Come for a new experience, stay for the community and memories!
Welcome to CDNY, home of an ever-growing community of English and Contra dancers. Our dances are an exceptional way to meet people of all ages over the course of an evening in a fun and safe environment. You and your chosen partners will dance through the lines while interacting with other pairs of partners to the tunes of our talented musicians, played live at each dance.
Whether you come alone or with your friends, you'll get right into the swing of things. And so many in our community are ready to help. Before each dance, our dance callers walk you through the steps and then call the steps out during the dance itself. Our resident veteran dancers are ready to help guide beginners. There are no "mistakes" in our dances, just happy improvisations! If you miss a step, hop into the next one you recognize and carry on.
Our dance community is inclusive of everyone, including but not limited to age, dance experience, gender identities/expressions, and backgrounds. A shared love of dance and desire for respect is the common thread we spin around one another.
Contra Dances Are Two to Three Saturdays Each Month
English Country Dances Are Typically Each Week on Tuesdays
Our fall season is full of exciting events!
Go to our Calendar & Events page for all the information you'll need on our upcoming dances.
You'll also find which of your favorite Callers and Musicians will be setting the tone for the night!
Events may be added or cancelled so be sure to check out CDNY’s Dance Calendar for any last-minute changes.
Our dances are mask-optional unless specifically noted as mask-required.
Covid Safety For CDNY Events
Our dances are mask-optional unless specifically noted as mask-required.
We highly encourage everyone to get vaccinated and stay up to date on their boosters. Getting the latest booster is one of the best ways to protect yourself from serious illness and to help keep your communities safe.
Please don’t attend if you feel sick or if you were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID within the past week. If you do test positive for COVID within a week of attending one of our dances, please let us know by emailing info2@cdny.org.
Please note that CDNY's masking policy is subject to change based on the latest COVID conditions affecting the Greater NYC area.
CDNY Dance Prices
General – $20-25
CDNY/CDSS/FMSNY members – $15-20
Students & Young Adults 16–18 (Must Show ID) – $10
Children Ages 10–15 – half the price of accompanying adult
Children Under 10 – FREE
Please Note: There are special prices for special dances.
Curious What Our Dances Sound Like?
Maybe you're new to English Country and/or American Contra dancing, wondering what the vibes of the dance floor might be like. We've got you covered!
Check out our CDNY Fusion playlist, where you'll hear examples of what you'll be swinging to on our dance floors. From Contra to English Country Dance to Waltzes, the ever-evolving playlist, which is contributed to by members of our dancing community, has a bit everything.
You may also find some surprises on this playlist as well; songs that you might not think of as related to Contra or English Country Dance but are ones that can be danced to using the styles you'd learn dancing with us.
Glimpses of the CDNY Community
On and off the dance floor, the members of our community love to get together for dances, gatherings in parks, board-game nights, and so much more! Here is a collage of pictures from random moments we've shared amongst each other over time.
Sierra Walden’s insightful documentary about Contra and community offers all a glimpse of what we love and why we keep coming back season after season.
You should consider coming out and experiencing the magic firsthand for yourself!
We look forward to dancing together with you soon.