, and Stuart Kinney), and Alex & Audrey (Audrey Jaber and Alex Cumming).
Volunteering: Full-weekend volunteers will be assigned 3 hours of work. Partial-weekend volunteers will be assigned 1 hour of work
More about Hashdance Weekend
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